Ring in the New Year!
How are you ringing in the New Year? Many couples start with an engagement ring! The New Year is often the start of the engagement season, which generally begins around Christmastime and runs through the Spring.
The first step in choosing a ring is to find the shape that you like. Traditional diamond engagement rings can be round, also known as brilliant cut, emerald, marquis, pear, heart or princess cut. Other shapes include cushion and Asscher cuts.
The Main Event spoke to Jeweler Shirl Cox of Hofmeister Jewelers in Steamboat Springs for some great tips on choosing the right engagement ring.
It’s important to consider lifestyle when choosing a ring. If you live in a cold climate or have an active life you may want a low profile ring that won’t get in the way of sports or taking on and off gloves all winter. A bezel set is a great choice as there are no prongs that might catch.
Another big question is how much to spend on a ring. Prices start at about $500 but Shirl says the average ring price they sell is around $4000. That is down from about $8000 a few years ago. What is most important is that the diamond “speaks” to you and looks good on your hand.
In Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping District 5th Avenue Designs owner Larry Blauweiss recommends that grooms put money aside and then spend an amount which makes them feel most comfortable. Most of the engagement rings sold at 5th Avenue Designs sell at a price point between $5000 – $10,000. About half of the men come in and make the purchase on their own. It is important to become educated about diamonds and Larry teaches customers the four C’s (cut, clarity, color and caret weight) and what they mean in terms of picking out a beautiful diamond. You may decide to choose a larger stone (carat) and compromise on one of the other “C’s” – but Larry warns, “never compromise the quality of the cut becaue that is what controls the brilliance of the stone.” Sparkle is the first thing people notice when you look at a diamond. When guys do go it alone they can pick out the diamond in a basic setting for the proposal and then come back and pickout the setting together with their finace.
If possible, it’s best to shop as a couple but if you are a guy shopping solo you’ll need to find out the stone shape and the type of metal your bride to be prefers. If you would like the engagement to be a surprise, it’s best to talk to a sister or close family member to get a sense of the style, shape and overall look. Another option is to buy a loose stone for the proposal and later design the ring together.
Above all when selecting a ring make sure you buy from a jeweler that will give a money back guarantee and one that will stand behind what they sell.
Why are we so drawn to diamonds? Well Shirl Cox offered up this thought: Humans are made up of carbon and diamonds are the purest form of carbon, so there is a natural attraction. In a way there is also a symbiotic relationship between man and diamonds. “Mother nature creates the diamond but it takes man to release it’s beauty.”
Be sure to use a reputable jeweler to help you find the ring that best represents your love. For more information on engagement rings be sure to click on the links in this article or contact The Main Event!
http://www.hofmeister.com/weddings_theFourCs.aspx