BACK TO BASICS: HOW TO SHOP FOR AN ENGAGEMENT RING
We asked designers and retailers for their best tips and tricks.
MARIA BOBILA A DAY AGO
"Basic" may have adapted a negative connotation in recent years, but there's no shame in seeking advice on theoretically simple sartorial conundrums. In our latest column, "Back to Basics," we're here to guide you through life's most common (and important) fashion and beauty concerns. Here, we tackle the topic of shopping for an engagement ring.
If you're reading this, you're doing it. You're about to get an engagement ring. Are you feeling overwhelmed? Excited? Clueless? That's totally normal. "A diamond ring purchase can be someone's first financial decision," says Kristen Lawler-Trustey, a spokesperson for the De Beers diamond brand Forevermark. "It's such an important decision both from an emotional and financial standpoint." But with a little knowledge, the shopping experience won't be so intimidating, and that's where we come in.
The majority of this article will best serve the lucky partner who's doing the purchase and the big ask. But it also helps for both parties in the relationship to be equally informed when it comes to purchasing a rock that's forever. Read on to learn some key advice, tips and tricks from expert designers and retailers on shopping for an engagement ring.
FIGURE OUT YOUR BUDGET
The three-month's salary rule? A myth. "It's all marketing," says Blue Nile spokesperson Josh Holland, who counsels customers to set a budget that they can reasonably afford and stick to it. It's the least romantic — and often uncomfortable — part of an engagement ring, but it's the most important when it comes to looking for one. "Once you know what your budget is, you can find the perfect ring. It's hard to narrow down your choices without it," says Elizabeth Doyle of Doyle & Doyle, a jewelry shop in New York City. "We don't want to show people things that are outside the budget because it's a waste of time for everyone." She also recommends finding a jeweler who will respect your budget and show you anything that works with it, which leads us to…
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