We’re all at different points in our love life right now. A complicated situation was made even more difficult by a pandemic, a return to remote work, and other valleys of the past couple of years. Some people call the holidays “cuffing season,” and maybe that’s even more real since all of our lives were turned upside down in the past few months. According to The Wedding Report, next year is expected to hold about 2.5 million weddings—a four-decade high! So, a lot of people are engagement ring shopping right now.
If your relationship has stood the test of the past couple of years and it’s time to put a ring on it, don’t worry that the best jewelry stores might be closed. Just like everything else, you can go engagement ring shopping online. Shopping for rings is difficult in person, much less on a screen, so we brought in an expert whose company walks you through the entire process. Lauren Addison joined Oni Higgins on Bold Life.
The process of virtual ring-buying with Lauren Addison
- Start with the diamond. Most people are familiar with the four “Cs” of diamonds: cut, clarity, color and carat. Addison factors in three points: the size, the shape and your ideal budget. Popular shapes include princess, heart, pear and much more, and they all have different prices. So, do your research! But don’t get too hung up on carat weight, Addison advises. You may be dazzled by a diamond with a lesser grading. It’s different for everyone’s taste.
- Move on to the ring setting. Different settings include prong, pavé, halo and others. Once again, figure out which setting matches your SO and also your diamond. Also, there are metal options to consider, including silver, white gold, yellow gold and platinum. Each one has different properties (color and durability), so you might want to think about which one fits their style.
- OK the final design. With Addison, you receive a 3D digital rendering of your custom-made ring design. You can check out the profile, side view and front view. Choose anything that needs a little tweak, and they’ll make necessary changes.
- Propose! You’ve got this step.
We all know how ridiculously crazy shipping can be during the holidays—especially with the recent shipping bottlenecks. Addison says that custom engagement rings typically take 3-4 weeks. But this year, you’ll need to add on more time. If you’re getting a late start, you may need to push back that proposal by a few weeks.
If you’re ready to put a ring on it, get to it! And check out lab-grown diamonds as a possibly cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative option.
This 2020 post has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.