The Art of Selecting a Diamond: 3 of 10

We have chosen to highlight the art of picking out a diamond. There are ten key steps in selecting the perfect engagement rings and wedding bands, and we want you to be informed as you make this important decision! Keep checking back as we highlight each step! 

Today: Selecting a Setting

The setting of a ring is the encasement that holds the stone in place. There are a number of different settings to choose from, from standard to custom. There are prongs, bars, tension, bezel, flush, cluster, and "invisible" styles to choose from. Be sure to ask your salesperson to show you the variety of settings that you have to choose from, Each setting can be desirable, depending on the style of  ring that you are considering. The most popular style is the "prong" because it holds the diamond differently than the others, which allows more light to travel through the stone, thus creating more sparkle. 

What a great experience. Thank you to everyone at eightWest for making this a wonderful experience.

The Art of Selecting a Diamond: 2 of 10

We have chosen to highlight the art of picking out a diamond. There are ten key steps in selecting the perfect engagement rings and wedding bands, and we want you to be informed as you make this important decision! Keep checking back as we highlight each step! 

Today: Metal and Sizing

 Engagement bands are typically made of platinum, yellow gold, or white gold. Platinum is the most expensive, because it resists tarnishing, but, unfortunately, it is also the most expensive metal to repair. The most popular metals are yellow gold, and white gold, which are typically available in 14 or 18-carat gold. They do tend to show wear, but can be easily repaired. White gold is very popular right now because it appears to be silver (though it is truly gold.) White gold does tend to loose its "silver" look, and will need to be repaired. The metal, and thickness of the band will affect the style of the ring, the stone, and the ease of repair and resizing. The size of the ring effects how much metal will be used to create it, therefore, size should be considered when selecting a metal. 

Love this Gown!

Welcome to 2011! 

Alma Novia has released their 2011 wedding collection, and this is our favorite! What a stunning dress! 

Steps to Picking out a Diamond: 1 of 10

We have chosen to highlight the art of picking out a diamond. There are ten key steps in selecting the perfect engagement rings and wedding bands, and we want you to be informed as you make this important decision! Keep checking back as we highlight each step! 

Today: Budgeting and Sizing

Before setting foot in a jewelry store, have your budget decided. It is easy to be persuaded by jewelry salespersons to "just spend a little bit more." When walking in to the store, be sure to let your salesperson know of your budget, and he or she will assist you with choosing a ring that fits comfortably within your price range. Speaking of fitting, be sure to know what size your soon-to-be fiancée wears! If anything, bring one of her rings into the store, and they'll be able to tell you the size. If you'd prefer for her to be completely surprised, it may take some work to get a ring of hers out of the house, but the surprise as well as being certain that the ring fits will be worth the hassle.