“Within the first 15 minutes of looking the woman knows what she wants,” Huth said.
Some men shop for engagement rings solo, but with a laundry list of suggestions from his lady love or her mom.
Huth said times have changed and engagement ring shopping has changed right along with it.
Just like the rule that said you shouldn’t wear white after Labor Day has been thrown out of the window, so has the old adage that an engagement ring must cost three months of a man’s salary.
“It is such a team effort for a couple,” Huth said of shopping for an engagement ring. “They are very realistic about it.”
Ring suggestions to match your bridal style
Trendy
Colored diamond rings in canary yellow, blue, chocolate and even black are among the biggest trends.
Natural canary yellow diamonds are among the most expensive on the market because of they are the rarest of diamonds, according to Don Chernick, owner of Gallery Jewelers.
Color-treated diamonds are less expensive, he said.
Pictured at left is a Canary Yellow Radiant Cut diamond flanked by White Half-Moons set in platinum. Larger stones starts at about $5,000. Available at Gallery Jewelers, 1 North Main St., Dayton. (937) 224-4408.
Princess
When it comes to diamonds cut for royalty, the blinger, the better.
Pictured at left is a hand-crafted platinum semi-mount, vintage-style diamond ring. Available at Hess Jewelers, 752 N. Main St., Springboro. (937) 748-8020. $3,000 to $6,000.
Elegant
An engagement ring with timeless beauty that will never fail to dazzle will attract a bride whose goal is elegance.
Pictured at left is a Christopher Designs .48 carat Crisscut diamond engagement ring with Crisscut center diamonds and halo styling. Starts at $2,495. Available at James Free Jewelers, 3100 Far Hills Ave., Kettering. (937) 298-0171.
Simple
Iconic class sparkles in a solitaire.
The style might be simple, but a single diamond can speak volumes.
Pictured at left is an SES Creations polished solitaire semi-mounting. The solitaire can be almost any shape, including round, asscher, radiant, emerald cut, princess cut and oval. Starts at $620. Available at James Free Jewelers, 3100 Far Hills Ave., Kettering. (937) 298-0171
Off-beat
A rings that comes with an implied back story may just be what a bride who craves the usual wants. A nontraditional wedding band might be right up a nontraditional brides alley.
Pictured at left is a uniquely engraved wedding band from Scott Kay’s Sparta Collection. Starts at $1,370 in palladium and $320 in similar style in Cobalt. Available at James Free Jewelers, 3100 Far Hills Ave., Kettering. (937) 298-0171.
Something really different
To save money, to achieve bigger bling for their bucks or for something unique, some couples are optioning for precious gems other than diamonds — such as rubies and sapphires — as center stones in their engagement rings. Smaller diamonds surround a larger gemstone.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2384 or arobinson@Dayton DailyNews.com.
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