In anticipation of Weddings Illustrated Aisle Style event, Hamilton Jeweler’s Vice President, Donna Bouchard, sat down with them to answer questions and give insider tips on how to select the perfect engagement ring.
Weddings Illustrated: Every bride wants a wedding ring she’ll cherish forever but there isn’t a groom who wants to go broke buying one.
How do you purchase the perfect ring without breaking the bank?
Donna Bouchard: You don’t need the exact number but do have a range in mind and how you plan to pay for it. Options might include monthly payments on an installment program, financing the entire purchase or a combination of both.
You may be surprised that some financing offers now allow couples to find the perfect ring for less than what they may have imagined. In the end, purchase the nicest ring you can afford and make sure you are comfortable with the payment structure.
Every couple knows that when it comes to picking out a wedding ring, there is a lot to choose from. What are your top ring selection tips?
(For grooms) A bride will wear her wedding ring every moment so it needs to complement her style sensibilities—from casual dress to evening wear. Begin your search by answering these questions:
What is her style? Vintage, classic or modern?
What kind of jewelry does she already wear?
Does her jewelry tend to be more delicate or chunky?
So many settings, so little time. Can you help us pick through the popular ones?
The variety of patterns, details and metal choices may seem undending but there are four basic setting types you are likely to encounter. They are:
Solitaire: This single stone is still the most popular choice for engagement rings. The head secures the diamond and the prongs allow the stone to catch the most light. A four-prong setting shows more of the diamond but a six-prong setting is more secure.
Centennial 18k Gold and Diamond Solitaire Ring
Side Stone: Diamonds, or other gemstones, flank the main stone for additional sparkle and color. Popular side stone settings include ‘channel’ (which protects stones by keeping them flush) and ‘bar-channel’ (which allows more light to enter the side stones).
Cherish Channel Set 18K Gold and Cushion 1 Carat Diamond Ring
Three Stone: “One diamond for the past, one for the present and one for the future.” This ring’s center diamond is larger than the two side stones. Gemstones are usually all diamonds but other gemstones, such as a diamond flanked by two sapphires, can be used as well.
Destiny Platinum 3 Stone Diamond Ring
Vintage-inspired: This includes ‘halo’ settings which feature a center diamond with pavé diamonds surrounding it. Vintage- or estate-inspired designs often have delicate engraving and filigree details to further enhance the ring.
Lisette 18K Gold and Diamond Halo Engagement Ring
Most people will never remove their wedding rings and prefer to wear them year-round. When picking a ring size, what should couples keep in mind?
Inevitably, there will be times when your ring feels snug, like in warm weather, or when cooler temps seem to shrink your fingers. To help ensure a comfortable fit, try rings on when your hands are in their most normal state. If your ring spins around constantly, feels distracting or unpleasant, you may need to downsize it.
Rule of thumb: Your ring should feel snug but not tight. The best scenario is that you forget you’re even wearing a ring (except to gaze at its beauty!).
You’ve selected the stone and setting—now it’s time to pick a wedding band.
When it comes to longevity, shine and avoiding surface scratches, which metal is best: platinum or white gold?
Platinum. At 95%, platinum is one of the strongest and purest precious metals on Earth. White gold, which is either 58% or 75% yellow gold, is mixed with other materials then rhodium-plated to give it a white appearance.
Here’s some platinum vs. white gold facts:
Platinum is a natural white metal that will not fade or change color.
Platinum won’t reflect color into a stone. It will only enhance the brilliance of a diamond or gemstone.
Platinum is naturally hypoallergenic and may be worn by all skin types.
White gold loses little slivers of metal with every scratch so it must be reinforced, or re-shanked, to replace the metal that has worn away.
White gold’s rhodium plating needs to be replaced every 12-18 months to maintain its white appearance.
We hope to see you at this amazing, “best of” wedding showcase which will offer the latest bridal trends and of course exclusive diamond lounge! The event is at the Four Seasons Resort in Palm Beach from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. To purchase, click here.