What to keep in mind when purchasing an Engagement Ring
Choosing the Perfect Symbol of Love
Like you, we understand that choosing an engagement ring is a significant decision. For 35 years, we've tirelessly refined our customer experience, constantly seeking innovation and improvement. The marriage proposal is one of the most intimate moments in a person's life, and we strive to help couples make it as memorable as possible.
An engagement ring is more than just a piece of jewelry. It’s a symbol of your love, and it should tell your unique love story. This requires thoughtfulness and depth to ensure it holds the meaningfulness it deserves. At Lessard Coutu Jewelry, we pour our passion into crafting rings that are as unique as the individuals who wear them.
Unlike other guides, our approach focuses on the details, ensuring every millimeter is perfect. Our guide will help you achieve the perfect ring, making your proposal truly special.
Before You Start
Before you embark on this journey, there are a few essential steps to consider. These steps ensure that every aspect of the ring reflects the uniqueness of your love story and the individuality of your partner. By taking the time to understand and gather specific details, you will create a ring that not only symbolizes your commitment but also celebrates the distinctiveness of your relationship.
Each step is a crucial part of the experience, helping you make informed decisions and ensuring that the final piece is perfect in every way.
Know the Ring Size
Making sure the ring fits perfectly is vital for both comfort and practicality. When a ring fits well, it enhances the experience, allowing your partner to wear it with ease and confidence every day. We want to avoid the hassle of resizing, which can be time-consuming. More importantly, the first time it goes on the finger, it shouldn't feel loose or tight—it should feel just right.
A perfectly sized ring shows the thoughtfulness and care you've put into this significant purchase, making the proposal moment even more special. Taking the time to accurately determine the ring size reflects your commitment to ensuring every detail is just right, making the ring as perfect as your love story.
Metal and Color Preference
The metal color, whether yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold, ensures that the ring harmonizes with her existing jewelry and everyday attire. This thoughtful consideration enhances the ring's beauty and wearability, making it a cherished piece she will love to wear.
A metal color that suits her taste reflects your attention to detail and understanding of her preferences, underscoring the uniqueness and personalization of the ring. By selecting the perfect metal color, you're crafting a piece that not only symbolizes your love but also resonates deeply with her individual style and personality.
Shape of the Center Stone
The shape of the center stone is a key part of an engagement ring's design, shaping both its look and its meaning. Each shape, whether it's round, princess, oval, marquise, pear, cushion, emerald, or radiant, brings its own personality and unique vibe.
The shape can mirror personal style and character, with some shapes showcasing classic elegance and others offering a modern or vintage touch. Picking the right shape ensures the ring matches your partner's personality and tastes, making it truly special. Plus, the shape affects the ring's brilliance and how it catches the light, boosting its beauty and making it stand out.
Engagement Ring Style
The style of the engagement ring is a crucial part that reflects your partner's personality and tastes. Whether she loves a classic solitaire, a vintage-inspired design, a modern minimalist look, or a glamorous art nouveau setting, the ring's style should match her unique sense of fashion.
By paying attention to her preferences and looking at the jewelry she already adores, you can pick a ring she'll cherish and feel connected to. A well-chosen style boosts the emotional significance of the ring, making it a perfect representation of your relationship. Understanding her style ensures the ring is not only beautiful but also meaningful, symbolizing the special bond that you share.
Finding Inspiration
By browsing her Pinterest boards, saved photos on her phone, or social media profiles, you can gain valuable insights into her preferences. These sources can help you choose a ring that aligns with her unique style and taste.
Secretly consulting with her friends and family can also uncover hidden inspirations, ensuring you select a ring she'll truly love.
The Four Cs of a Diamond
The Four Cs—Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat—are the key factors to consider when selecting a diamond:
- Cut: Determines the diamond's brilliance and sparkle. A well-cut diamond captures and reflects light beautifully, creating a dazzling effect.
- Clarity: Refers to the presence of inclusions and blemishes. Diamonds with fewer imperfections are rarer and more valuable.
- Color: Graded from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Colorless diamonds are the most desirable for their bright, pristine look.
- Carat: Measures a diamond's weight. While larger diamonds are impressive, it's essential to balance carat weight with cut, clarity, and color for the best overall appearance.
Every Love Story is Beautiful, but Yours is Unique
Let your engagement ring be a reflection of your journey together.
Understanding Diamond Carat Size
This chart illustrates the differences in diamond carat sizes, helping you visualize how carat weight impacts the overall appearance of your engagement ring.
A diamond is forever, but its true brilliance lies in the story it tells of your love.
