Rings
Continued from Page 11
value and basically going to be the centerpiece of whatever piece
of jewelry evolves from it, be it another engaging style, or pendant
or something else.”
Th ere are a variety of gem cuts available, but the round cut is
by far the most popular, with the marquise and pear cuts greatly
diminishing in popularity over the years. Emerald-like cuts such
as the asscher have made a resurgence, according to Anthony.

Regardless of cut, white diamond is still the king of gemstones.

However, those looking for an alternative may consider sapphires
due to their vibrant colors and cheaper price.

Yet there are some drawbacks to soft er gems.

“Th e bottom line is diamond is the hardest mineral,” Rotenberg
said. “So, if you look at a diamond that’s worn for 30 or 40 years,
chances are it still looks like the day it was bought. Or as you look
at a sapphire or an emerald or something like that, it has scuff
marks and wear on it because it’s not as hard, tough and so forth.”
For metals, white platinum is big, but Anthony said yellow gold
has risen in popularity in recent years. For gem settings, the halo
is quite popular, which consists of a large gemstone in the ring’s
center surrounded by smaller gemstones.

A recent trend Sack noted is the increased prevalence of the
custom ring. Not to be confused with a customized ring, which
describes a fi nished ring that’s later altered to the customer’s
specifi cations, a custom ring is built from the ground up to the
customer’s specifi cs.

Computer-generated designs allow jewelers to create a ring
that’s one of a kind. Th is can allow people to have a more involved
experience, feeling like they’ve contributed to the ring’s creation or
at having put more energy into the overall ring selection process.

However, a custom ring is more expensive than a standard
one, and Sack said that most custom rings tend to either look
identical to dozens of other rings already on store shelves or look
unappealing. “I have seen some engagement ring designs on fi ngers, presented
to me proudly, that I really have to bite my tongue because I can’t
imagine that the wearer is going to feel good about this style even
a year or two or three down the line,” Sack said. “I just can’t say it.

Th e idea is supposed to be timeless. So to come up with something
so far out, to me, defeats the purpose, that defeats the meaning, the
symbolism of this specifi c piece of jewelry.” ❤
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Torah and
TikTok: Not Your Dad’s
Bar Mitzvah
SOPHIE PANZER | JE STAFF
W hile their parents may have relied on tape
recorders and CDs for their own b’nei mitzvah
preparations, students today learning to chant
Torah can turn to YouTube.

“Th ere are lots of cantors who have produced high-
quality recordings on YouTube,” said Ben Rotenberg, education
director at Germantown Jewish Centre. “It’s easy to fi nd a voice that you
can match and feel comfortable with.”
Th e video sharing website is just one of many technologies being incorporated
into b’nei mitzvah preparations.

For Gen Z kids in the tween and teenage brackets, technology plays a key role
in entertainment, education and socializing. Th ey communicate on platforms like
Instagram and Snapchat and have never known a world without internet access.

Naturally, they also rely on apps and websites as they prepare for their coming-of-age
ceremonies. Parents, educators and event planners are also using these resources to make
preparations go smoothly. Rotenberg has incorporated technology into his own
tutoring work.

“I’ve done some b’nei mitzvah tutoring long distance for students using Skype and
FaceTime, and I would send them feedback through Google Docs,” he said.

See Technology, Page 14
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