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Countless couples around the world can attest to the fact that seeing your ring for the first time is one of the most memorable and exciting moments of your life. The engagement ring has long been established as a profound symbol of the beginning of you and your fiancé’s life journey side by side; the engagement ring should reflect the beauty and love you two share with one another. Gabriel & Co. is here to make the process of selecting and purchasing your perfect ring effortless, so you can rest assured you’ve made the right choice.
Let’s start with the main focal point of a ring – the center stone, diamonds currently being the most popular choice. What makes diamonds such a perfect choice? The diamond is the hardest mineral in nature and therefore a popular choice for engagement rings. Diamonds come in a variety of colors - anywhere from light pink to midnight black.
Tips: You’ve no doubt heard of the 4 Cs of Diamonds, which is how jewelers determine a diamond’s quality and value. The quality determines the value/price, so the more you know about the 4 Cs, the more you will understand what you are buying and get the diamond you want within your personal budget.
If you are looking for a personalized touch for your loved one’s ring, look no further than a gemstone. A gemstone can represent the month you two met or fell in love or your loved one’s birthstone. For example, the gemstone of September is Sapphire which is commonly used for Engagement Rings as a center stone or even sides stones. Each gemstone (there are over 20) comes in different colors, shapes, and sizes to add style, personalization and substance to any jewelry collection. When looking at a gemstone, it’s saturation or vividness gives it it’s value. The more “saturated” or “vivid” the color, the more valuable the gemstone.
Tips: The color of a gemstone is its most memorable characteristic. When you are looking at gemstones, notice the stone’s saturation, gradation and brilliance
With all of the focus on the center stone, it’s important to consider the style of the setting, the metal framework the stone is mounted in. The right setting can bring a different feeling to a ring. Certain settings can make the center stone appear larger than it is, give off a modern or vintage feel and even affect the security of the center stone. At Gabriel & Co., our settings are inspired by styles from around the world from vintage to modern, classic to edgy. Think about your bride-to-be’s personality and match it with a setting that fits her lifestyle. Your authorized Gabriel retailer can help you choose a setting that best suits your needs.
Tips: Her everyday style and her daily activities are the main considerations that should guide your selection of a setting.
After learning about the stone and the setting, the next thing to consider when shopping for a ring is the type of metal. The choices we suggest are: platinum, and gold. We offer 14KT and 18KT gold in yellow, white and rose tones. These have different characteristics to match varying personalities and skin tones. The value of a metal depends on how common it is – common metals are more affordable than rare metals, which are more expensive
Tips: If you’re set on a white tone metal, platinum provides lasting durability, hypoallergenic material and won’t fade in the years to come. For yellow metal lovers 14KT gold offers excellent resistance to wear and tear and is also a relatively affordable yet durable metal for use in engagement rings.
Ideally your engagement ring and wedding ring should complement one another. Wedding rings come in a variety of different setting styles, metals and widths: they can be plain metal or have set diamonds, gemstones or both. There is no rule demanding that the wedding band must exactly match the engagement ring. Although exact matching bands have long been a tradition, these days women are choosing different bands that perfectly complement their unique style and beautifully accompany their engagement ring.
Tips: One often overlooked characteristic of a ring is its width. A ring’s width is measured in millimeters, and the statement (or lack of) your bride wants to make will determine how wide the ring should be.
A ring is important, but the most important thing is your love for each other. At Gabriel & Co., we want you both to be happy with the ring you choose since it represents the strength and commitment of your love. As long as you stick to your budget and pick a ring that matches her taste and style, you will pick the right ring. We will use our 150+ years of experience in precious jewelry to help you narrow down your perfect choice. Visit us at any of our 800+ trusted retailers nation-wide (click here to find the one closest to you) to see quality jewelry and experience quality service.
Tips: We want to reduce the stress and time you could experience when buying a ring, so we developed a Free Preview program to let you see the ring before committing to it. Click here to learn More