An engagement symbolizes a promise of marriage, commitment, and devotion to the love of your life. It’s a physical memory of a special moment. It should be something your partner will love. Finding the perfect engagement ring is an excellent way to show your partner how much you care for them. This article outlines eight engagement ring shopping tips.
1. Find the right engagement ring style
The perfect engagement ring style should be something your fiancée will love and enjoy showing off. This involves finding the right diamond suitable for your lover’s style. Would your fiancée love a simple yet elegant solitaire engagement ring? Are they interested in engagement rings with side diamonds or color gemstones for extra color or dazzle? Might they like a halo ring (a ring with a single center diamond circled by smaller diamonds)?
Is your fiancée interested in colored diamonds or gemstones instead of white diamonds in their engagement ring? Would they love a diamond engagement band rather than a ring with bigger center stones? Responding to these questions can help you find the right diamond or gemstone that suits your preferred engagement ring style.
2. Set a budget
Diamond price differs based on cut, color, carat, clarity, and certification. Understanding these elements will help improve your diamond pricing understanding and if you’re getting a fair deal. Note that the less color your diamond has, the costlier it’ll be. Color brings clarity, meaning the clearer your diamond is, the more expensive it is. Bigger carat-size diamonds are pricier, and so are specific cuts. It will cost more for diamonds certified by the Gemological Institute of America or the American Gem Society. Research before setting your budget to ensure more realistic estimates.
3. Know your partner
Will you surprise your partner or involve them in the engagement ring purchase process? Find out what they prefer. If you go to the jeweler alone, consider how you’ll describe them, including whether they prefer trendy or traditional, timeless designs, they mostly wear gold, silver, or other precious metals. You can learn more about your partner’s likes and preferences by questioning her family and friends, paying attention to the rings they like when passing by jewelry stores, noticing the settings and cuts on their latest jewelry pieces, or looking at their Pinterest account for hints on the rings they like.
4. Pick a metal band
Engagement rings are traditionally made from white or yellow gold, platinum, or silver. Rose gold has, in recent years, emerged as a new, modern alternative. Platinum and silver might seem similar, but platinum is costlier because of its higher density and rarity. Since some precious metals scratch faster than others, consider your loved one’s lifestyle and budget before selecting. You may also consider whether you’d like stones set between the bands.
5. Get the right measurements
Accurately measuring your ring fingers is essential to ensuring the perfect engagement ring size. The correct ring shouldn’t be loose to reduce the risk of falling off or cutting off your blood circulation. It should feel comfortable. When shopping for an engagement ring with your partner, get measured at a jewelry store.
6. Consider the shape you want
Knowing what the love of your life wants regarding diamond shape makes it easier to do a focused engagement ring hunt because this is usually a matter of preference. Each shape, also called a cut, has a different price and varying cost per carat. Marquise and pear cuts are more affordable than round ones. If size matters to you, consider getting more carats at a reasonable price when picking an option for the round cut. Before shopping for your engagement ring, learn the available ring cuts and shortlist one or two favorites.
7. Ensure it’s certified
An engagement ring purchase is expensive. Take the time to ensure smart shopping. Once you find your dream ring, consider diamond certification by an accredited lab to ensure consistent, reliable, and accurate grading of clarity, color, cut, and other factors. Suppose your diamonds are certified by unaccredited laboratories. In that case, they might have inflated grades, giving you an illusion of an excellent deal when you’ve landed a low-quality diamond.
8. Choose your setting
From a solitaire design’s simple elegance to a vintage ring’s ornate features, you may find engagement ring settings that suit any personality. A flushing or bezel setting will be ideal if your lover has an active lifestyle or hands-on job because the diamond wouldn’t extend as much as other styles. If you want a unique ring, consider a more custom engagement ring.
Endnote
Finding the right engagement can be stressful, especially if it’s your first time. However, using these shopping tips can help you find the perfect ring.
