In the past, you only had to ask a few questions about choosing an engagement band: princess cut or emerald cut. Is it yellow gold or white? There are many things to think about when buying an engagement ring. These are the top tips to help you make this huge purchase.
1. Do not get caught up with a trend.
A timeless symbol of your love, an engagement ring, should be timeless and classic. The goal should be to find the perfect stone for your future spouse. To see what style would suit them, take a look at their existing jewelry. Do they prefer gold or platinum? Are they a minimalist or a statement jeweler? You can take inspiration from their style and choose the piece that they will wear for the rest of your life.
2. You don’t need to have perfect paper for a stone.
Experts in diamonds often refer to the “Four Cs”, which are color, cut and clarity. However, certificate grading is only one factor that should be considered when making a decision. A beautiful ring doesn’t necessarily require a D Flawless diamond. It is better to evaluate a stone based on the feelings it gives you, rather than the GIA grading (diamonds range from D to Z by Gemological Institute of America). While the grade is a good starting point, it should not be the only deciding factor.
3. If you, or your future spouse, believe it is important, size does not matter.
If you don’t believe it is the most important thing for your future spouse, then go big or go home should not be your mantra. Consider all options. It might be worth looking at putting more emphasis on size than on color or clarity.
This trend has been noticed by even those working in the jewelry industry. Jess Hannah, founder of J.Hannah jewelry line in Los Angeles, says that there is less pressure to wear a flashy ring. “The ring is now more an extension of someone’s personal style and sometimes it means deliberately opting out from ‘bling’. I love that women feel empowered to challenge the traditional jewelry store mold and find something that resonates with them personally. It’s a feminist choice.
4. Find out where the stone came.
According to Page Neal, jewelry designer and co-founder of Bario Neal, clients appreciate jewelry with backstories–especially when those backstories involve ethically sourced gems. Neal seeks out suppliers and mines that can show their gemstones, metals and diamonds were sourced sustainably. This is done in order to ensure they are traceable from mines to markets. Neal states, “People really want to know the origin of their jewelry.” People love that we search for stones to make their custom pieces. We search for unique and interesting stones and then return to discuss the options. When you work with Neal, make sure you share every detail with your future spouse.
5. Setting shouldn’t be an afterthought.
Once you have fallen in love, the next step will be to decide what to do with it. Cynthia Smith, Cynthia Cook Brides, a wedding stylist, explains that my fiance worked with Montana Coady (one of my best friends) to design my ring. Her advice was to see the center stone as an artwork piece and the setting as the frame. It is possible to be bold and create something unique. However, it is important that the ring reflects the personality of the wearer. You should consult an expert who you trust. Give them a rough idea of your vision and they will help you to find the right direction.
6. You don’t have to be limited by what is available and create a unique ring.
Millennials expect everything they purchase to be special and to have a vibe that matches their own. Women are increasingly choosing to forgo traditional settings and diamonds in favor of something unique, personal and unexpected. People are looking for something new. They are looking for something trendy and current that is timeless, not boring or basic. “They come to us looking for something unusual, but still sleek and clean so it will never go out of fashion,” Baylee Zwart, Azlee designer.
Zwart’s pieces may be minimal but they are minimalist in another way. They are sleek, geometric and ultralight. She is known for her modern and sharp designs, such as her Eclipse ring and shield-cut rings. Zwart states that she is a specialist in unusual and unconventional cuts and shapes so customers don’t have to worry about limitations.
7. You might consider working directly with a jeweler.
Hannah says that custom feels more special than simply walking into a shop and choosing something. A lot of people want something that is vintage-modern. These people don’t care about the size of a diamond, but they want something that is unique, such as a rose cut, and quality. Many people are avoiding diamonds altogether. I created a beautiful ring using alexandrite. This is a color-change gemstone that’s greenish in daylight and purple when lit in incandescent. Engagement rings aren’t just one-size fits all.
8. Do not try to do it all alone.
Shopping for engagement rings can be daunting. Get some help from your friends. Ask your friends who have been engaged to recommend jewelers. It’s a good idea to ask someone you know and who has a similar taste in aesthetics as you. The person you are buying for will have an idea in their head nine times out of 10, and might have shared it with a friend or added to a Pinterest board.
9. Do not commit.
Avoid entering into binding agreements with the jeweler, as this could lead to a matrimonial agreement that is not what you want. Worst case scenario, your spouse may not like what you have come up with. In that case, they should be able exchange it for something better. Your future spouse should love you and the jewelry that you bought forever.
10. It is not all about the price tag.
In a campaign that would have made Don Draper proud of De Beers, the advertising geniuses at De Beers launched an ad encouraging men to spend one-month’s salary on a wedding if they want to be “responsible” during the Depression. It grew to two months by the 1980s. Today, it is common to refer to the rule of thumb that a person should spend at least three months of a salary in order purchase this piece of forever jewellery. This is just clever marketing. There is no right or wrong way to decide how much to spend on an engagement band. Some women would rather have smaller, more affordable diamonds, while others may prefer to forgo diamonds entirely. Some people are opting for vintage or secondhand (eBay’s market is up 58%); while others are choosing a plain band, like Amanda Seyfried. Don’t settle for a ring with a price tag that doesn’t match your criteria.
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