Photo credit: Amber Marlow
The reality is that there are so many elements to bridal accessories that I never thought about pre-planning, but none are as important as the ring. It’s the physical symbol of everything – the all-important token you will be walking around with indefinitely. Though it wasn’t the case for me, it’s pretty common for guys to get a sense for their lady’s taste (sometimes via friends) to help make this decision. I feel a bit lucky that I didn’t have to provide input, as there are so many things to consider in selecting a ring. Pinterest is a great place to scroll through some visuals to get a sense for your style. Here are some things to contemplate in advance so you’re ready if/when you need to know what you’d prefer.
Photo credit: Dr. Photo (Joey Pasion)
- Cut – Marquise, emerald, asscher, princess, round, pear… it’s like another language. Before going to look in person, I’d suggest looking at what these words really mean online. This will make it easier for the sales rep to guide you through available options to see which you prefer on your hand. Remember most people wear their ring at all times, so factor in your lifestyle in addition to what style ring works best with your overall sense of style.
- Stone type – Are you a traditional diamond girl? Or are you wanting something less standard, or sans-stone altogether?
- Metal choice – Rings come in all sorts of finishes, such as gold, rose gold, white gold, silver, and platinum. Consider what kinds of jewelry you tend to prefer. Perhaps there’s a certain metal that you feel works best with your skin tone. Remember, what ever you choose, you’ll be wearing it daily and it will also help denote what you choose for a wedding band.
- Style – The style you’re wanting impacts your band and the overall composition of your ring. There’s your more traditional band – not super thick and made out of your choice of metal. There’s the option of a pavé band, where the diamonds continue on around for a portion of the band of your engagement ring. There’s something more varied in levels around, like the ring below. And, of course, there are vintage varieties. I think I fell into the rabbit hole one day going through these on Pinterest. It can be harder finding some of these styles for purchase, but some are worth a good hunt.
- Size – How big are you thinking? Remember, price is definitely a factor on this (layered with the clarity of the stone). If you want a larger stone than price allows, you may want to consider alternate stones. A friend of mine, for example, elected to go with cubic zirconia so she was able to get the aesthetic she really wanted. Another important thing about size – you need to know yours! I suggest popping into somewhere nicer (I went to Tiffany) to get your ring finger measured, as they will give you a more precise answer. You might need a 1/2 or 1/4 increment, and a fine jeweler will help you get the precise answer. This is especially important for custom orders or bands where adjustments will not be possible.
I have to give a shout out to my ring designer, Olivia Ewing (and to my husband on custom creating such an amazing piece of jewelry). My ring is so unlike any other ring I have ever seen. The diamond itself is from my mother-in-law’s original engagement ring. It’s set in a platinum band, cast from a twig from Prospect Park. The band itself is accented by small yellow diamonds all the way around, because yellow is my favorite color. It’s just beautiful.
If you’re in the NYC area, below are some great places to get started as you shop for rings:
Catbird – 219 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn
Anna Sheffield – 47 Orchard Street, Manhattan
Tiffany – 727 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
Olivia Ewing – Online
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