Morrison County Record 2020 Bridal Guide | Page 2

2 • 2020 Bridal • Morrison County Record • www.mcrecord.com A diamond may be rare, but a ring can be one of a kind different selections that she likes and then he’ll come back himself and make that final selection. Most of the time, she has [email protected] something in mind. She found something The defining symbol of an engagement; online that she likes. It’s usually not any- thing that we have in the case, so it’s going it’s what everyone wants to see. The ring. to be customized,” Stumpf said. Maybe it’s yellow gold, maybe white, it could be big or small, round or square, sim- Grams said that a broad mix of propos- ple or extravagant. Either way, the season’s als come into the store, and although many engagements are discussed in advance, trend is: there is no trend. some are still that traditional “she doesn’t According to local jewelers from Mel- have a clue I’m here,” unexpected proposal. gram Jewelers and GoldSmith Jewelers, The jewelers said that a customized ring both in Little Falls, brides are combining multiple features to create a ring that suits could take up to three weeks or longer, so unless a groom is willing to pay for a rush, their personal style. he needs to prepare in advance. “It’s not all cut and dry like it used to However, some grooms, although not be. It used to be everybody kind of had often, look for a ring last minute for a the same looking engagement ring. When spontaneous proposal. If that is the case, our parents got married, it was pretty both jewelers said that they carry live rings, much all yellow gold and a simple small which usually only need a center stone to little diamond on it. Now, everyone’s kind be placed and they’re ready to go. of original,” said Jeff Stumpf, owner of The holidays GoldSmith Jewelers brought in quite in Little Falls. “Typically a guy will come a few grooms Peter Grams of in with his girlfriend and they purchasing live Melgram Jewelers rings, Stumpf said. in Little Falls had will pick out a few different He said the season a similar take. He selections that she likes and brings out spur- sees many people then he’ll come back himself of-the-moment bringing in photos from websites like and make that final selection.” proposals. When there is Pinterest. — Jeff Stumpf time to customize “I think because a ring, even with of the internet and many being tailored to the bride’s taste, social media a single trend doesn’t seem there are certain features that are more to last very long anymore,” Grams said. common. “Younger brides know exactly what they According to both jewelers, a white gold want and we have people come in with band with a round, oval or cushion cut cen- their phone and go, ‘Well this is what we want,’ and we can usually get exactly what ter stone is still quite popular. And there are some other features that seem to trend they want.” with brides. Both jewelers mentioned that the “You still get the popular kind of pave customization trend aligns with couples communicating more prior to engagement. setting with all the tiny little diamonds through them ... but then you’ll get the per- “Typically a guy will come in with his son that doesn’t want any little diamonds girlfriend and they will pick out a few By AMANDA RASINSKI Staff Writer they just want a simple style,” said Gold- Smith employee Kelly Laubach. That pave setting, or any look with smaller diamonds lining the band is something very popular for young people, Grams said. “That single row of diamonds is really what makes any size diamond look bigger, having that contrast between a center stone and a narrow little ring,” he said. Grams also said that younger people tend to choose a lighter band or shank, while maybe wanting it lined with small diamonds, or the center stone lined with diamonds, which is called a halo. He said that older generations might choose a band that’s more bulky or a cathedral solitaire setting which frames a center stone as a focal point. Stumpf agrees. “It seems like the younger folks like more diamonds around with the halo and small diamonds accenting the larger diamond, but as they get a little older I think they tend to appreciate the value and beauty of that center diamond more and don’t want so much around it,” he said. Occupation also has an influence on ring styles. Both jewelers mentioned that nurses tend to get something that won’t catch on gloves or impact their work day. Grams said that often nurses won’t have their band fused to the engagement ring so that they can just wear the band while they’re working. If that isn’t the case, he Staff photo by Amanda Rasinski Jeff Stumpf of GoldSmith Jewelers said that many of his customers often purchase the ring and band as a set, and that rose gold was a popu- lar option for a while. Staff photo by Amanda Rasinski Solitaires definitely still have a place on a bride’s finger, said Peter Grams of Melgram Jewelers. He said it can be the best way to maximize a budget and put as much as possible into the center stone. recommends taking the ring off or leaving it at home to prevent damaging it. He said it’s something he’d recommend for any situation that could damage the ring. Grams also said that when it comes to wedding bands, many brides are choosing a non-matching band as it can add a unique contrast to the engagement ring. When it comes to the center stone of a ring, both Stumpf and Grams said that diamonds reign in popularity. While each diamond can have a differ- ent cut and level of quality, Grams said some are choosing options beyond that. “We’ve seen more and more acceptance of lab grown diamonds. They’re a really cool viable option for people if they’re interested in it. If not, we don’t push it because people are divided on the subject,” he said. 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