If you’re interested in resetting an inherited ring, partner with professionals you trust. There are a few ways that your jeweler can help you verify that your stone is yours after resetting, according to Gandia. “If it’s laser inscribed, they’re going through a process of helping you to see the laser inscription,” she says. “So that way, you can check that upon going out. Or perhaps there’s a clarifying characteristic within the stone that they can point out beforehand.”
To improve the longevity of a ring, Grace says couples should take it to be cleaned once a year, which is often a free service. The rhodium plating of white gold bands, which were popular between the 1920s and 1950s, needs to be replated every couple of decades.
Other gemstones are also option
Sapphires, emeralds, and rubies have become popular options for engagement rings. When considering an alternative gemstone for your ring, choose one that’s high on the Mohs scale, meaning a harder mineral. Sapphires and rubies are high on the Mohs scale, but Grace suggests avoiding soft stones like pearls, opal, or moonstone, all of which can scratch easily. Emeralds, while trendy, are also on the softer side.
How to set a budget
Budgeting is not exactly the most romantic part of ring buying—but it is a good opportunity to start talking about finances with your future spouse, if you haven’t already. “That is so important for a marriage, to know what your partner can afford, what they’re willing to spend, what your expectations are,” says Mandy Lee, a trend forecaster known as oldloserinbrooklyn online. “You have to have those conversations for a healthy partnership, in my opinion—like, that’s a non-negotiable.”
Glover cautioned against going into debt for the ring. He says grooms-to-be may also have to set aside money for proposal expenses, which might include a professional photographer or planner. Glover had a spending minimum and maximum for his partner’s ring. “It needed to be an amount that I was comfortable with, but it needed to also be an amount that was significant to show that it is a sign of commitment,” he says.
How do I know it’s the right one?
Ring selection can be high-pressure, and couples sometimes get decision fatigue. The right ring might not be exactly what you pictured in your head. “A good sales professional will help you to recognize the cues that something is right for you and sort of guide you,” Gandia says.
Lee looked at rings for six months before landing on a plain gold band. She says she likes the idea of changing engagement rings as one’s personal style evolves throughout their life. While the “initial decision feels so huge,” she says, people don’t have to wear that exact ring for the rest of their lives. “It’s going to be always so, so special and symbolic, but you don’t have to commit to the ring forever,” Lee says. “I feel like that’s something that people put a lot of stock in—and I definitely did, which just made me unable to choose.” Whatever ring you decide on, it will always be a reminder of this milestone, so focus on enjoying the experience, and the result should be one that you cherish.
