The holidays have passed, and you now see many of your friends and family members gushing over their recent engagements. Seeing the happiness that this brings may have given you the push you need to take the leap. The leap being . . . ring shopping! Valentine’s Day is coming, so what better day to pop the question than one meant to express LOVE!
Let’s talk about the ring’s stone first. Gone are the days when the stone must be a diamond, but if a diamond is your partner’s best friend, then be sure to learn more about the 4C’s of diamonds before making a purchase: carat, cut, color, and clarity.
The 4C’s are easily remembered as:
- Carat Weight refers to the diamond’s total weight – not the size.
- Cut is the most important characteristic of a diamond. The cut defines the amount of sparkle in the gem.
- Color is second most important referring to the lack of color. The less color, the higher the grade.
- Clarity is often the least important of the characteristics. Clarity is based on the number of imperfections or inclusions in a diamond – many are so tiny they can only be detected by a microscope.
These days, being daring and different can make ring shopping more interesting. There are dozens of beautiful gems from Alexandrite to Zoisite. In ancient times, gemstones were thought to have healing powers, and to this day are aligned with astrological meaning. When choosing a stone for your engagement ring, here are four simple ways to select the stone that will speak about your partner’s personality, while speaking to their heart:
- Birthstone – choose the stone that represents the month or zodiac sign of their birth.
- Favorite Color – we all have a favorite color, one that accents our eyes, suits our personality, or just makes us happy. Choose a stone based on the color that resonates with your partner, knowing you will be forever remembered as their favorite with every look at the ring.
- Meaning – each stone has a meaning, for example, Kunzite is believed to help awaken the spirit and evoke love’s energy. It is said to bring out loving emotions and ideas, as well as strengthening communication. Its pink color is also symbolic of love and marriage and is stunning in a rose gold setting. Find the meaning of a stone here: All Genstone Meanings & Crystal Properties | Beadage
- Date – choose a stone based on a memorable date. Perhaps the day and year of your first date, the day you proposed, or your wedding date. Remember to have the date inscribed inside the band of the ring to ensure the date is remembered always. GemSelect has a great way to select different stones by year, month, day, and hour. Gemstones by Birth Date – Gems By Hour, Day, Month and Year | gemselect.com
Back to the 4C’s...
While the 4C’s are attributed to the grading of colored gemstones, rarity is also a heavily weighted factor, which is sometimes the determining factor of value. For example, amethysts are often found in 1-carat size, but rarely found in a 100-carat stone; therefore, the rarity not necessarily the clarity of the 100-carat stone would play heavily on the worth of the stone. To learn more about gemstone grading read A Consumer’s Guide to Gem Grading – International Gem Society.
When making your purchase remember the 4S’s: setting, stone, size, and shape. Ensure all four come together to reflect your partner’s persona. Remember that this ring is a sign of your love, which will be worn with pride and affection. So, the most important part of ring shopping is not “bigger is better”, but rather that which will be cherished by your love forever.
Continue to read for more information about finding the perfect ring.
Sometimes, our love will drop little hints, like posting their favorite rings on their Pinterest board or discreetly sharing photos from magazines. Another good way to make sure you get something that is perfectly suited is to enlist the help of friends; even mothers are a good resource when ring shopping. This will help you become more confident in choosing the perfect setting, diamond color/cut, and style. If you want to brave it alone … you can always find help online. Listed below are some sites I find have good information about diamonds and engagement rings – giving you enough good information to get started on your search for the perfect ring. These sites will describe the most popular diamond cuts, like round, princess, and emerald. They will also show you more unique cuts such as the marquise, cushion, or pear. There are setting tips and even the freshest trends in wedding jewelry can be found.
- https://www.ritani.com
- http://www.bluenile.com/education/diamonds/cut
- https://www.theknot.com/fashion/engagement-rings
If you are a visual person, there are websites to help you design a ring based on your and your intended’s vision. Use this knowledge to create a ring online. The design you create can help you visualize the setting, making shopping easy and stress-free.
The three most important things about picking a ring are the diamond shape also known as cut, the band or setting, and the color. Once again, if you don’t know what your significant other wants, do the research. Look at their jewelry … is it all gold or silver, is it big, small, or something in-between? Perhaps, even borrow one of their rings to get the perfect size for their finger. All of these things can help you to find “the perfect fit”. When researching, be sure to check out your preferred jewelers online before visiting. You want more than a salesperson to assist you, you want a qualified jeweler who knows all there is to know about diamonds and their accompanying settings. Another helpful hint is to know your budget before going shopping. This is extremely important because after the ring other expenses will come along with planning a wedding celebration. You should always keep this in mind. Know what you can spend and stay within your budget! So, let the shopping begin!
- Step 1, take the leap!
- Step 2, learn more about the perfect style for your loved one.
- Step 3, do some research to know what to look for.
- Step 4, use your new knowledge and go to a reputable jeweler.
- Step 5, find the perfect fit!
- Step 6, Pop the question.
- Step 7, take your new fiancé on a venue tour of the beautiful Stroudsmoor Country Inn to begin planning your big day!
