by Lacy Cascadden
Staff Writer
There are many choices in the life of a college student: where to attend graduate school, what job to take and where to begin a professional life. But there is one choice that plagues many young couples: To marry or not to marry? That is the question.
And then there is that expensive symbol of devotion, the engagement ring.
Students already have enough to worry about with senior projects, graduation and loans. If they decide to spend the rest of their lives together, then they are likely to spend thousands of dollars on the perfect ring.
There are many choices in the world of engagement rings, from the cut of the diamond which includes princess, emerald, round, heart, radiance and more to the color, clarity and choice of metal for the band. Students shopping for rings should make sure they are getting the best diamond for the best price.
It is important to check for warranties, certification and most importantly, the best quality diamond, said Daniel Vu, diamond consultant for Robbins Bros., the self-proclaimed World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store.
Do not be afraid to ask questions and compare prices. Remember, this is a lifetime investment.
Vu said it is all about getting a ring that the woman loves in the fiancé’s price range.
“There is no single popular cut,” he said.
There is not a favorite metal either. Rings can be yellow gold, white gold, platinum or some combination of the colors.
“We went to Robbins Bros. in Montclair and looked for a bit,” said Melinda Dilwicius, a senior journalism major at the University of La Verne, who married last year. “I finally picked out a solitaire that I loved.”
The perfect ring depends solely on what the woman likes, not what is hot at the moment.
That is why most experts recommend shopping for the ring as a couple.
“I wasn’t even looking for rings, but I wanted a princess cut,” said Veronica Bacio, junior. “He bought round without asking me. Now I like this cut better.”
Still, there are many crazes in the world of diamonds. A current trend in the world of engagement rings is yellow and pink diamonds.
Jennifer Lopez, actress and singer, sports a 6.1 carat, pink diamond set atop an 18 carat pink gold band with two white trapezoid diamonds to finish it off.
But one better have at least $1.5 million burning a hole in one’s pocket for that ring. Ben Affleck had the engagement ring custom made by the country’s finest jeweler, Harry Winston.
In the movie “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” Kate Hudson’s character, Andie Anderson, wears an 87 carat yellow diamond pendant made especially for her by Winston.
Many other celebrities are making the change from the colorless diamonds to colored.
These “fancy” stones come in all colors, including blue, orange and green. But the current trend is the pink diamond, and becoming more popular is the yellow.
The naturally occurring pink stone is the most rare and thus the most expensive of all the diamonds.
The pink and yellow diamonds are formed naturally in a mine, however you can have a diamond altered to be a certain color.
Argyle Mine, in Kimberley, Australia, has sold pink diamonds for up to $1 million a carat.
The pink diamond ranges in color from delicate pinks to purple-reds.
Some look like the traditional colorless diamond, but at different angles and lights have a pink tint.
Pink diamonds are not actively marketed and are very hard to find.
A diamond may be a girl’s best friend, but the decisions that surround buying an engagement ring can make it a man’s worst nightmare.
But the number and variety of options and special services mean it no longer has to be a painful experience. The ring-buying experience does not have to be hard or too expensive; it just has to come from the heart.
“This will be one of the most memorable moments in your life; you better make the most of it,” Dilwicius said.
Lacy Cascadden
