So much goes into the planning of a proposal. For many, it’s one of the most momentous times in life, when two independent people decide to take on life as one family. And, through tradition and trend, the engagement ring is an important part of this life-changing event.
There’s a lot to consider when planning that perfect moment to propose to your partner, and, all too often, we get hung up on the quest for the perfect ring to mark what we hope will be a perfect moment. Shopping for and choosing the engagement ring is an exciting, and sometimes overwhelming time for any couple. With a little pre-planning and preparedness, the process can start being as fun and hopeful as the life moment it signifies.
Before you shop
There are a few things to consider before shopping that can make that initial store visit more productive. One important factor is finding a jeweler who can be a partner to you during the selection process. Their insights on quality, materials, and trends can help you navigate the selection process and find the right ring for your budget and style. From there, having an idea of personal style and preference and how that might translate into the diamond you select as well as the metal choice will help to provide the necessary foundation to start shopping.
Personal Style, Preferences, and Trends
A close friend or family member can be a great source of information for determining your partner's unique preferences and tastes. The rise of Instagram and Pinterest have also become hubs of expression and inspiration when it comes to defining style preferences. Using close connections and social media as a resource can help you narrow down options before you start your shopping journey.
Some people may also be partial to current jewelry trends, and gravitate to what’s “in” now. This year we’ve seen a big demand in oval and pear diamond shapes as opposed to the more traditional, classic round cut. When it comes to mountings, we’re seeing a lot of shoppers gravitate to the hidden halo band, where accent stones are embedded on the band itself to provide an additional sparkle when light hits the ring from any direction. The use of non-traditional stone shapes both for the center stone as well as the accompanying band is also having a trend moment, with baguettes leading the charge. Ultimately a jewelry store with a large inventory is a great place to start the shopping process to better view styles from traditional to trend-forward.
Another thing many couples do is start the ring shopping process together. We see plenty of partners visit our store together to try on a variety of styles before one returns to make the final purchase. A joint shopping experience can be very informative and has little to no change on how impactful the moment of proposal is. Shopping together to explore the wide selection of colors, shapes, bands, sizes, etc. can be a huge help in customizing a piece that your partner will love forever.
The 4 Cs of Diamonds
While budget absolutely informs purchasing decisions, there are a lot of factors that contribute to the value of a stone. There are 4 major categories of diamond selection that will determine what fits into your budget:
Cut: The ability to refract light and sparkle is determined by a diamond’s cut. The cut, which factors in proportion and placement of facets, determines how much brilliance or “sparkle” the diamond has. There’s an art to how a diamond is cut and within this considers inclusions and imperfections and how to best cut a diamond to optimize its fire. It’s important to remember that a “fair” cut does not mean you don’t have a good quality diamond. Ultimately some of the choice here is personal based on how the diamond looks to you.
Color: Every diamond sits on a color scale ranging from colorless (D) to fancy colors (all the way to Z) that range in hue. If the intent is to not choose a fancy color, then most shoppers will have access to diamonds rated colorless to near colorless at a traditional jewelry store. While D is the highest color grade and completely colorless, a well-cut diamond with plenty of fire may have a lower color rating that goes largely unnoticeable to the naked eye. In fact, it's not until H or I colors that the unaided eye might see a slight yellow tint against a white background. As with cut, determining what color rating is acceptable is often a personal decision based on overall look.
Clarity: The clarity of a diamond is often given the most consideration. Diamonds are rated on a scale from Flawless to Included. Flawless diamonds are incredibly rare and are at the highest end of the scale and contain no inclusions or blemishes. From there inclusions are characterized as what is visible under 10x magnification. The more inclusions, the more they impact transparency and brilliance. Inclusions are a natural part of most diamonds and do not necessarily mean that the stone is of poor quality.
Carat: A diamond carat defines its weight, which visibly translates to the size of the diamond. The choice of diamond size is impacted by budget but also by the mounting/band choice.
The 4 Cs are a guideline for quality and something to consider during your diamond selection process. Ultimately there’s an important human component that factors into the ultimate decision. A jeweler can help present stones that contain the best blend of features within your preferred budget to help you choose a stone that looks perfect to you.
Metals and Mountings
When it comes to fine jewelry, especially engagement rings, the metal selection for the band can be just as important as the diamond itself. Not only is metal selection important, but the customization of the mounting adds trend and style to make the ring feel truly personal.
Metals:
The two most common metal types found on engagement rings are platinum and gold. Silver is sometimes available, but is mostly reserved for wedding bands. The main differences between platinum and gold are purity, color and price. They offer varied durability and skin sensitivity factors.
Platinum: Platinum is considered one of the rarest metals and can often have a higher price point. It’s dense, durable, hypo-allergenic and maintains a silvery-white color that, over time, develops a darker patina.
Yellow Gold: Yellow gold has a rich yellow hue that can vary depending on added alloys such as copper, resulting in colors like pink gold. Skin sensitivities are uncommon; however, can occur when higher levels of alloys are present.
White Gold: The composition of white gold tends to be 75% gold and 25% alloys such as nickel. White gold gets its bright white color from a process called rhodium plating that will need to be redone periodically for the life of the ring. Due to higher levels of nickel, some people experience sensitivity to white gold.
Rose Gold: Rose gold is an alloy made from a composition of 75% gold and 25% copper. The dark orange hue of copper mixed with the rich yellow hue of gold combines to make a gorgeous pink hue. The trace amounts of copper have a slight chance to cause irritation for those with hyper-sensitive skin.
There’s no “best” metal choice for rings. As in most situations, choosing a metal is a very personal process and style and personal preference is absolutely a factor. Once a metal has been chosen, there are a wide variety of mounting options to choose from. Personal preference will play a factor here as some mounting styles offer both wide and thin styles.
Choosing a mounting really comes down to how you would like the choice of diamond to be complemented.
Mountings:
Mountings are often where trends and personal style have the most impact. From the classic solitaire with an unadorned metal band to heavily accented diamond bands, there are countless options to choose from. Some of the larger trends we’re seeing today include halo and hidden halo rings with small diamonds encircling the center stone to add emphasis and dimension.
Finding the right retailer
In many ways jewelry is a relationship business. The right jeweler can help you take all of the above considerations and blend them all together into an engagement ring that will be cherished forever. One of my favorite things about my job at Diamonds Direct is being a trusted source of information and guidance for customers. I’ll oftentimes help customers choose an engagement ring and have them return to buy a wedding band, sharing with me the details of their proposal and showing gratitude for helping along the way.
It’s crucial to find a jeweler that goes above and beyond to assist with the buying process from start to finish including, at times, custom designs, sourcing, and more. Many jewelers offer upgrade programs as well as added value such as complimentary jewelry cleaning, maintenance checks for insurance policies, and appraisals. One of the most unique aspects of Diamonds Direct is our direct-to-consumer pricing. Our jewelers are involved in each step of the diamond’s journey from sourcing, cutting, and transporting - providing best-in-market pieces without the extra mark-ups from middlemen.
The right jeweler will be able to walk you through every step of the process, giving suggestions based on the styles you’ve identified and helping you craft a beautiful ring that adheres to your budget.
Shopping for an engagement ring can and should be a fun process. It’s normal to feel the pressure of creating the “perfect” ring but with some preparedness and the right jewelry partner, shoppers can feel confident that their selection will make their proposal a memory that lasts a lifetime.
Author: Michelle Duebner, a diamond expert and the General Manager of the new Diamonds Direct showroom located in Wauwatosa.