How Soon Should You Start Shopping for Your Engagement Ring.. or Wedding Band?
At Lauren B., we receive inquiries from all over the world regarding timelines for ring shopping.. is it too soon? Is my timeline too short? How long can I expect production to take? When would I receive it? Keep reading to find out!
Engagement Rings
You’re blissfully in love and have an inkling that engagement is on the horizon. Congratulations, it’s time to begin searching for your perfect engagement ring design!
Every couple handles the engagement ring shopping process a bit differently. Some couples visit together initially to narrow down favorite styles. Other times, partners will shop individually, or with a trusted confidant, to keep the mystery in tact. We also have couples who decide on the full ring and center stone combination together to ensure everything turns out exactly as envisioned, no surprises. It is up to you and your partner to decide which path is best for you!
There’s no right answer for HOW to shop, but at Lauren B, we make it easy for all couples, regardless of the shopping arrangements. We keep detailed notes of the preferred ring style(s), center stone shape(s), and any other nuanced aesthetic preferences to make the purchasing process as easy as can be, and to ensure couples have their wishes for their dream engagement ring fulfilled!
If there is a set proposal date or timeline in mind, however, you will want to take this into account. Once we have all of the ring setting and center stone decisions finalized and we’re ready to get started, our custom rings take approximately three to four weeks to produce. We recommend giving yourself an extra buffer of at least a week or two before you need the ring, if possible, so that you’re not cutting it too close to the proposal. No need for unnecessary stress!
The amount of shopping trips you expect to make (as a couple and individually) should be considered in this timeline. It’s also important to give yourself time to choose the perfect center stone for your engagement ring.
Diamonds
Diamond options and pricing are highly dependent on availability. Diamond inventory can vary greatly from month-to-month, and even from week-to-week! For this reason, you should begin shopping for a diamond when you’re ready to make a purchase. If you love a specific diamond in September, for instance, but aren’t planning to make a purchase until April, it’s highly unlikely that that specific diamond will still be available. We will always present you with the best available, largest measuring and highest quality options regardless of timing; but diamond inventory fluctuates greatly, and this needs to be taken into account when shopping.
Moissanites
Most moissanite sizes and shapes are readily available; however, if you’re planning to order a custom-cut moissanite with specific dimensions, please keep in mind that doing so could add up to five weeks to the production time. While we may be able to speed up the ring production time slightly, as needed, we do not have control over that five-week stone cutting timeframe.
Ready-to-Buy Rings
Do you have a tighter turnaround time than our standard three-to-four-week production time? No need to fear! We have a great inventory of in-stock diamond and moissanite engagement rings of all shapes, sizes and styles readily available for purchase! Have something custom in mind? We can create some custom styles within a quicker timeframe. Please reach out to us at info@laurenb.com and one of our Design Consultants would be happy to advise you further!
Wedding Bands
Are you happily engaged and planning your nuptials? Time to start shopping for wedding bands!
Many wedding publications tend to defer wedding bands to one of the final decisions in the wedding planning process. While certain decisions should most definitely be handled first (like securing the wedding date and venue, for instance!), the wedding band decision tends to be a little tougher than expected. You’re tasked with choosing something to complement your engagement ring, without detracting – a fine balance! In most cases, it’s tougher to buy wedding bands directly out of the case as they need to be custom made to fit your exact ring size. For this reason, we suggest expediting the wedding band shopping experience and beginning to explore your options a bit sooner.
Our standard wedding band production timeline is approximately four to six weeks. This range is for styles featuring more intricate metal work or diamonds, with the exact timing contingent on the exact style selected. Plain metal bands can usually be done quicker, in about two to three weeks. As always, we recommend giving yourself a buffer to ensure the process is as stress-free as possible.
To schedule an in-person or virtual engagement ring or wedding band appointment with Lauren B, please click here or email us at info@laurenb.com.
