Summer is a time for sunshine, vacations, trips to the beach, and for many places across the U.S., including Hawaii, weddings. While wedding preparations can be both stressful and thrilling for engaged couples, one moment that is always exciting for brides-to-be is sharing news of their engagement -- and showing off their engagement ring -- with family and friends.
Choosing a ring that will dazzle your wahine is hard enough (hey, we all remember Carrie's awful ring from SATC) but with Hawaii's tropical, active lifestyle, fit and durability is equally as important. Because no one can ogle your ring if it's not on your finger!
To kick off the summer wedding season, here are three quick tips to keep in mind when choosing the best engagement and wedding ring for your Hawaii bride:
Do durable
To make sure your wedding band is around "to have and to hold" as long as your marriage is by investing in a good band that can weather a few hard knocks from surfboards to sidewalks. Gold has always been a popular choice for jewelry and a classic choice for engagement rings, but I typically stay away from 24K gold, which is often too soft to work with. Gold (with the exception of white gold) doesn't rust, tarnish, or lose any of its brilliance over time. I typically recommend 18K or 14K gold because it has the best balance of purity and durability and maintains its brilliance - even in Hawaii's unique climate conditions -- over time.
While platinum has become the preferred choice for many, the only reason that I would not recommend it is because it tends to lose its brilliance quickly. This is specially the case with all of Hawaii's outdoor elements, as opposed to 18k white gold, which is my favorite metal to work with.
Color me mine
When it comes to rings, when you think of color, most think of the color of the diamond -- but just as important is the color of the band. In Hawaii where most kamaaina (residents) sport a year-round tan, yellow gold tends to complement darker skin tones while white gold blends well with other jewelry pieces and like platinum, complements lighter skin tones.
Set in stone
What's a ring without the rock? Make sure your gems won't wiggle out while you're out sunning and surfing. A prong setting is the most common choice and if done well, will not snag on coral or grass and allows more of your diamond to shine through. It's also important when choosing the setting to look at the size of your stone. I typically recommend stones over 2 carats to be set in a six-prong setting for safety, however if your stone is a one or half carat diamond I would recommend against it since you wouldn't be able to see your diamond behind the prong. My rule of thumb? Two carats and up go with a six-prong; below two carats go with a four-prong.
Finding the perfect ring can be a daunting task - but just remember you've already done the hard work and found the perfect woman! Finding a ring that will become into a family heirloom and be around to hand down to your keiki and grand children is just icing on the (wedding) cake.
For more information on engagement and wedding rings please visit diamondguyhawaii.com or call (808) 729-6000 to schedule an appointment.