Everything You Need to Know About Engagement Rings
A jewelry good shares everything you need to know earlier buying an engagement ring
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An engagement ring signifies a huge milestone in a relationship, and then it's a purchase anyone taking that next footstep wants to get but correct.
Not only is information technology by and large ane of the largest purchases a person volition make — the average American spends $five,871 — it'southward typically one that's made by millennial males who take no thought what they're doing.
While more and more couples are shopping for appointment rings together, it's nonetheless skillful to take an idea going in of what you're looking for and what you want to spend.
We talked with Rony Vardi and Leigh Plessner, the cofounders of a popular, Brooklyn-based jewelry shop and online store called Catbird to discover out everything you need to know nearly purchasing an engagement ring.
Whether the ring in question is a classic diamond solitaire or something a flake less traditional, Vardi and Plessner have you covered with tons of incredible rings to shop and helpful advice. You can also cheque out Catbird'southward appointment ring shopping guide on the company'due south website.
Find out how much people are spending, how to decide her ring size, whether y'all demand a GIA certification or not, and more than.
And also cheque out our favorite engagement rings to give and become right now.
Your budget
Co-ordinate to The Knot's 2015 Existent Weddings Study, which surveyed 18,000 US brides and grooms married that yr, Americans are spending an average of $5,871 on a ring. While the dominion of spending two to three month'southward worth of salary on a ring islong outdated, couples should still seriously consider finances before buying a ring. Vardi and Plessner urge Catbird customers to spend what works for them: "Find a ring you dearest that is perfect for your partner, but it'southward simply half of what you planned on spending? Who cares! That's more than coin to buy a beautiful [wedding] band to go with it later. Or, get on vacation. No matter your upkeep, you'll be able to discover something special."
The four C's
1 of the terms you meet a lot when you start researching appointment rings, and especially diamonds, is the "4 C's." Diamonds are graded and priced based on the 4 C'south. These C'southward are: cut, carat, color, and clarity. They'reof import to know because they assist yous empathize the quality of a ring, and they also assist determine its toll. "While we are of the conventionalities that if a band is beautiful and feels right, things like this don't necessarily affair, it'south still good to know what yous're paying for," said Vardi. You tin learn more about the four C's here.
The metal
Typically, you'll want either gold or platinum for immovability. "We recommend choosing the metal of an engagement ring based on the metal blazon of her everyday jewelry," said Plessner. "For instance, if she wears a lot of silver, she would near likely desire a platinum or white aureate engagement ring. If she wears yellow gold, stick to that. As for rose gilt, we would only recommend information technology if she wears a lot of rose gold pieces. Rose gold seems to be a real dearest it, or really, really don't shade of gold."
The stone (which doesn't take to be a diamond)
Diamonds are the near popular stones for engagement rings, just they're far from the only choice. A worldwide decline of diamond prices in the 1930s led De Beers to begin its world famous marketing campaign, "A diamond is forever." The campaign helped to cement diamonds' status every bit the prime engagement ring stone. Sapphires, rubies, opals, emeralds, moonstones, and pearls (or any combination of all the in a higher place) can also make a beautiful band though. For case, Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria an emerald-studded serpent ring to mark their appointment. "The key is just knowing your partner's manner and what they wait out of a band in terms of everyday wear and durability," Vardi told the states. "Some stones are not as durable as diamonds or sapphires, so this is definitely something to take into consideration when choosing a rock. " You can learn nearly gemstones' hardness and durability here.
Her style
Think about the words yous employ to describe your partner'southward style and what you already know she likes. "Isolating a few bear upon points most her artful helps when going through ring options and allows you to focus on a smaller grouping of choices, making the process less overwhelming," Vardi told us.
If yous're truly stumped, yous should consider proposing without a band or with an obvious substitute, and then embark on the actual ring-shopping experience together.
Band sizing
Ring sizing is not an exact science. "It depends so much on the shape of one's fingers, how someone likes to clothing their rings, the width of the ring, and and so on," Catbird's cofounders told us.
"If you lot can, secretly sideslip a ring that she wears on her ring finger onto your finger and mark where information technology hits. If she wears information technology on her left hand (assuming that is her non-dominant hand), make sure to size down a ¼ size. You can use a ring sizer to see what size the ring is that hits that same marker."
ThingsVardi and Plessnersuggest you lot go along in mind if you practice not know her size: 1. After selecting the ring they want to propose with, some customers purchase the floor sample for the proposal and then come up in afterwards to get sized and social club the exact size.
2. Some rings tin can be re-sized, some cannot exist sized at all, and some can only be re-sized a lilliputian bit. Inquire an experienced jeweler about the style y'all're considering if y'all don't know her size and they tin can advise yous.
Ultimately, as well big is better than as well modest. You can find more ring sizing data here.
Authentications and certifications
"When it comes to authentications and certifications, it actually depends on what you are looking for in a ring," saidPlessner. "For example, if you have your heart set up on a full-carat, brilliant-cut diamond, then you'd desire a GIA certification. If you lot are looking for something more along the lines of a colored diamond, such as a black diamond, a GIA certification is not applicable, as GIA's grading scale is centered on evaluating a white, bright-cut diamond." "It is also important to be knowledgeable of where the materials used to make your ring are sourced. At Catbird, we are committed to carrying pieces that use recycled materials and are ethically sourced."
Return and insurance policies
With a purchase every bit big as this one, you should actually consider getting it insured. "Usually insurance companies volition ask that you that provide a receipt of purchase, or sometimes fifty-fifty an appraisal, depending on the kind of coverage you're looking for," said Vardi. Returns are more complicated, especially if y'all go the custom-made route. "[Catbird] stands behind all the products that we sell, and if a repair is needed (it can happen), we always send rings dorsum to the original designer and then that they tin exist repaired in the best way. Some rings are returnable, merely about custom-ordered rings are final sale. We can always piece of work with customers and show them samples so they are 100% comfortable before having a ring made." Vardi andPlessner propose soliciting help from her best friend, mother, or sibling — southwardomeone she may have discussed her preferences with —if y'all're not already sure virtually what sort of ring she wants. "A surprising number of our wedding addendum clients have also been tipped off by a Pinterest board."
Some of our favorite appointment rings you can buy at Catbird:
Second only to diamonds, rubies (a variety of the gem species "corundum") are harder than any natural stone on globe. Information technology'south the ruby'southward deep crimson color that sets it autonomously from the rest of its jewel species; every other color in the family unit is called sapphire.
Pictured: Polly Wales Royal Red Ring, from $three,400
This is a Victorian-inspired date band — perfect for anyone who loves antique jewels. Pieces exchanged between lovers or husbands and wives of this time period (approximately 1830 to 1901) often bore images associated with fidelity and eternity. The "infinity knot" ring pictured here served equally a metaphor for undying affection. Pictured: 1909 by Erica Weiner Diamond Bow Ring, from $two,250
Iii-stone rings, sometimes called "trinity" or "trilogy" rings, represent a couples' past, present, and hereafter — packing a lot of significant into each stone. Unlike a solitaire ring with accent stones, these have iii distinct center stones. Pictured: Kataoka Three Cosmos Ring, from $three,720
Source: https://www.insider.com/guides/style/how-to-shop-for-an-engagement-ring-buying-guide-2016-10
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