u/newyearsamebitch

I'll start by saying I don't know much about gems or jewelry, so I'm kind of starting from scratch here.

I've been following Oore for years as the rings are so beautiful and true works of art in my opinion.

Starting to look at rings with my boyfriend and we had a first consultation at Brilliant Earth yesterday. We went in knowing we wouldn't buy there but wanting to try things on and get a sense for what I liked. I didn't love what I saw. Everything felt a bit mass-produced and not very artistic in my opinion. From both a cost and aesthetic perspective, it seems like Oore is the clear winner.

2 main challenges:

We're both nervous about making such a significant purchase online. I don't know enough about diamonds or gemstones to feel confident choosing size, clarity, color, etc. It feels even more intimidating if I go with a sapphire or another colored stone. At BE I tried on a light blue diamond (the only colored stone they had) and it was beautiful but the cool blue clashed with my warmer skin tone. I'm scared of ordering something online and it not actually looking good on my hand due to my own idiocy.
I'm struggling to balance personal style with social expectations. I'm drawn to Oore's whimsical aesthetic and also drawn to nontraditional center stones (colored diamonds or sapphires/other gems), but we both work in competitive, image-conscious environments. Appearances matter in our social circles as well - almost everyone I know has a traditional, colorless diamond ring. My boyfriend has said the decision is ultimately mine, but he's also expressed concern that something too unconventional could be judged or seen as "less than." As much as I despise the social pressure, I acknowledge it exists and it also makes me a bit anxious.

My questions:

For those with Oore rings, especially nontraditional ones, do you have any regrets about ordering online? How to get the most out of the design process especially for someone without much background knowledge?
Any similar designers/shops worth considering? (Based in NYC, bonus if I could try on in person)
Any suggestions for how to get a better feel for styles, settings, stone sizes and colors without feeling pressured to buy? (Like ordering dupes online to try first? Idk, open to unconventional ideas)
Was anyone else torn between a traditional solitaire vs. an artistic ring like Oore? What ultimately made the decision for you? Any regrets?

After writing all this, I'm realizing I don't even know my own style. I admire Oore's work, but beyond that I feel like I'm starting from zero. It seems like a lot of my peers always knew exactly what they wanted in an engagement ring, complete with a pinterest board. I feel very behind by comparison. If anyone else started from a similar place, I'd love to hear how you figured it out. Any thoughts would be much appreciated! 💖

Why does Frame Crop significantly cut off images from the Museums Collections? Does this happen to anyone else?

Influence or deinfluence me: Oore (plus figuring out my style, artistic vs traditional, and analysis paralysis)