December is almost is here, and you know what that means, right?

It won't be long before your Facebook and Instagram feeds are flooded with engagement announcements. December is, hands down, the most popular month for couples to get engaged.

If you're thinking about popping the question this holiday season, you might be starting to shop around for an engagement ring right now. You might even have one all picked out and ready to go.

But before you buy it, make sure you're purchasing a ring from a good jewelry brand. Specifically, you should steer clear of buying an engagement ring from a jewelry store chain at the mall and go with an individual brand like B.Tiff instead.

There are many advantages that come along with taking this approach. Check out several of the benefits of buying your ring from an individual brand below.

More Unique Ring Designs

When you purchase a ring for the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, it should be special. It shouldn't look exactly like the ring that your neighbor just gave to his girlfriend.

But when you shop for an engagement ring at a jewelry store chain, you're not going to find many unique ring designs. Most chains have the same basic rings available at all of their stores.

Working with an individual brand is different. A company like B.Tiff has a bunch of engagement ring designs that you're not going to see all over the place after the engagement season is over.

From the gorgeous B.Tiff 2 ct Cushion Cut with Baguettes Engagement Ring to the B.Tiff 3-Stone Cushion Cut Engagement Ring, you'll have lots of unique options to choose from. The lovely lady in your life will absolutely love what you pick out and appreciate that it's different from all the other rings she's seen.

Perfect, Ethical Alternative to Diamonds

Most of the major jewelry store chains do very little research when it comes to their engagement rings.

They might tell you that they have a system in place to provide you with the best, most ethically sourced diamonds in the business. But in reality, those chains usually put low-quality diamonds into their rings that come from forced labor and don't sparkle.

At the end of the day, you're just another number to them, and they're not all that worried about whether the quality or ethical source of your ring is perfect.

An individual brand like B.Tiff operates a lot differently. All of the engagement rings available to you, like the B.Tiff Aureolo II 1 ct Cushion Cut Halo Engagement Ring, come equipped with high-quality B.Tiff New York Diamond Alternative Stones in them that are flawless in clarity, ideal in cut, and ethically pure.

More Affordable Prices

On average, Americans spend more than $6,300 on engagement rings. That's up from $5,000 just a few short years ago.

Why has the price of an engagement ring gone up that dramatically?

It's not because the rings are of a higher quality now. It's not because the price of diamonds has gone up all that much, either.

Instead, it's because jewelry store chains are advertising more than they ever have before. It's also because it costs a lot of money for chains to obtain prime positions inside of malls all across the country.

These things come at a cost, and that cost gets passed along to the people who purchase engagement rings at jewelry store chains. You're not necessarily paying for a better ring at these "good" jewelry stores; you're paying for everything that goes into those stores getting you to walk through their front door.

Rather than going that route, you can save yourself thousands and thousands of dollars by going with a ring like the B.Tiff 2 ct Solitaire Pave Engagement Ring from B.Tiff New York.

Better Customer Service

With all the money you're forced to spend at the so-called top-rated jewelry stores, you would think they would deliver amazing customer service. And in some cases, they do. There are occasionally salespeople who really care about helping customers.

But more often than not, the salespeople at jewelry store chains only want to help you because they want your money. They aren't necessarily as concerned with delivering a great experience as they are with padding their paychecks.

With an individual brand like B.Tiff New York, you won't have to worry about receiving this kind of customer service. You'll enjoy a better experience with someone who really cares about finding you the right ring for your soon-to-be spouse.

More Passionate Approach to Jewelry

Have you ever wondered why there are so many jewelry store chain commercials on TV leading up to the holidays?

These chains know people are looking to get engaged, and they want to capitalize on it. Their passion lies in making money off those who are planning to get engaged at some point around the holidays.

But for an individual brand like B.Tiff New York, the passion doesn't come from making money. It comes from providing people with beautiful jewelry that they'll love at a great affordable price.

Whether you're buying an engagement ring, a bracelet, or a necklace, we'll show the same level of passion to you. We're passionate about the jewelry we sell and want you to be happy with whatever you purchase from us.

The Good Jewelry Stores are the Individual Brands

If you spend enough time in front of the TV this November and December, you might start to think that the good jewelry stores are the ones set up in the middle of malls throughout the U.S.

But this couldn't be further from the truth. The best jewelry stores are actually the ones like B.Tiff New York that go to great lengths to provide people with great jewelry at a great price.

Check out the engagement rings we have for sale today if you're preparing to ask the special someone in your life to marry you soon.

Read our blog for more tips on buying the best jewelry for almost any occasion.