The day you get engaged will hopefully be one of the happiest days of your life. And while the ring is merely one expression of your commitment, it’s an important one. Rather than choosing a ring that thousands of other people already have, consider selecting one that’s a bit more unique.
The Power of a Unique Engagement Ring
An engagement ring is more than a piece of jewelry. It’s an expression of loyalty – a promise of commitment and fidelity. A signal of solidarity and oneness.
An engagement ring is as metaphorical as it is physical. Yet, if you were to look at the rings of 100 recently-engaged women, you’d find that 90 percent of them share the same two or three basic styles.
Do you really want your engagement ring to look like everyone else’s rings? Or would you prefer to have something unique?
A unique engagement ring sends a signal that you’re more than a statistic. It shows taste, class, and assuredness. You’re someone who knows what you want. You’re comfortable in your own skin. (Something that’s rare these days.)
Unique doesn’t have to mean weird or wacky. It just means it’s different from the typical ring. It’s set apart – in a good way. Likewise, it sets the tone for a happy and healthy marriage.
6 Tips for a Unique Ring
Looking for a way to push past all of the generic engagement rings that you find everywhere? Here are some tips:
- Shop the Right Jewelers
Whatever you do, stop shopping at those cheesy department store jewelry counters. They carry such a basic selection that you risk buying the same ring as your neighbor. (And don’t even get us started on the poor quality and pricing.) Your time is much better spent working with local jewelers and privately-owned shops that have real connections in the diamond business.
- Consider Alternative Diamonds
Who says you have to go with a traditional diamond? There’s something to be said for switching things up and choosing an alterative diamond with some color and character. Aquamarine engagement rings certainly fit this bill. They’re stunning and stimulating!
- Design Your Own Ring
It’s easier than ever to design your own engagement rings. You can either do this in-person with a local jeweler, or you can use any number of online websites to choose diamonds, settings, materials, cuts, and other aspects. This is one way to ensure you never end up with a ring that someone else already has. It’s also a very intimate process that makes for a memorable experience. It’s much more romantic than pointing to a ring on display and saying, “That one!”
- Find a Family Heirloom
Consider asking your parents, grandparents, or relatives if there are any heirloom rings in the family? You never know, there might be one sitting in a safe somewhere. Or it’s possible that a mom, grandmother, or mother-in-law is just waiting for someone to ask. (A family ring comes with a story, which makes it intrinsically unique.)
- Engrave the Ring
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to make a ring unique. If your budget is already maxed out, consider doing something simple yet elegant. Engraving the inside of the band is one option.
Common engravings include names, dates, symbols, scripture verses, or meaningful words. You and your fiancé may both decide to put the same inscription on each of your rings as a sign of promise and commitment.
- Try Ring Stacking
You can always choose a simple and understated engagement ring and then add some extra sparkle by stacking wedding bands on either side. Some people even make a commitment to buying stackable wedding bands at different anniversaries – such as the fifth and tenth anniversaries. (But if you aren’t that patient, you can go ahead and get them now.) And because wedding bands tend to have smaller diamonds, this can be a very cost-effective choice for budget-conscious couples.
Make a Statement
What do you want in your engagement ring?
Sometimes the simplest rings are the most unique. Rethink conventional wisdom and be okay with blazing your own proverbial trail. There’s something very empowering about having a one-of-a-kind engagement ring!
