Getting engaged is one of life’s great joys. It’s a moment in time which allows us all to believe in love ever after, a future brighter because someone else is in it, a purity of feeling where love does, indeed, conquer all. Or it should be, anyway. Unfortunately, like all other great moments in life, the purity and beauty of it can be stolen by the opinions of others, along with myths and the fake-life of Instagrammers and Tik Tokkers, telling you what you should and shouldn’t be doing to make sure your engagement is picture perfect.
Here’s a secret: if your love is real, it doesn’t matter how your engagement plays out. It will be perfect for you and your partner.
That being said, there are a few bigger myths we’d love to debunk for you, which should take some of the pressure off. So, without further ado, here are five of the most common engagement ring myths.
Engagement Ring Myth #1: Bigger is Better
The bigger the diamond, the better the engagement ring, the happier the recipient, right? Wrong.
To be sure, a giant sparkly diamond really makes a statement – but depending on your partner it could be the wrong statement. Does she even love big jewelry? Or does she prefer dainty elegance? Is she one to rock a big rock? Or is her style decidedly more understated in its simple beauty?
If you can afford a big diamond, and your partner likes the look of the giant rocks made famous by celebrities the world over, then by all means go big. But just know that bigger isn’t always better. (Side note: It’s also important to remember here that size (or carat) is not the only factor in determining the value of a diamond. The other 3 of the 4Cs, cut, color, and clarity, should also be considered. You can read more about those here.)
What’s more, when it comes to engagement rings, those big knuckle dusters can be unwieldy and difficult for daily wear. A more delicate, intricate, carefully-designed and deliberated style is not only more accessible in terms of price, but is easier to wear, subtler in its approach, and often tells more of a story. And, if you have chosen the right jeweler, they can help you make sure that no matter what size you settle on, your chosen ring won’t lose out on any of the sparkle every newly engaged fiancée loves.
Engagement Ring Myth #2: Budget 3 Months’ Salary for Your Engagement Ring
Oh, heck no! The notion that an engagement ring should cost 3 months’ salary is not only outdated, but really just wrong. Going into a marriage resentful of the amount of money you spent on a ring, and/or in debt, is a terrible way to start your new life together.
Bottom line: you spend what you can afford and are comfortable spending.
Of course, there is no denying that diamonds are not cheap. But they don’t need to break the bank. And while, yes, some people will save for years to achieve a particular size stone and only then propose, for most the proclamation of love with an engagement, and ring, is not quite so calculated.
So, how do you buy the sparkler of her dreams on your budget? Start by choosing your jeweler wisely. The right jeweler will work with you, within your budget, to find the right ring at the right price.
Once you have that in place, you can start looking at compromising or economizing:
- You might check out lab-grown diamonds instead of mined diamonds.
- Consider ditching the diamonds for something different altogether – moissanite or colored gemstones are budget-friendly diamond alternatives that won’t break the bank but will definitely have her breaking into a delighted smile!
- If you’re dead set on a diamond, know how to buy a diamond within your budget – check out our easy, step-by-step guide on exactly how to do that here.
- Remember that your chosen stone doesn’t need to be flawless – aka ultra-expensive. There is real beauty to be found in flaws – both in people and precious jewelry!
In short, like people, stones and engagement rings come in all shapes, sizes, colors and designs. And price ranges. The important thing? Know your partner’s likes and dislikes, then work with a jeweler to create a ring that both she, and your wallet, will love.
Engagement Ring Myth #3: Engagement Rings Must be White Diamonds
Yes, white diamonds are the most traditional stone for an engagement ring. But more and more brides-to-be are embracing engagement rings that say something more about them than just the fact that they got engaged.
One way to do this is to look at colored diamonds – pink, yellow, gray, black… diamonds are quite diverse, and equally spectacular in all their forms and colors.
Another way to buck the white diamond trend is by eschewing diamonds altogether, opting instead for a brightly hued, and symbolism imbued, gemstone. Colored gemstones continue to be a growing trend in engagement rings for many reasons, not least of those being that the rainbow really is just the beginning of what can be a very colorful expression of her style, and your love and life together.
Precious gemstones come in a quite magical array of gorgeous colors, with many colored gemstones holding special symbolism and meaning that is totally unique. (Check out our blog on birthstones for more about this – and for some inspiration for a truly unique, personal engagement ring!) Plus, many are far more budget friendly than diamonds.
There’s so much to love about stones other than diamonds, so don’t be afraid to ditch the diamond and go for something completely different and dazzling.
Engagement Ring Myth #4: Any/All Stones Work for Engagement Rings
Okay, so we do have a caveat to myth #3… sure, don’t be afraid to ditch the diamond, BUT do your homework on your chosen stone to see if it’s actually going to be a suitable option for an engagement ring.
What do we mean by this? Well, engagement rings tend to be the one piece of jewelry that is worn 24/7, 365 days a year, until death do you part. What this means is that the stone and design must be capable of withstanding daily wear and tear, along with life’s little, and hard, knocks.
Opals, turquoise, pearls, amber, moonstones… As gorgeous as they are, these are not stones suitable for daily wear… These stones are unlikely to withstand activities like exercising, doing dishes, gardening, showering, or even just accidentally being knocked against a table’s edge. Stones like these are extremely soft, and it won’t take much to scratch or even break them.
So, know your MOH before you give a stone the greenlight go for your engagement ring. The MOHs hardness scale determines the density and strength of stones, and you’re going to want to stick with stones 7-10 on the MOHs hardness scale to ensure it holds up to wear and tear. For reference, a diamond is a 10 on the MOH scale, and the hardest material on earth, which is what makes these stones so ideal for engagement rings (aside from their obvious beauty and sparkle of course.) Opals and turquoise, on the other hand, are much lower on the scale and considered “soft” and not well-suited to jewelry designed to be worn daily.
Engagement Ring Myth #5: Your Chosen Engagement Ring Must be a Surprise for your Fiancée
Oh boy. The stories we could tell… Yes, some people like to be surprised. Others? Well, let’s just say the element of surprise can be a deal breaker.
If you know and love your fiancée well enough to be marrying them, then you’ll know them well enough to know if they would like the ring to be a surprise, or if they’d like a say in the design and choice of stone of your forever-after declaration of love.
Full disclosure: we love the romance and grandness of an unexpected proposal as much as the next romantic, but while the gesture is gorgeous, presenting a complete ‘surprise’ ring, bought without any consideration for her taste in rings and personal dreams, is asking for trouble.
The solution? Go for something in the middle: make the proposal a surprise, but make sure you’ve spoken about rings, and her likes and dislikes, beforehand. Ask her friends. Ask her mom. Ask her sister. And, for the love of all things love, pay attention to the hints she’s no doubt been dropping for days, weeks, months, years even. (Or, if she really isn’t the surprise-me type, you could even go ring-shopping together.) Whatever you do, don’t try to make the ring a complete surprise. Because the real surprise coming out of that situation might just be one you won’t like.
At Keezing Kreations we can help you choose just the right engagement ring and avoid any common pitfalls! Whether you’re wanting a classic solitaire diamond engagement ring, an on-trend colorful sparkler, a vintage-styled stunner, or are eager to celebrate your love with a completely unique engagement ring, at Keezing Kreations we can create the engagement ring of your dreams, to match your personal love story. We cater to the specific design interests of each client with a specialty in unique, handmade contemporary jewelry design that is destined to last as long as your love.
Contact us today: Call 617-650-9934 or email dkeezing@keezingkreations.com.
