You may not know their names: Neil Lane, Lorraine Schwartz, Erica Courtney, Elliot Avianne, Harry Winston, Cartier, Jacob the Jeweller, Bulgari, Jennifer Meyer, Jacquie Aiche, WWake, One Jewelry, Ariel Gordon, Monica Vinader, and Jennifer Zeunerbut it’s likely your potential fiancé does – these are the names of jewellers to the stars (and, yes, their creations cost a fortune).
All of the aforementioned designers have created beautiful, newsworthy engagement rings for their high-profile customers. Unfortunately, many a beautiful ring was created for what would eventually become tabloid fodder during the inevitable uncoupling. No one talks about what happens to the ring (unless, of course, you’re Kris Humphries, whodid not get the whole value of the alleged $2 million US engagement ring he purchased for his 72-day marriage to Kim Kardashian, but was able to recoup well enough – $749,000through auction.)
Getting engaged is not something to be taken lightly. Sure, there are always couples who’ll defy the odds. No doubt, someday, you’ll be hearing about people who met on Tinder and have been together for decades. Or, the couples who decided to “pull the trigger” and marry during a whirlwind trip to Las Vegas.
These days, what ultimately keeps couples together (and avoid the “conscious uncoupling,” or whatever Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin called it) are the same things that have kept couples together for time immemorial:
- Love
- Commitment
- Devotion
- Respect
- Shared passions and interests
That said, if you can cite each of the above with a genuine resounding “Yes!” then you are probably one of the lucky couples who should be engaged. Fortunately, between the many jewellery shops and the Internet, it’s not hard to find a stylish selection of engagement rings and see their collection online. The key is to find the best possible ring at the best possible price.
Today’s men can consider their options and take advice from experts who advise:
- That solitaire will look most formal and the aforementioned classic in a simple setting, but a bold guy will ask to see different settings.
- Be sure you ask for a gemmologist’s evaluation, a certification to rank the stone’s colour, cut, carat weight, and measurements.
- Most engagement rings will feature gold and the ultimate metal platinum. Durable, a platinum ring will feature a more secure setting, and show fewer scratches and nicks. You can choose white gold, or traditional yellow gold, which is either loved or loathed by wearers. Be sure you know your potential fiancé’s preference.
- Protect yourself and that ring by investing in insurance. If the ring is lost or stolen, you’ll have some piece of mind, despite the sadness of losing something precious and sentimental.
- Did you know that a ring can be laser-inscribed with the diamond certificate number or your jeweller’s designation? Only visible under magnification, this is additional security insurance carriers like and can help reduce your fees.
- You can save up to 30 percent on diamonds that aren’t quite at the carat mark be it one, two or three.
- You can look to the future and the ring’s potential. Many couples will upgrade their rings for a big anniversary. Some even have it wrapped in luxury jewellery packaging at Serendipity Diamonds.
- If you’re confident in your abilities and your jeweller is amenable, you can ask if you can design a custom ring
- Finally, do not discount the potential for tremendous savings and massive inventory. Look to online jewellers for their wares.
Basically, you will consider the type of rings, which include:
- Solitaire
- Side Stones
- Antique
- Halo
- Three Stone
- Gem Stone
As well as the:
Diamond Cut
- Round
- Princess
- Asscher
- Radiant
- Cushion
- Emerald
- Marquise
- Oval
- Pear
- Heart