Even in rough economy, diamonds still are a girl's best friend

June 17, 11:31 PMFullerton Community ExaminerKimberly Wolfe

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The rough economy has not stopped the purchase of engagement rings

 Part 2 of this series dealing with wedding planning in the Fullerton, CA, area guides us through engagement ring shopping. How has the economy affected shopping for an engagement ring? What is the most popular style of engagement rings? What are some of the current styles? Read on for these details and more!

What Marilyn Monroe sang 56 years ago in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" still remains true.

 Diamonds (rings, that is) are indeed a girl's best friend, even during these rough economic times, according to local experts.

 "Not really," Naheed Nadeem, Assistant Manager of Kay Jewelers in the Brea Mall said when asked if the state of the economy has slowed the purchase of engagement rings. "People are taking advantage of our financing plans."

  With the average price of an engagement ring (including stone and setting) running at $3,200, according to the Diamond Information Center, it's no wonder that people are taking advantage of financing plans to buy engagement rings. The Diamond Information Center also notes though that forty-four percent of all diamond rings sold are less than $1,000. Kay Jewelers in Brea has found that the average cost of a ring is around $2,000-$3,000, according to Jana Mc Grew, an employee at the store.

 Mc Grew said that retro, antique styles of rings are very popular. Diamond quads, which is the splitting of a princess-cut diamond into four pieces, is also very popular now, as it gives the illusion of a bigger diamond with smaller pieces added to the main, center portion of the engagement ring. Mc Grew showed a diamond ring that had this feature and was three carats total due to the amount of diamond quads in the center of the ring. The average size of a diamond engagement ring is between 0.75-1 carat, according to the Diamond Information Center.

 Mc Grew also noted that Kay Jewelers also offers a diamond trade-in program. Once your ring is paid for it may be traded in for a larger diamond at a later date.

 For more information regarding diamond rings and proper care of them, visit Kay Jewelers Web site.