The quest for the perfect engagement ring – An exclusive interview with Maison Birks

When it comes to picking an engagement ring, so many emotions and thoughts come to mind. Will I love it 5 years from now? (or if you are a guy reading this: will she say yes when she sees the ring?) Should I go for more carats or clarity? What cut is the most beautiful?

There is such a large selection of cuts, settings and colours of engagement rings out there that making a clear decision can be a real challenge. I had the opportunity to meet with Canada’s premier jeweller, Maison Birks, and asked them all the questions you would want answered when searching for the perfect ring!

Birks Square Phillips platinum emerald-cut / Birks Pure Desire Yellow diamond pavé

SSO: What diamond cut will be the most on trend in 2014?
MB: The round diamond cut is the most popular for years now. You can’t go wrong with a Birks 1879 diamond ring. To add some pizazz to the ring, add a halo, or even a double halo.

SSO: What metal will be the most popular this year? Platinum, white, yellow or rose gold?
MB: White metals are always a "passe-partout" especially platinum, the purest and most durable metal.

Top: Birks 1879 solitaire
Bottom: Acredo@Birks wedding band
with personalized sound
wave message

SSO: What are the 2014 wedding bands trends?
MB: The matching bride and groom sets are a growing trend in America. However, brides will usually pick a wedding band that complements the look of their engagement ring. One great way of doing this is with the Acredo@Birks concept. Maison Birks, is proud to have introduced Acredo@Birks in its Montreal, Dix30 and Mapleview stores, an innovative bridal concept premiering in North America and exclusively available at Birks. The Company now offers customers the exciting possibility of creating their own rings using platinum or yellow, white, rose or grey gold, with the option of decorating them with diamond accents. With a large selection of styles and metals, the design scenarios are almost infinite. The results are superior quality, unique bands and rings that are sure to delight its wearers for a lifetime.

SSO: Are solitaires making a comeback as the most sought after engagement ring? 
MB: The solitaire engagement ring is not a trend but a classic. It is indeed one of our best-selling engagement ring settings. Specialists claim that it is the best way to showcase a diamond. Our Birks North Star engagement ring inspired by the first star to light up the night and the brightest star in the heavens is the perfect example.

SSO: What are the most common messages engraved inside wedding bands?
MB: The most common messages are: Eternal Love / Forever / Wedding date / Partner’s initials. With the Acredo@Birks concept, our customers are able to handwrite their own messages or even engrave their own fingerprints. The possibilities are endless!

SSO: For brides looking for something other than a classic diamond, what would you suggest?
MB: For those looking for something extra special, Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds are rising in popularity due to their extreme rarity. Fancy colour diamonds are the prima donnas of the diamond world; their occurrence in nature is triggered by an exponentially rare sequence of events millions of years ago. 

Unique to Maison Birks: The Amorique Platinum Pavé

SSO : When shopping for a diamond what are the most important quality factors to be considered? 
MB: First, you need to totally fall in love with an engagement ring. Afterwards, choosing the diamond is a little more intricate but always fun. At Maison Birks we believe in the 8 C’s that constitute the beauty and quality of our diamonds:
1. CANADIAN
2. COMMITMENT
3. CARAT
4. COLOUR
5. CLARITY
6. CUT
7. CHARACTER
8. CELEBRATION
To learn more about the 8C's visit: http://www.maisonbirks.com/en/8c/ 

SSO: One thing you should NOT compromise when shopping for your diamond?
MB: You should not compromise on the origin of the diamond. Birks Canadian Diamonds can be traced from the mine of origin all the way to the Birks blue box and are guaranteed conflict-free.

SSO: How long before your wedding should you order your wedding bands?
MB: We usually suggest 2 months ahead so you can fully enjoy the experience. 

SSO: Any tricks or best time to get your ring sized so that it fits perfectly on your big day?
MB: Ideally, we would take the circumference at 2 different times of the day, and to be more accurate, we could take it once in the winter and once in the summer. 

Essie gel in Scavenger Hunt & Birks Blue Box

Browse through Maison Birks engagement rings catalogue and visit their Bridal Atelier blog for some wedding inspiration!
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A big thank you goes to Essie Canada for providing the manicure for this photoshoot. Shade color used: Scavenger Hunt in Essie Gel.