It was a Friday afternoon between Thanksgiving and Christmas when I was working at the studio. A gentleman came in. He said, “I don’t think you have what I’m looking for and I need it today.” I asked what he was looking for and he replied, “An engagement ring”. He didn’t want to go to a chain store to purchase it and he planned to propose the next day. I said… “This is what you are going to do: Take one of my silver CZ ring samples and propose to her with this. Then come back in with her and let her choose what she wants.” He was so happy!
That’s all we women want… and it’s all our men want too. We want to have choices and to be involved in the decisions. We want what we want…. But we also want our partners to be involved in our choice and approve of our choice.
Istvan left the studio with a beautiful silver and CZ ring in a beautiful box. He had something to surprise Kathleen with, and yet he was able to give her the ability to choose exactly what she wanted.
Purchasing a diamond engagement ring is a process which shouldn’t be rushed. There are no right or wrong ways, nor right or wrong diamonds or gemstones. At 21C Designs, when it comes to diamonds or other gemstones, we want to educate you, inform you of your options, curate the selection and use our experience and connections to help you make the perfect decision. Our goal is to make it a comfortable process, often in the warm space of our private yet beautiful Madison, CT studio. We often go to our customers and work with them where they are. It isn’t about pressure. This is one of the happiest days of your life, and we want the ring buying experience to be equal to your entire engagement experience.
The design process should be all about you too. Each ring we create is a custom design and is custom made just for you. We draw. We use our photo gallery of designs. We use the silver CZ samples we own. We also rely on our instincts of working with customers for many years. Often, we can narrow in on a handful of styles after a conversation.
I’ve met with Istvan & Kathleen several times. I’ve even been lucky enough to meet their two daughters. This is one of the best things about our business. It’s personal and we take our time. We want you to make the right decision for you. It’s a big decision. It’s an important decision. This will be a part of your life forever and possibly passed down several generations. Take your time!
