Nothing says love like the perfect engagement ring. What’s not romantic is thinking about tariffs, rising gold prices and competition between lab-grown or natural diamond sellers.

Kelly Wade Fry, owner of Kelly Wade Jewelers and a gemologist, notes that, on the low end, couples can expect to pay an average of about $4,000 for the engagement ring, with designer pieces costing considerably more.

Her advice to couples: “Know where you are in your life and spend what you’re comfortable with and buy something beautiful and that is significant to present, because you know the intention when you’re getting engaged ... you’re showing your sacrifice.”

Wade says that emotional investment is becoming more costly. She recalls that when she began her career in the business over 20 years ago, gold wa

See Full Page