So, you're going to start looking for an engagement ring! This is one of the happiest and most exciting times in your life, but it can at times seem overwhelming. Don't let it be! Let us help you!
Working with a jeweler that you trust can take the weight off of your shoulders and even teach you some things that you may not have known. Shopping for an engagement ring is a personal experience, but one thing about it that should be universal about this occasion is having a trusted jeweler that provides you with an incredible experience. Your jeweler should assist you in becoming knowledgeable about engagement rings and should help you find the ring of you and your partner's dreams.
Where do we start? When you first lay eyes on an engagement ring, what do you see? That center stone. That's where your jeweler is going to begin when first starting the process of buying an engagement ring. The center stone shapes the whole ring, and there are a lot of variables that go into picking a center stone. First on the list, the shape! We all know and love the classic round stone, but there are so many other options. Marquise, emerald, oval, even pear!
Each stone shape can help build the vibe for the ring that is best suited for you and your partner. This can vary depending on style and even the build of the wearer's hand. Marquise and emerald-shaped stones are great options for somebody that wants to elongate their hand. A round center stone is more of a classic shape that can suit a lot of different hands well. Once the shape of the center stone is decided, the jeweler is going to finetune and hone into different aspects to make the right selection for you. This will include the infamous four C’s! Cut, clarity, color and carat. Carat will determine the size of the stone based on weight. Color will determine the warmth of the stone all the way to being completely colorless. Cut determines the sparkle of the stone, and clarity determines how eye-clean the stone is. Even though diamonds can seem other-worldly because of their allure and appeal, they come from the earth (in this case, speaking about earth mined diamonds) and can have inclusions. Inclusions are a naturally occurring imperfection in the stone that happens while the stone is being formed. Inclusions can vary depending on many factors including the heat and pressure at the time of the diamond’s forming. Clarity will determine what inclusions the stone has, and if they are able to be seen with the naked eye. All of these factors will determine the price of the loose stone. This is a way for the jeweler to get you the best diamond possible, based on your budget. An alternative to this, thanks to technology, is lab-created diamonds. With lab-created diamonds, there are more possibilities for getting a larger, clearer stone for a lower price since they are man-made. Choosing a lab-created vs. natural diamond is personal to each buyer based on preference and budget.
Once the center stone is decided on, your jeweler can focus on the setting! There are numerous setting options, and it can be as simple or as extravagant as you and your partner want. A classic solitaire setting consists of only a center stone and the band. A three stone setting would have one stone on each side to highlight and compliment the center stone. A halo-setting consists of many smaller stones wrapped around the center stone which can give the illusion of a larger stone. There are many options to choose from, and you can even custom create your ring with a skilled jeweler. A trusted jeweler will be able to give you different choices and create a custom ring that is beautiful and unique to the wearer.
Once you have decided on a center stone and a setting, all that is left is deciding on the metal that you would like everything to be set in. This can include yellow gold, white gold and even rose gold. Engagement rings are most commonly set in 14 karat or 18 karat gold. Once that is decided and finalized, you are on your way to popping the big question! Here at Conti Jewelers, our goal is always a happily ever after and we are dedicated to helping you along the way!
Working with a jeweler that you trust can take the weight off of your shoulders and even teach you some things that you may not have known. Shopping for an engagement ring is a personal experience, but one thing about it that should be universal about this occasion is having a trusted jeweler that provides you with an incredible experience. Your jeweler should assist you in becoming knowledgeable about engagement rings and should help you find the ring of you and your partner's dreams.
Where do we start? When you first lay eyes on an engagement ring, what do you see? That center stone. That's where your jeweler is going to begin when first starting the process of buying an engagement ring. The center stone shapes the whole ring, and there are a lot of variables that go into picking a center stone. First on the list, the shape! We all know and love the classic round stone, but there are so many other options. Marquise, emerald, oval, even pear!
Each stone shape can help build the vibe for the ring that is best suited for you and your partner. This can vary depending on style and even the build of the wearer's hand. Marquise and emerald-shaped stones are great options for somebody that wants to elongate their hand. A round center stone is more of a classic shape that can suit a lot of different hands well. Once the shape of the center stone is decided, the jeweler is going to finetune and hone into different aspects to make the right selection for you. This will include the infamous four C’s! Cut, clarity, color and carat. Carat will determine the size of the stone based on weight. Color will determine the warmth of the stone all the way to being completely colorless. Cut determines the sparkle of the stone, and clarity determines how eye-clean the stone is. Even though diamonds can seem other-worldly because of their allure and appeal, they come from the earth (in this case, speaking about earth mined diamonds) and can have inclusions. Inclusions are a naturally occurring imperfection in the stone that happens while the stone is being formed. Inclusions can vary depending on many factors including the heat and pressure at the time of the diamond’s forming. Clarity will determine what inclusions the stone has, and if they are able to be seen with the naked eye. All of these factors will determine the price of the loose stone. This is a way for the jeweler to get you the best diamond possible, based on your budget. An alternative to this, thanks to technology, is lab-created diamonds. With lab-created diamonds, there are more possibilities for getting a larger, clearer stone for a lower price since they are man-made. Choosing a lab-created vs. natural diamond is personal to each buyer based on preference and budget.
Once the center stone is decided on, your jeweler can focus on the setting! There are numerous setting options, and it can be as simple or as extravagant as you and your partner want. A classic solitaire setting consists of only a center stone and the band. A three stone setting would have one stone on each side to highlight and compliment the center stone. A halo-setting consists of many smaller stones wrapped around the center stone which can give the illusion of a larger stone. There are many options to choose from, and you can even custom create your ring with a skilled jeweler. A trusted jeweler will be able to give you different choices and create a custom ring that is beautiful and unique to the wearer.
Once you have decided on a center stone and a setting, all that is left is deciding on the metal that you would like everything to be set in. This can include yellow gold, white gold and even rose gold. Engagement rings are most commonly set in 14 karat or 18 karat gold. Once that is decided and finalized, you are on your way to popping the big question! Here at Conti Jewelers, our goal is always a happily ever after and we are dedicated to helping you along the way!