The Knot Chicago Weddings Spring Summer 2020_downmagaz.com

FASHION + BEAUTY
To get the same stylish look as platinum, consider a
ring with a white gold setting. While there are plenty of pros
when it comes to platinum—it’s an extremely durable, natural
white metal, it won’t change color, plus it gives off a gorgeous
polish—all of those good qualities come at a price. “Platinum
is rarer and purer than white gold, which makes it more
expensive,” says Katie Zimmerman, chief merchandising officer
at Blue Nile. White gold is an alloy (read: a mixture of gold
and a white metal like nickel, silver or palladium), meaning it
may lose its silvery-white color over time. However, if you
don’t mind replating your ring, it’s a still a super-chic option.
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TRY MINIMALISM
The more elaborate (think: blinged out) the setting, the more
a ring will cost. “If you’re on a tight budget, look for daintier
settings,” says Angela Karaguezian, vice president of Kirk Kara.
Less metal also means a lower price tag, so opt for a prong
setting (which secures the diamond like a tripod above the
band) over a bezel one (a metal ring that encircles the sides of
the center stone to hold it in place). “If you still want to achieve
a glamorous look, consider design work like hand engravings or
milgrain over adding extra diamonds,” Karaguezian says.
ADD A HALO
Don’t stress if your budget won’t allow for the giant rock you’ve
been eyeing on Instagram. You can actually fake the look of
additional carats by choosing a halo setting (a circle of small
pavé or micro pavé stones around the center stone). “Halo
settings continue to be a popular way to add more sparkle to
an engagement ring because they create the illusion of a larger
center stone,” says Beth Gerstein, cofounder of Brilliant Earth.
While adding a halo to your setting will increase the cost of
your ring, it’s less expensive than opting for a larger diamond.
And, depending on the kind of halo you choose (round, square,
hexagonal) it’s also a cool way to personalize your setting.
BUY SHY
Shopping for a diamond centers around the “4 Cs”—cut, carat,
clarity and color. When it comes to the carat weight, you can
save a considerable amount of money without dramatically
changing the look of a stone by buying a loose diamond just short
of a half-carat or a whole-carat weight. “Diamond prices increase
disproportionately at the half-carat and whole-carat marks, so
try to buy just a little bit shy of these levels,” Zimmerman says.
For example, instead of a two-carat diamond, look for a 1.8-carat
one. Just a slight difference in carat weight can equal savings up
to 20 percent, but the difference in the diamond will hardly be
noticeable. We call that a serious win.
THE NAKED EYE
CAN’T TELL
THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN
FLAWLESS AND
NEAR-FLAWLESS
STONES, SO EVEN
THOUGH YOU
PAY EXTRA FOR
A PERFECT
CLARITY GRADE,
YOU PROBABLY
WON’T SEE IT.
FIND THE SWEET SPOT
Similar to carat size, as clarity (how
“clean” or free of internal inclusions and
external blemishes a stone is) grades
improve, diamonds go up in price. But the
naked eye can’t tell the difference between
flawless and near-flawless stones, so even though you pay extra
for perfection, you won’t see it. The takeaway here? Loosen up
a little where clarity is concerned. “We often advise valueconscious
customers to focus on cut grade and color, with
clarity as the last consideration,” Gerstein says. To cut costs,
choose a near colorless, “eye clean” diamond—it will look
perfect to the unaided eye while offering substantial savings.
GET FANCY
Round brilliant-cut diamonds are the most popular shape for
engagement rings, but that doesn’t mean they’re your only
choice. There are actually lots of other pretty options called
“fancy shapes” or “fancy cuts,” terms used to describe every
diamond shape that is not classified as round. Most fancy cuts
are divided into four categories: modified brilliants (oval, pear,
marquise and heart), step cuts (emerald and asscher), mixed
cuts (princess and radiant cut) and rose cuts. Choosing one of
these less traditional—but still gorg—rocks will set you apart
from the crowd and could save you some coin. “Fancy shapes
cost less per carat because there isn’t the same demand for
them in the marketplace,” says Sylvie Levine, CEO of Sylvie
Collection. If you have your heart set on the look of a round
diamond, Levine suggests opting for a similarly shaped stone
with rounded corners like an oval or cushion. ››
TIFFANY VON PHOTOGRAPHY