Where do I begin?
I guess the first question to be asked is do you want to do this on your own, or are you doing this together?It is really pleasing to see guys taking the initiative and wanting to show their commitment is more than just duck into a store and pick some thing up.
If this is the case, my job is to ask you questions about a person you know, that I don’t. I need to understand them in order for me to help you conceptualise and create the right elements for what we are making.
If we look at engagement rings as the ultimate complex decision, and the pressure we put on ourselves to make it perfect and get the all important “YES”, if you take some time to take notice of a few things, you’ll find you know more than you thought you did. So here are a few tips
- Take notice of what she wears and how she wears it (clothes and jewellery)
- Pay particular attention when she talks about friends Jewellery/engagement rings (it comes in handy)
- Really take notice of shapes – does she wear glasses or sunglasses, what shape are they? How about a watch
- Note down dress sizes (consistent dress sizes correlate to ring finger size – and check if she has ever broken her ring finger on her left hand)
- Read and ask lots of questions from friends, family, colleagues – but come in with an open mind (I use a lot of analogies that help put things in a bit of perspective)
There are two things that beyond all the usual hype about Jewellery is the most important parts. I’m writing it in caps because it is so important and I really want it to stick for whoever reads this page and cares to consider my advice.
- THOUGHT COUNTS FOR MORE THAN MONEY EVER WILL
- JEWELLERY IS VISUAL – YOU CAN’T BASE DECISIONS ON WHAT YOU ARE READING OR SEEING ON A SCREEN – YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOME SCALE & PICK CENTRE STONES FROM A LINE UP, WHERE YOU HAVE COMPARISONS – YOU CAN MAKE ANYTHING ON A SCREEN LOOK AMAZING – YOUR EYES CAN’T TRICK YOU WHEN YOU HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF YOU
I break everything up into sections as I’ve found most clients can comprehend parts better. For example if I was meeting a client to discuss an engagement ring, I would start off by saying there are 4 basic styles of engagement ring (with made up prices beside each option)
- Solitaire (a single diamond or gemstone in a setting with a band) $2,000
- Centre diamond/gemstone with shoulder diamonds/gemstone (sometimes know as a trilogy) $2,000
- Centre diamond/gemstone, with diamonds/gemstones in band $2,500
- Diamonds/gemstones in band with diamond halo around centre diamond/gemstone $3,000
I would then say, you have a budget. Take the option above that you like and subtract that from your overall budget. What you are left with is what you can spend on the centre diamond or gemstone. Then we dive into the diamond or gemstone characteristics and blind test a few to see what stands out.
At the end of the day, in most cases the centre diamond/gemstone is the most expensive element in the piece of Jewellery. The Jewellery holding it is there to enhance it, not take away from it. So it is important to concentrate on the centre piece, because what you choose will help determine the best design elements to use to enhance it.
Hopefully this helps tick some boxes – and cuts through the overload of information available – so you can concentrate on getting the most important element right first, and let the style/design work around it
Always happy to have a chat – always better to be face to face so I can show you examples. Book into my calendar here
Kindest
Daniel
