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6 Tips for the Perfect Ring Choose your band with care: it’ll be wrapped around your finger forever.  Image courtesy Kirk Kara A wedding ring is more than just an object of beauty: it’s a lifelong investment. Make sure yours is a perfect fit for your finger… and your life. “You need to pick a ring that suits your everyday lifestyle,” says Angela Karaguezian, director of marketing and publicity of Kirk Kara, Los Angeles. “Make sure it’s comfortable on your finger, something you enjoy and flawlessly manufactured.” Karaguezian also recommends choosing a setting with an heirloom quality that can be passed down from generation to generation. Here are some shopping tips from The Knot to help you sparkle in style. 1. Buy Loose Stones. Be sure to inspect the stone with a loupe (a handheld magnifier that most jewelers have). A good jeweler will be able to guide you and tell you what to look for. 2. Buy Shy. The difference between a one-carat diamond and .90-carat diamond is the thickness of a piece of paper – and $1,000. 3. Be Mindful of Her Style. Ask her best friend or a sibling for help. If you’re set on not telling anyone, pay attention to the jewelry she wears and the lifestyle she leads. “Really know your girl’s personality and sense of style,” says Karaguezian. 4. Budget Creatively. Throw out that old two-month’s salary myth. When it comes to budget, it’s all about priorities. If she’s one of the 60 percent of women who rank size on the top of their list, go for a stone with a slightly larger surface area and shorter depth. You won’t get as much sparkle, but a one-carat ring will look much larger if the stone isn’t as deep. If she cares more about the clarity of the stone, consider buying a slightly smaller stone with fewer inclusions. 5. Be Savvy With Shapes. If she’s a the-bigger-the-better kind of girl, go for a round, which appears larger. Or set an oval sideways so the center stone will cover most of her finger. If she’s more of a sparkle-over-size type, opt for a brilliant cut with many facets like a radiant versus one with step-down facets, like an emerald. 6. Beware of Scams. There are many retailers out there looking to make an extra buck on your emotional buy: beware bait-and-switch scams. |
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