Toi et Moi Rings

Most two-stone engagement rings here pair contrasting cuts: an oval beside a marquise, a pear against an emerald cut, a cushion next to a princess. The contrast is the point. Rounded and angular outlines play off each other, and the gap between them keeps each stone readable from across a room. Emerald cuts turn up in the pairings more than any other outline.

Whatever figure you settle on is shared by the pair. At 2 ct tw, each stone sits near 1 carat, give or take the cut; at 5 ct tw the ring reads as two clear centers rather than a center with an accent. Color grades run D through F and clarity VVS1 through VS1, so the duo stays bright and evenly matched.

• White gold or platinum: cool and bright, keeping attention on the two stones.
• Yellow or rose gold: warmer, with a softer outline around each prong; offered in 10K, 14K or 18K.
• Silvadium: a tarnish-resistant sterling silver, the lightest-priced option.

One design carries a pavé band; the rest keep a plain shank.

Two raised stones get knocked more often than a single one, so slip the ring into a pocket dish before workouts or yard chores. To clear trapped lotion, let the ring rest ten minutes in a cup of tepid, lightly soaped water and work a soft bristle into the gap between the stones. Look over both sets of prongs each season.