The “selfie” has managed to seamlessly integrate itself with our daily vocabulary, to the point where it is almost universally understood. Prince Charles, Barack Obama, David Cameron, and Pope Francis have all indulged in a “selfie” at one time or another. The word has become so commonplace that it was actually dubbed “Word of the Year” 2013 by the Oxford English Dictionary.
A new trend has emerged, however, and it is rapidly gaining popularity, particularly among female celebrities. The “relfie”, or the “ring selfie”, has seen more and more women showing off their engagement rings over social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Kim Kardashian, Kelly Osbourne, and Milly Mackintosh all decided to celebrate their engagement by posting a picture of their new dazzling jewellery; you hardly need pictures to guess at the sheer brilliance of some of the rings on display.
It is by no means a surprising trend, as any woman who has been engaged will probably attest to – the overwhelming excitement at becoming someone’s fiancé is very quickly followed by excitement to go and show your sparkly new friend to anyone who will give you the time of day. What may come as much more of a surprise to many will be the knock-on effect the increase in “relfies” has had on the cosmetic surgery industry, or more specifically, rejuvenating cosmetic hand treatments.
Cosmetic surgeons are reporting a dramatic increase in orders for various cosmetic hand treatments, which is largely explained by the arrival of wedding season, and with it, the arrival of photo opportunities. Of course you wouldn’t want to display your engagement ring on a hand that has visibly just done the gardening, but more and more people are seeking treatment to get their hands in perfect condition before indulging in photographs.
These hand treatments range from chemical peels to fat transfers, from injecting calcium hydroxyapatite to laser ablation. What the different methods share is a significantly increasing popularity, being driven in no small part by the envious engagement rings of celebrities which women now have direct access to. The photo of the engagement ring itself is becoming as important as the wedding photos. This is understandable; the wedding ring may be much more meaningful, but there is little that can compare to the stunning allure of a diamond engagement ring.
While not everyone will want to go to these lengths to ensure they get the perfect engagement photographs, it is important that the ring itself is safe and protected, no matter who you are. To most, the appearance of their hand becomes irrelevant when they can slip on that special ring, so it is always worth arranging some specific engagement ring insurance to help guarantee a happy start to any marriage.
