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Jewelry designer comes up with a novel way to commemorate a divorce

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

With this ring, I thee divorce.

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

Well, not exactly, but breakup rings are suddenly a thing. So says Lauren Boc, a jewelry designer.

FADEL: She got married last year, designing her wedding ring with a 3 1/2 carat, emerald-cut stone.

LAUREN BOC: I had the phrase from the Lizzo song "Soulmate" engraved on the inside - damn, she's the one. And the idea in my mind at the time was that, you know, I was committing to a lifelong partnership with someone.

MARTÍNEZ: But they split up just four months later.

BOC: That was completely unexpected. And just, like, one of those rug pulled out from under you - your whole life falls apart in one conversation, one 40-minute phone call kind of thing. But I think that there are hopefully going to be results of the divorce that I do want to commemorate - things like my resilience, my ability to rely on myself.

FADEL: So for her breakup ring, Boc kept the same Lizzo engraving and setting style but went with a different diamond. Plus, she found support via her online community.

BOC: I got a lot of comments from people being like, babe, this is a new business for you, divorce rings. Let's go. I'm divorced. I want one. You know, it - just kind of cheering me on. And, like, let's make lemonade out of lemons.

MARTÍNEZ: Boc says her small company has gotten four times more orders for divorce or breakup rings recently. And she appreciates the positive tone of the attention she's received.

BOC: I do think it's all been very respectful and very celebratory. The news has really focused on the resilience that you need to go through a divorce and the inner strength that you need and the courage that that requires to completely reimagine your future and yourself as a now-single person.

FADEL: A similar, albeit larger, response came from a posting by model Emily Ratajkowski. She shared how she'd taken the diamonds from her engagement ring and included them in two different rings following her own divorce.

MARTÍNEZ: Boc says these breakup rings highlight alternative ways for women to value themselves outside of marriage.

FADEL: Talk about finding a silver lining in capitalism.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SOULMATE")

LIZZO: (Singing) 'Cause I'm my own soulmate. I know how to love me. I know that I'm... Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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Devan Schwartz
Devan Schwartz is an editor for NPR's Morning Edition. He is an experienced audio professional who, in addition to his work with NPR, has worked with such organizations as BBC, Slate, the New York Times, and various public radio stations.