How to pick the perfect bling for your wedding ring

Tips for traditional couples and those thinking outside the diamond box

Be it bands or bling, Scott Udell, of London Jewelers, has plenty of sage advice to offer when it comes to picking out wedding rings — first and foremost he says, the shopping experience should be fun.

“Everybody’s guards are up so much because it’s your first really expensive purchase,” he says, “but it’s something you want to feel good about purchasing. At the end of the day, you want to enjoy the process.”

One way relax while picking out an engagement ring or wedding bands is by entreating the help of an expert like the jewelers at London’s bridal boutique TWO by London.

“Our goal is to make sure we put you at ease when you are buying something of that magnitude,” Udell says. “To know that we are going to have it ready for you, it’s going to be of our quality, of perfection, and at the end of the day, we want our customers to be happy. We are going to put the best product out there for them to enjoy for the rest of their lives.”

Diamonds are forever, which is why the classic stones are perennial favorites for soon-to-be brides, who are increasingly looking for creative, yet classic, ways to incorporate them into their wedding rings. While solitaires and center stones are still the diamond’s domain, the gems are no longer being relegated to engagement rings alone. Over the past 10 years, Udell says, he and his staff has seen an increase in brides (and grooms) requesting diamonds be inlayed in their wedding bands as well. “Whether it’s a little diamond band, or a big diamond band,” he says, “they want a traditional bling to wear with that ring.”

Couples looking for a timeless feel are finding inspiration in classic, Art Deco designs that incorporate center stones encircled by one or two rings of smaller diamonds, a style fittingly referred to as halos. Aside from the additional sparkle, this style allows adventurous brides interested in incorporating colored gems into their wedding sets to forgo a diamond center stone for something that adds a splash of color.

“For the brides that tends to be a little bit different,” Udell says, “we do make engagement rings all the time with sapphires and rubies. I can’t say as much emeralds, but sapphires and rubies tend to lead the trend of as far as if you are breaking out of the diamond box.” Birthstones are another way to add a personal touch.

Picking out the perfect ring can raise a lot of questions, which TWO by London’s friendly sales staff are both willing and able to answer. Or, if you prefer space while you shop, the store has been designed to put a wealth of wedding-ring information at your fingertips by offering customers access to interactive flat screens with a library’s worth of up-todate information on everything from mining to stone cutting to testimonials of satisfied customers.

Each element of the store is specifically designed to make the process of buying rings as smooth, transparent and enjoyable as possible. Diamonds are GIA certified through a meticulous, multi-step process. Platinum is hallmarked and graded. Gold and gemstones have their own externally certified qualification systems.

TWO by London is a bridal boutique that’s been designed to make wedding ring shopping a welcoming experience. The first thing you’ll notice — other than the touchscreens and smiling faces of its staff — is the fact that there are hundreds of sample rings situated around the store for you to

pick up and examine without ever having to ask an associate to open a glass case. Prices start at $1,500, and, in addition to its collection of ready-to-wear wedding rings, which require little more than a re-sizing, TWO by London can also create something for you custom. Enter a code found on each sample ring into one of several kiosks and begin to customize the ring of your dreams. The possibilities are virtually endless.

Change the cut or carat size of the diamond, add trillions or pave-set stones, add a birthstone or other colored gemstone. Customize the metal or the setting, too. Udell advises leaving yourself three to four weeks of lead time to ensure your rings are ready in time, though, they are able to do rush orders should extenuating circumstances arise.

If nothing in the store strikes your fancy, TWO by London has a sketcher on hand who can you create a special ring from scratch. No matter what route you choose, there are plenty of ways to pick the perfect ring at TWO by London, the engagement shop at London Jewelers Americana Manhasset.