CHEAPER WEDDING RINGS

Changing Trends

It’s interesting to see how the Trends in Jewelry Changes.

Over the Past Ten Years or so, One HUGE Change has taken place that’s made a Significant Impact on the Jewelry Industry (and more importantly the Bridal, Wedding Sets, and Solitaire Rings).

And that is, the Trend for Smaller Diamonds!

It used to be that all Wedding Sets had One Larger Center Stone, Surrounded by a Couple of Side Stones to Enhance the Diamond and give the Ring some Sparkle (Like these Beautiful Bridal Rings HERE!)

That Center Stone (what ever Carat Weight it may be), was the Focus of the Piece, the Attention Getter. It always took Top Priority and the Entire Ring Revolved around it.

But, if you Venture into any Jewelry Store today, you’ll see that many Big Center Diamonds are Scarce. They are being Replaced with Many Smaller Diamonds instead!

Wedding Rings now have Multiple Diamonds put together like a Puzzle (many are Invisible Set) to give the “Illusion” of One Large Stone.

Take for Example these Wedding Rings from Zales…

You’ll see the Wedding Sets look Massive, but they are actually made up of Tons and Tons of Little Tiny Diamonds.

These types of Rings Remind me of the Big, Gaudy, Cheap Cocktail Rings that Department Stores are known for. Like these Rings…

These Settings are Common and Popular in Department Stores (like JC Penny) because they Host Low Quality Stones, and the Size of the Diamonds Keep the Price Down.

It wasn’t something you’d Expect to Find at High end Jewelers like Kays, Osterman, Helzberg, Zales and Fred Meyer Jewelers.

Times Have Changed!

But now, they are Common Place Everywhere!

Check out this Osterman Ad to see for yourself…

Here’s a Jewelry Center’s Ad…

Fred Meyer’s Catalogs have many Small Diamonds for Sale…

Kay Jewelers Sells some of these Sets as well… they all do!

And you know where Most of this Began?

Colored Diamonds

Colored Diamonds (Blue, Black, Brown, Green, Yellow, Pink) have Changed the Types of Engagement Rings that People are Buying Today. They made it okay to Buy Many Small Diamonds. They Made it Look Cool!

Take a look at what I mean with these Ads… Colored Diamonds Started a Craze…

Helzberg Catalog

Carribean Blue Diamond Ad

Now all you see is Tiny Stones Everywhere…

I sure do Miss the Mountings that had Big Diamonds and Beautiful Solitaires like these…

Rings Used to be so Stunning!

What’s even more Interesting is the Fact that these Small Diamonds are usually Not Very High Quality.

They are generally SI or I (Leaning more towards the I Clarity Diamonds), and the Colors of these Stones is usually J-L.

If you look Hard Enough at these Rings, you’ll see that the Stones Don’t Match Very Well. Many Times they are set Quickly (Clumsily), and the Stones have Eye Visible Inclusions in them like Cloudy Areas, Black Spots, Lines and even Chips.

Not to Mention the Color of the Stones will often be Yellowish or Brown.

It all goes hand in hand with Low Quality Goods and Cheaper Prices.

When you see these Pieces in Jeweler’s Catalogs, you’ll also see that many times Clarity and Color are NOT listed! All that is Stated is the total Carat Weight of the Ring, which, when Added together Sounds Impressive. But it Really Isn’t!

What they Fail to say is this:

These Diamond Rings, with Low Quality Stones, Don’t Hold their Value. If you go to Trade them in or sell them, You Won’t Get Very Much!!!

And the Cost of Repairing or Maintaining a Ring like this is Expensive!

You have so many Small Stones to Account for. They can come Loose, Fall out, and the Countless Prongs can get Snagged, Bent Back or Broke off. And when you need to get the Entire Ring Retipped when the Prongs Wear Down (which they will like all Prongs), it could Cost you Quite a Pretty Penny (usually around $12 a Prong!).

OUCH!

So What do I Recommend?

A Bigger Center Stone of Course!

Like this Awesome Ring from Kays…

That Ring is Beautiful! It will stand the Test of Time (Won’t go out of Style).

Wedding Sets with Small Diamonds are Cheaper for Jewelers to make (they have an Endless Supply of Melee Diamonds), but the Prices for these Rings is on the Rise.

Many times they are charging the Same Price as they would one Big Stone!

And, keep in mind, these Diamonds and Rings are usually Not Certified Either.

Who WINS?

The Jewelers do!

So I say, stick with a Bigger Diamond in the Center, and you’ll be much Happier in the long run.

Now those are Pretty Rings!

It’s important to Note that Pretty much ALL Jewelers carry Both Types of Rings.

The Smaller Diamond Sets do take up about Half the Inventory, but you can still find the Bigger Rings in Jeweler’s Ads and Showcases too!

Keep your Eyes Peeled! :)
Check out some Beautiful Engagement Rings HERE from James Allen!

Cheers! :)