So you’ve got the ring. A dazzling, shiny engagement ring. Your next step: picking out the perfect wedding band to complement that ring. First, get something you like. Consider your lifestyle and taste.

There are ways to simplify your diamond investment, says Anne Pokoski, certified gemologist appraiser at Elleard Heffern Fine Jewelers in St. Louis.

Pokoski says the wedding couple’s shopping experience should be fun, exciting and done with confidence. Pokoski gives these tips for buying the right wedding band:

TIPS FOR WEDDING RINGS

 

 • Brides today are more interested in wedding bands filled with diamonds than the plain gold or platinum band.

 • If your engagement ring is an emerald-cut diamond, which generally has an understated sparkle to it, consider a wedding band with baguettes or side stones to complement the set.

 • A princess-cut diamond tends to feature geometric styling. It would be ideal to choose a wedding band also with princess cut diamonds.

 • If your engagement ring has a solitaire, pear, oval or marquis-shaped diamond, a round band embellished with diamonds may match best.

TRENDS IN WEDDING RINGS

1. The round brilliant stone is still one of the most popular diamond shapes.

2. The oval and princess-cut diamonds are relatively newer cuts, popular among younger brides.

3. Some brides are showing a strong interest in older cut diamonds such as the Asscher-cut and the Cushion-cut. These styles from a century ago bring back creative looks in platinum.

4. You may want to consider a wedding set made with colored stones. This new trend has brides and celebrities choosing some of the hottest colors of diamonds in shades of yellow, pink, brown and purple.

REMEMBER THE 4 C’S

Cut: The set of dimensions and angles of the diamond. Cut is the most important factor of the four C’s, because a properly cut diamond will sparkle at its most brilliant, and it will be the prettiest.

Carat: The weight of the stones.

Clarity: Represents the number, size and location of natural birthmarks within the diamond. Clarity grades range from flawless to imperfect, with flawless being extremely rare.

Color: Amount of color that can be seen by a diamond grader when the stone is viewed lying upside down in special lighting conditions. Color ranges from D, which is completely colorless, up to Z which has strongly noticeable color. Most high-end quality bridal jewelry today is set with diamonds in the colorless to near colorless range from D to K in color.

Ring BAND CHOICES

 • Yellow gold for men and women.

 • White gold for men and women.

 • Platinum for men and women.

 • Titanium for men only.

 • Tungsten carbide.

TIPS TO MAKE DIAMOND CUT SHOPPING PLEASANT

 • Re search the Internet for diamonds choices.

 • Look for jewelers with good reputations. Ask friends and relatives for resources.

 • Select a jeweler who is a member of the American Gem Society or the Independent Jewelers Organization.