Halos, Emeralds and Solitaires, Oh My!

So it is time to start looking at engagement rings, but where do you begin? W. P. Shelton Jewelers’ guide provides six easy steps that will lead you in the right direction for choosing YOUR perfect engagement and wedding rings.

1 – Explore styles.

There are numerous style quizzes online that you can use to define your ring style. Take a couple of those quizzes to see what they say about your personality, and your style likes or dislikes. We cannot forget about the abundant Pinterest pictures. Who can resist creating a Pinterest page with those beautiful shiny rings? Once you create a page (or two), you will start to notice either a single theme, or a couple of themes developing. After saving your favorites, the next best thing to do is categorize the style details you love. This will help when you make your first visit to the jewelry store. We suggest specifying the categories and details below:

• Metal color: platinum, white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold

• Stone shape: princess, round, square, emerald, heart, etc.

• Ring setting: solitaire, halo, three diamonds, etc.

• Overall style: vintage, traditional, elegant, elaborate, simple, ornate, etc.

If you plan to dress your ring up with a ring guard, be sure to choose a style that allows versatility to go from an everyday look, to a more formal one.

2 – Educate yourself on the four C’s.

What are the four C’s? Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat. There is a lot more that meets the eye when it comes to picking a stone. Do not get overwhelmed when you first start "looking” into the diamond. The four C’s directly affect pricing for the ring as a whole. This is the time to decide if you are leaning more towards weight vs. clarity, cut vs. weight, and so on. Meeting with your jeweler in person will clarify a lot more about the four C’s.

3 – Choose your wedding band.

It is easy to forget about the wedding band when you are so focused on your future diamond ring. There are several ways to approach the wedding band style. First, ask yourself if you ever plan to wear the wedding band by itself. This will sway you in one direction over the other when it comes to the straight and curved bands. Next, determine if you like the flush look. Trying on samples at the store will help you decide. Lastly, engagement rings usually come with a specific wedding band style to compliment the ring. However, you can choose to mix and match styles. Remember, style is 100% up to you!

4 – Set a budget.

Prepare ahead of time, with your special someone, what the total budget will be (including the wedding band). There are several stereotypical suggestions out there on how much should and should not be spent. However, by determining a monthly budget or an amount to save, you will know exactly what you are comfortable spending. Do not be afraid to share your budget with your jeweler. They will keep it confidential as they discuss financial options and guide you on this special purchase.

5 – Pick a designer.

If you have the niche for design or know exactly what you are envisioning, creating your own engagement ring may be the best option. Or, maybe your heart has melted looking at the ring of your dreams online and in stores. Either way, you have plenty of options with W. P. Shelton Jewelers. They can hand design your dream ring, or order from your favorite designer.

6 – Visit the jewelry store online or in person.

Making a visit to your jewelry store can come before or after the steps listed above. The experts at W. P. Shelton Jewelers will assist you with anything you may need, educate you on the four C’s, and show you all the beautiful styles and design options.