Choosing the right ring
The mood in the apartment is set. Dim lighting, a few candles, roses and the engagement ring is snug in its little box. The fear of her saying “no” is not half as bad as the fear she won’t like the ring he chose.
Choosing and buying an engagement ring can be stressful, but students, and especially the men picking the ring, can be educated. With a little research and patience, students can know the investment they make will be worth the time and price.
Gene Needham IV of S.E. Needham Jewelers in Logan has been working in the jewelry industry for more than 25 years and said he recommends purchasing a ring that will last.
“A diamond ring is special in that it doesn’t go away. It will last a lifetime,” Needham said. “The original engagement ring is an important purchase because it will serve as that token of their love and of their engagement and their marriage many years to come.”
Purchasing an engagement ring may look complicated but it is simpler than it seems. The four main diamond characteristics are cut, color, clarity and carat weight, said Brian and Kathleen Smith, co-owners of The Diamond Gallery in Logan. The Smiths have been in business for more than six years with The Diamond Gallery, but have had more than 30 years of experience combined with the jewelry business.
Cut
A diamond cut can be graded on its proportions (the total depth and angles), how the light is reflected and returns off the diamond and the shape, Needham said. Diamonds shapes include round and princess cut as well as rectangular or emerald, marquee, trillion, oval, trapezoid, heart and pear shapes.
Color
Most diamonds are rated by how close to colorless or white they are. Colorless, with ratings of D, E or F, will be more expensive where they prices will go down from near colorless through light yellow, ratings of G through Z.
Clarity
This describes the degree of imperfection, or inclusions. The standard is an internally flawless (“F”) diamond, with no inclusions visible under 10-power magnification.
Carat
This is roughly the size and weight of a diamond. Diamond carats can be as little as .25 of a carat to 3.00 carats or higher.
Other factors go into picking a ring. Needham said one of the most important things is to determine if students want the ring with multiple diamonds or if they should focus on a simple band with a larger diamond. After that, it’s picking the diamond shape and the band width and color, whether it is white gold, yellow gold or platinum.
Kathleen said even though the four c’s are important, it’s not the most important factor when choosing an engagement ring.
“After I tell you, erase everything you’ve just heard and judge with your eyes,” Smith said. “Most people have an instinct and knowing quality of what looks good. We do
educate you, but judge with your eyes.”
Ashley Alanis, sophomore in public health and pre-health, has worked for The Diamond Gallery for six months. She recommends looking before going into the store to know what they want.
“Research it before you come in,” Alanis said. “I love it when people come in already knowing pretty much what they want so I can narrow it down in my head of what to find them. Also come in with a price range in mind.”
Jarrick Layland of Preston, Idaho, has worked four years with The Diamond Gallery and said the Gallery can work with students’ price range while keeping what the girl likes.
“You can still get what she wants and be affordable,” Layland said. “You can get a very nice ring if you budget between $2,000 and $3,000 but don’t be afraid if you only have $1,000 price range because that’s still very accommodating. We can find you a beautiful ring.”
Needham advises that even though there are many unique rings out there, the most important thing is to find a ring the girl likes, a ring that will last and that the guy will be proud of.
“In the end, for a gal, she looks at it, sees it and wears it daily for the rest of her life,” Needham said. “And often a statement that we make is that it’s important for a ring to have quality so it will be noticed from across the room and everyone will know that she’s yours.”
–mackenzie.love@aggiemail.usu.edu