All About Designer Engagement Rings

Thinking about designer engagement rings conjures images of really expensive, detailed jewelry that the average couple could never afford. While designer rings can very well be incredibly pricey, there are actually ways to afford designer engagement rings depending on the type of ring you’re interested in and who designed it.

The Difference Between Designer Rings and Retail Jewelry

Designer rings are different than engagement rings offered by mass retailers because they are individually created and customized, rather than produced in bulk from a pre-existing design. The well known designer jewelers, such as Harry Winston, are also usually the most expensive. However, their notoriety comes more from the quality metals and materials they use for their rings rather than the design work.

However, don’t think that just because a ring has been labeled a designer piece means that it is unique. Many designers create a ring that is then sold in several stores, but because the design itself is unique that instantly makes it recognizable and verifiable as the work of a particular designer. The quality of a particular stone used in a ring can also mark it as a designer piece because of the very high quality gem used.

Types of Designers/Where to Buy a Designer Engagement Ring

From large, world-renowned designer jewelers like Tiffany’s to small-scale operations that only design a few rings annually, designer jewelers come in all shapes and sizes. Even the large scale jewelers started somewhere, and independent designers are often a great place to look for an affordable designer engagement ring.

Granted, larger designers are easy to find, but you can expect to pay much more for one of their rings. Do some Internet research to locate smaller designers in your area. Oftentimes, their websites will allow you to view a photo gallery of their work, as well as information about pricing. If you already know what type of ring you’d like designed, you may even be able to contact them for a customized quote. While you don’t have to choose a local designer, it’s convenient to be able to meet with the designer and inspect your ring as it’s being designed.

How Much?

While it’s true that the vast majority of designer engagement rings (especially rings from well-known designers) are often more expensive than a ring from a retail mall store, you can still find an affordable designer ring. The price of your ring is really dependent on the quality of the stones and metal used, the setting and the design rather than on who designed it.

Because an engagement ring serves as a symbol of your relationship, choosing a designer ring represents that relationship well because of the individuality and unique craftsmanship that goes into the ring. Whether you can afford a designer from from a world renowned jeweler or prefer a designer engagement ring from a lesser-known designer, you can have a ring that will be stunning, beautiful and more affordable than you might think.

Tags: Designer Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, Harry Winston

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 9:17 am and is filed under Designer Engagement Rings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.