Choosing Between Natural and Lab-Grown Diamonds
Naturally Mined Diamonds
Naturally mined diamonds have a long and storied history. The De Beers Corporation, established in 1880, gained control over the diamond market by acquiring numerous mines, allowing them to set prices. Diamonds have always been symbols of luxury and status, cherished by those who appreciate their natural beauty and rarity. For many, naturally mined diamonds hold a timeless appeal and a connection to the Earth, making them a perennial choice in the market.
Lab-Grown Diamonds
The creation of lab-grown diamonds began in the 1960s with the development of techniques to grow diamonds using carbon seeds in high-pressure, high-temperature, or chemical vapor deposition chambers. These lab-grown diamonds share the same chemical composition as their natural counterparts.
By 2017, lab-grown diamonds gained significant market share, and by 2020, they became highly popular due to their affordability and superior quality. Advances in technology have made lab-grown diamonds a compelling option, often indistinguishable from natural diamonds and more environmentally friendly. This innovation has also impacted the pricing of natural diamonds, making them more accessible to buyers.
Budgeting
Setting a budget for your engagement ring is a crucial step that balances financial responsibility with the desire to find a ring that symbolizes your love. Traditionally, it has been suggested to allocate two to three months’ salary for an engagement ring, but it's important to consider your own financial situation and personal values.
The average engagement ring cost today is around $6,000, but what matters most is finding a ring that feels significant and meaningful to you and your partner. By setting a realistic budget, you can narrow down your options and focus on finding a high-quality ring that fits within your means, ensuring that your purchase is both memorable and sensible.
Questions to Ask Yourself
When choosing an engagement ring, it's important to reflect on the unique aspects of your relationship:
- Consider where you first met and the significance of that place in your love story.
- Think about your connection and the moments that have defined your bond, from shared hobbies to memorable experiences.
- Reflect on the qualities you love most about her, whether it's her kindness, sense of humor, or adventurous spirit, and how these can be symbolized in the ring's design.
- Take into account the values you both hold dear, such as sustainability, tradition, or modernity, and how these can guide your choice between natural and lab-grown diamonds.
- Consider her personal style and preferences by looking at the jewelry she currently wears and any hints she may have given about her dream ring.
- Finally, think about your shared future and dreams as a couple, ensuring the ring represents your commitment and aspirations.
By answering these questions, you can select a ring that not only dazzles but also tells the unique story of your journey together.
Design Experience
Prepare yourself for the Lessard Coutu design experience, an exceptional journey unlike any other.
How We Stand Out as a Jeweler
At Lessard Coutu Jewelry, we pride ourselves on our meticulous attention to detail, innovative design process, personalized customer service, and thorough craftsmanship. Our commitment to excellence ensures that every engagement ring we create is a masterpiece, perfectly tailored to your unique love story.
The Experience
- Conceptual Artwork: The answers to the personal questions you reflect on will inspire our conceptual artwork. This initial design phase captures your vision and lays the foundation for your custom ring.
- 3D Model Creation and Refinement: Using the conceptual artwork as a guide, we create a detailed 3D model of your ring, eliminating guesswork. This model allows you to see a virtual representation of the design. You’ll work closely with our designer to tweak and perfect the model, ensuring it aligns precisely with your vision.
- 3D Model Printing: Once you approve the 3D model, we print a physical prototype. This tangible model gives you a closer sense of the ring's look and feel.
- Casting the 3D Print: The 3D print is then used to cast the ring in the metal of your choice, transforming the model into a durable, beautiful piece of jewelry.
- Setting the Center Stone: With the ring cast, we carefully set the center stone, ensuring it is secure and perfectly positioned to maximize its brilliance.
- Cleaning, Polishing, and Finishing: Finally, we clean, polish, and finish the engagement ring to perfection. Every detail is meticulously attended to, ensuring the ring is as stunning as the love story it represents.
At Lessard Coutu Jewelry, we are dedicated to creating engagement rings that are as unique and as special as the couples who wear them. Our personalized design experience ensures that your ring is a true reflection of your journey together.
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to explore our Engagement Ring Buying Guide at Lessard Coutu Jewelry. We are passionate about creating rings that not only symbolize your commitment but also tell the unique love story of your relationship.
We hope this guide has provided you with valuable insights and inspiration for choosing the perfect ring. Every detail, from the choice of metal and diamond to the custom design process, is crafted with care and precision to ensure your ring is as special as your relationship.
Our commitment to excellence and personalized service sets us apart, making your experience truly unforgettable.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
We invite you to start your journey with us. Book a consultation today and let us help you create a ring that captures the essence of your love story. Whether you're just starting your search or ready to design the perfect ring, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
At Lessard Coutu Jewelry, we love love. Every ring we create is a celebration of your unique love story and a testament to the beauty of true love.
