Bigger Diamonds

Since being in the jewelry industry for 28 years, I have witnessed a change of society habits and expectations when it comes to engagement rings. The change has been due fashion and technology, from Jennifer Lopez wearing a pink Juicy Couture tracksuit with the words "Juicy Couture" in rhinestones on her rear, to the internet, to lab grown diamonds.  Here are my observations.

Small was the expectation. When I first started in 1997, it was societally expected that your first wedding ring was to be small with a half carat sized center stone at the most.  It wasn’t until their 25 year anniversary, when you had more disposable income, that an upgrade was acceptable. Possibly at your 10 year anniversary, depending on how well your bank account was doing.  I heard many moms cautioning their sons to start small, after all, that was how it was done for her. 

In the early 2000’s the word “bling” became the buzzword that shaped women’s fashion, including jewelry.  Women wanted anything that had “bling” on it. Most clothing had a rhinestone encrusted version, from blue jeans to hats to shoes!  White gold jewelry that was covered in diamonds sold like hot cakes.  Women didn’t want jewelry that showed off the metal, they wanted the diamonds, the “bling,” to be center stage. 

Young brides began coming in who wanted large and sparkly engagement rings, instead of the small, demure engagement rings of the past. These ladies weren’t going to wait 25 years for an upgrade! They wanted the look of a ring that held a 2ct plus diamond in the center, whether they could afford it or not. It was very common for a couple to have a large cubic zirconia or moissanite in the center of her engagement ring instead of a diamond because the natural diamond price was out of their budget.  And, the ladies were on board with that because it meant she got the big, sparkly ring. 

One carat or larger lab grown diamonds came on the market in earnest around 2015. At first, they were not that much less than a natural diamond of the same size, but in 2018, DeBeers lowered the price of their lab grown diamonds incredibly, which caused other manufacturers of lab grown diamonds to do the same.  Ever since then, prices have continued to drop. The result of the drop in prices has created a market where shoppers are no longer concerned with the cost of a certain size or diamond quality factor, they are more concerned with how big and what shape looks best on their hand because they can afford what they want.  Interestingly, the “bling” craze has dropped off, so now, most first time brides want a ring with none or very limited diamonds on the sides but with a large center diamond as the statement piece. 

Where I shopped determined what style of ring I bought. Before the advent of the internet, people went into their local jewelry stores to see their choice of ring styles.  They may have seen a magazine or tv advertisement that shaped what they chose, but mostly, it was what the local stores had.  Yes, some stores made custom rings for customers based on their style ideas, but it was the exception to the rule and not the norm.  Most people chose a ring from the case to give her and brought it back after it was given to have it sized to fit. 

The internet has become a global look-book, where you can see almost every ring style available and what is trending at the time.  It is impossible for jewelers to carry every style, which has normalized custom. It has also become too impractical for a jeweler to spend $50,000.00 to $60,000.00 on an engagement ring line when a shopper is going to want something different anyway. Many jewelers, including myself, have sample engagement rings. Sample engagement rings are made of sterling silver and cubic zirconias, so they are a fraction of the investment for the jeweler but give the shopper the ability to try various rings on.  Ring shopping is a lot like dress shopping, it may look great on the rack but not so great on you, or vice-versa. I love working with my clients this way because they end up getting the ring they want, not what I think they should get. 

It will continue to be interesting to see how jewelry shopping changes. I have seen more people who want the in-person experience and expertise than working with a non-human online. I love that because I think jewelry is all about connection! 

I would love to help you with your engagement ring! Angela Cisneros Jewelry Concierge brings back the joy and confidence of jewelry shopping, so that you can celebrate with ease! My by-appointment approach means:

• One-on-one appointments (personal attention and no crowds!)

• Discretion and privacy (surprises remain surprises!)

• Expert help from a Graduate Gemologist with 28 years of experience (yep, that’s me!)

Learn more about me and my process: www.AngelaCisneros.com 

Book your FREE appointment with me today! www.AngelaCisneros.com/book-appointment