Rings

the circle of love

It’s amazing that a piece of jewelry can convey such powerful meaning. Engagement rings and wedding bands represent the never-ending love you have for each other and let the whole world know you are married! Besides the exquisite beauty of wedding rings, there is a lot to know about metals, diamonds, and the care involved.4

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IS YOUR RING INSURED?

As soon as bring your engagement ring home, make sure that your insurance policy is updated to offer adequate protection in the event of a loss or theft.

RING TRENDS

Reflection of your personal flair is what it’s about. Whether you adore traditional or lean toward trendy, you won’t be at a loss of eye candy to choose from.

Newer Trends include the vintage inspired halo ring (a setting that encircles a center gemstone in a collection of smaller stones) to fashion-forward two-stone rings (two central gemstones either the same or mixed). Colorful diamonds or gemstones like sapphires, emeralds, and rubies are very popular. Choose a shade and setting that speaks to your personal style because the choices are endless.

We’re seeing bold standalone bands as well as matching bands. Diamond-encrusted, luxe signet rings and sparkly eternity or infinity bands (with its endless circle of stones) that symbolizes never-ending love. If you can’t decide between an elaborate band or engagement ring with a center stone, we love the idea of both, wearing your engagement ring and wedding band for different occasions. Consider including meaningful details, like a favorite quote or your wedding date engraved into the band.

KNOW YOUR METALS

14-karat yellow gold is classic, can be polished easily and durable enough for daily wear. White gold is made by mixing pure gold with other white metals such as nickel, palladium, or zinc, and can be a less-expensive alternative to platinum. Platinum is a very white and durable metal, ideal for engraving. A sister metal, palladium is naturally white and is strong, non-tarnishing, and hypoallergenic. It’s also less expensive than platinum. Titanium and tungsten carbide have become popular for men’s wedding bands; both metals are 100% hypoallergenic and relatively inexpensive.

KNOW YOUR DIAMOND

When shopping for a diamond, you will quickly be introduced to the “Four Cs” — cut, color, clarity, and carat. All four features can make a dramatic impact on the quality, and therefore price, of a diamond.

CUT. Cut really refers to the proportions of a diamond and its facets, as opposed to its shape, which includes round, oval, pear, marquise, emerald, square, heart, and triangle. Regardless of shape, a diamond gets its brilliancy from the cutting and maximizing the reflection of light.

COLOR. Color refers to the lack of color in a diamond. White diamonds are graded on a D–Z scale, D being the most colorless and Z having a distinct body color.

CLARITY. Clarity is defined by the number, color, nature, size, and position of natural marks (called inclusions) contained in the gem. Excellent clarity means light can pass unimpeded through the stone and increases its value. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) judges’ clarity based on a standard 11-point scale from “Flawless” through “Imperfect 3.”

CARAT. Diamonds are weighed in carats, which may also be expressed as “points,” where one carat equals 100 points. A diamond of 50 points, for example, equals .5 carat.

TAKE GOOD CARE

Have your rings checked annually by your jeweler for loose prongs or settings. This is especially important if you have only four prongs, because just one broken prong will cause you to lose your stone. B