Perhaps one of the most important (and expensive) purchases you or your future husband/wife/partner will ever make for each other is the engagement ring or wedding band. It has to be timeless but also in the style of the giftee; it has to fit the lifestyle; it has to fit the budget. Ideally, it’s on that finger forever. So when do you know you’ve found the right thing?

For me, it took nearly a year and a half. William, my fiancé, proposed to me last December, and our wedding is now a mere seventy-seven days away. I had my stone re-set just last week. Initially, William had chosen a very, very nice white gold band, fairly wide, with a classic Tiffany setting for me. I was actually very happy with it right off the bat. But when I started looking for bands, I had trouble finding anything that looked just right with it. (I’m hardly a high-maintenance bride, but some things have to be Cinderella!) Enter a whole new search for an engagement ring and wedding band.

Several weekends, many stores, conversations, try-ons, and agonizing later, I had my aha moment. I walked into Gold’n Treasures on Grand Avenue, and it was like a tractor beam pulled me to a set of stackable rings in the case. I knew it from the second I laid eyes on it. Certainly I’d seen others that were perfectly lovely but weren’t quite right. Mine is delicate and looks vintage, although it’s not. A little sparkle but nothing I’d call blingy. Best of all, it had both a matching band, or just one that coordinated nicely (I chose the coordinating, rather than the matching, band). 

I tried on others, in a show of keeping my mind open (and loving to try on jewelry), but my heart was set the instant the first ring went on my finger. The next week—I decided I’d better sleep on it—, I returned to put my diamond in the new ring. We also bought the coordinating band.

When I went to pick up my ring, it was even more beautiful than I had imagined it would be. That sounds ridiculous coming from me. I never thought I’d say those words. But—it’s true. I’m so happy with it.

But what helped the whole big purchase—in a very important way—was the service we received each time we visited. No pressure. No sales pitches. Just knowledgeable staff that was truly interested in helping us find the right rings. The first time I went in, they took photos for me of the rings I'd tried on. Then I could take them home to stare at or take them with me shopping to compare. It sure didn't hurt that they offered me a glass of wine every time I came in or that they treated us like friends.

Ask all the questions you can think up. Try on everything that looks appealing. Listen to some expert advice. Hell, gemologist and owner Todd Gimble allowed William to try his own wedding band on and walk around the store with it—and it sold William on a very similar band. Stop back often—stock shifts around frequently.

I know others who have had similar experiences, and we all recommend them wholeheartedly. The staff is wonderfully friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Most importantly, in my book, they didn’t pressure us, so we could make a reasonable decision, whatever our price point, and come away happy. Consider me ecstatic.

Gold’n Treasures, 805 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, 651-227-2711, goldn-treasures.com