Marriage is not only the joining of two lives, but the joining of two families and two histories. You have an opportunity when choosing an engagement to honor your past legacy and create a legacy of your own as a couple.
Below, we’ve highlighted some important things to consider when choosing a piece that keeps both your history and your future in mind.
Multi generational family diamond that has been recut and set in a modern halo setting.
Think Back When you consider your own family's legacy, there may be a piece of jewelry that has been gifted to you, or even a loose gemstone that holds significance. Even if there are no gifts of jewelry that have taken place, there may be a special story connected to your family’s history; maybe opals, sapphires, or rubies have unique meaning to your family’s heritage, or maybe all the brides in your family’s history have worn marquise shaped diamonds. If there’s a piece or a story that is part of your family’s legacy, consider continuing it as part of yours.
Embrace Change Buying an engagement ring is a big life event, but keep in mind that any decisions you make do not necessarily have to be permanent. Planning for a marriage that lasts a lifetime means that throughout the course of your relationship, many things will change. Settings can be adjusted to suit the style your partner favors as the years go on, and even stones can be changed or upgraded. The changes can be markers of your growing legacy.
Over time, our tastes can change. 30 years later, this diamond received a makeover. When you buy your engagement ring, give yourself permission to make these changes in the future.
Or, Embrace Timelessness Some couples want the legacy of their engagement ring to represent the one grand lifetime event of the proposal. If this describes you, you may not want to ever see the piece change over time, and would rather have it be in its exact state on your 50th wedding anniversary as it was the day you agreed to share your life together. This case calls for choosing something timeless and classic. Make sure that what you love today is something you’ll still be proud to wear decades later.
Don’t Fret the Numbers There are lots of equations out there around how much to spend or how much not to spend on an engagement ring. Your personal decision on what that number is doesn’t have to follow rules, so don’t feel like you’re breaking them one way or the other. Instead, reflect on what you want the ring to mean to you and your partner, as well as to the legacy of your relationship. You’ll find the right number when this emotional reflection is balanced in proportion to your current life situation.