Ladies, engagement season is upon us, and with it hinting season. Engagement season is an honest, real-life phenomenon that begins riiiiight around Thanksgiving and lasts through V-Day. I’d imagine it’s the grown up equivalent of cuffing season. Or at least its logical conclusion (yes I spend far too much time on Instagram.) Anyway, according to The Knot’s stats, it’s the time period when 40% of all marriage proposals happen. 17% of all proposals actually go down (on one knee) on the same 10 days each year, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years’ Day, and Valentine’s Day.
So no, you’re not just imagining that engagement statuses have take over your newsfeed. And if you’re eagerly anticipating/patiently waiting your own status update this year, you need to know how to #hinthint your way to the perfect engagement ring.
Be Specific
Help your partner out – have a somewhat narrow definition of what you’d like. The world of engagement rings is wide and wild, and giving specifics will only help you get the ring of your dreams. What color metal do you like? What are your thoughts on diamonds on the band? You probably have a strong opinion on halo settings – which side of the fence do you fall on? Do you want a diamond ring? Or would you prefer a precious gemstone like sapphire, or alternative gemstone like morganite?
When it comes to diamonds, what’s more important to you: size or quality? Or would you prefer the best balance of both that your partner’s budget will allow? Finally, any favorite designers?
Think about those questions if you haven’t already, and a) narrow down your Pinterest favorites or b) get that board started baby!
Change That Secret Board to Public!
Got your Pins all ready? If not, go through my Instagram feed, RLJ’s, our newest store Diamonds by Raymond Lee’s, and follow us all on Pinterest while you’re at it. Peruse our engagement ring boards at your liesure and add your favorites. Again, try to be specific. It can be easy to be wooed by beautiful photographs of rings that just aren’t your style, and even easier to think you need to look at every. engagement ring. ever. You don’t, and this leads to fatigue. Just look for a theme that emerges – you’ll start to see an abundance of rose gold, or halos, or pear shapes, or thin, delicate diamond bands. Just collect what you find beautiful and don’t worry about anything else.
This is one of my favorite ways to help grooms shop. It’s actually easier to make them (and the bride) happy when they pull up a Pinterest board on their phone, rather than a printout of one specific setting from one specific designer. A quick glance at a board can usually show me the style she loves, and I can show him 3-4 rings that he can choose the best one from.
Use Industry Language
After all that browsing, it’s likely that you’ve picked up the lingo. You can spot a split shank, you know the difference between a true halo and a soft square, and maybe you can even differentiate between the Verragio collections. Do yourself and your partner a favor – use that new vocab! Don’t go easy on them, don’t patronize, don’t think he’s tuning you out once you start talking the 4 C’s. You’d be surprised how many young men and women come in shopping for the perfect ring, well-versed in exactly what characteristics their partner loves. They’re calling them “split-shanks” not “weird diamond v sides” (for the most part.
Clue in your Partner in Crime
Think about who your partner might text for advice or confirmation that they’ve chosen a ring you’ll love. Mom? Your sister? Your best friend? Make sure that person knows – and maybe has screenshots of – exactly the style ring you love. You never know when they’ll be instrumental in getting your dream ring!
Figure Out Your Ring Size
While RLJ offers one complimentary re-sizing for our shoppers who don’t know their intended’s ring size, it’s always better if you can start wearing your new rock as soon as you say “Yes!” Use a ring sizer app, or pop by the RLJ showroom to get sized, and make sure you drop enough #hintshints in this department too.
Of course, all this advice is for those with their heart set on a certain look. If you’re fine with whatever your partner chooses, just sit back, relax, enjoy the holiday season and always make sure you’ve got a manicure!
