Shopping for an engagement ring is a fun adventure. You've discovered the one you want to spend the rest of your life with, and now you're looking for an engagement ring. Shopping for an engagement ring may be exciting and overwhelming, especially if it's your first time.
True love, the age-old question, and a glittering engagement ring are the three cornerstones of any memorable proposal. The first two are superficial—a no-brainer after you've discovered the person you want to spend your life with—but the ring is more complicated. They forgot all about the ring. How can you capture your past and future together, your undying loyalty, and your boundless love in a piece of jewellery?
It's not easy, but these guidelines will help you make informed decisions when shopping for an engagement ring.
Your Budget
Determine your budget for the ring before you start looking at designs online or visiting jewellery stores. Avoid asking Google, "How much should they spend on an engagement ring?" because you'll get irrelevant results like "one to three months' wages." The truth is that there is no "correct" amount to spend on an engagement ring.
Although you might feel compelled to go all out, your future spouse would probably instead not start married life saddled with debt.
There's No "Right" Amount to Spend
It's possible you've heard that there's a magic number you should aim for when purchasing an engagement ring. The conventional wisdom is that an engagement ring should cost three months' worth of salary. Yet, there is no standard for how much you should spend on an engagement ring. If you could pay what you could reasonably afford, that would be great. It is essential to consider your financial situation while creating a budget rather than just using generalised guidelines. Then, you can decide how much money to spend on an engagement ring.
Order In Advance
Your jeweller may require some time to set your chosen diamond in your engagement ring unless you are purchasing a pre-set ring. Once you place your order, it may also take some time for your engagement ring to be manufactured. So, get the ring early if you want to propose on a specific day but don't want to risk not having the engagement ring in time. Six weeks is a fair rule of thumb, as it provides you plenty of breathing room if there are any delays in the completion of your ring. However, you should check with your jeweller to estimate how long it may take.
Your Partner's Taste
Remember that your partner will likely wear this ring forever while you go through the entire purchase process. (There is absolutely no pressure.) As a result, you should always consider your partner's preferences. If your significant other has their heart set on a white gold vintage art deco ring, it won't matter if you prefer yellow gold or if you've heard that colourful diamonds are trending. Without a clue where the ring is hidden, you might always consult a trusted friend of your significant other.
FAQs About Engagement Ring
The most brilliant and brilliant-looking diamonds are sharp round cuts, which are also the most prefered shape for engagement rings. Others have a preference for a more unusual condition, such as an oval or a cushion cut. You can enquire with her relatives and friends if you are unsure what your girlfriend likes best. You can narrow your search and evaluate different diamonds by choosing a shape.
Whether To Pass Down An Heirloom
While some may prefer a brand new sparkler, others may place more weight on the sentimental meaning of a family heirloom (and may even daydream of donning their mother's or grandmother's ring). Ring shoppers on a tight budget have a great option in family heirlooms.
If you enjoy the notion of proposing a piece of family history but don't have any jewellery that fits the bill, consider turning an item into a new custom piece—with the owner's consent, of course. Diamonds can be put in new mountings, and metal can be melted and recast into a different form.
How Involved Your Partner Wants To Be
While you may be bent on surprising your significant other with a ring you chose on your own, they may have other plans. Shopping for an engagement ring together before popping the question isn't a romantic gesture, but it's getting more frequent.
Since, once more, your future wife or husband is exceptionally likely to wear this piece of jewellery daily. For the sake of suspense, you may propose a piece of jewellery that isn't the engagement ring, such as one of the family jewels that must be remodelled.
Your Significant Other's Ring Size
Unfortunately, not all rings can be adjusted to fit their intended recipients. Many rings, such as antique pieces, rings with engraving or stones that wrap around the entire band, and rings set in a tension setting, are not easily adjusted because this process requires cutting out a small piece of the ring and then adding extra metal or sealing the gap.
In light of this, it's essential to get the proper size first. Steal an often-worn ring from your significant other's jewellery box and take it to the jeweller to have their ring size determined covertly. You may also try putting one of your partner's rings on your finger and marking the circumference of the band with a marker to see how far down it has slipped if you're worried about losing it. The jeweller can use this information to determine the appropriate size.
Don't Guess Their Ring Size.
Imagine you are kneeling. You say those four words to the one you love, and they accept it with overwhelming happiness. You try to put the ring on their finger, but it won't go past the knuckle, and a tear trickles down your cheek.
It's not the end of the world if you make this error; it happens to the best of us. However, if you're the exact type who would spend months planning the perfect proposal, it's worth it to get every little thing just right. Find a ring that fits your loved one's ring finger (hint: do some jewellery espionage while they're sleeping), then use a ring sizer or take it to a jeweller; they'll be able to tell you the exact measurement.
The Four Cs
A diamond's cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight are the "four Cs" by which its quality is judged. It's common to hear individuals brag about how many carats a diamond has, but weight is the most crucial factor. How much the gem sparkles depends on this. D is completely colourless, which is ideal, while Z is yellow.
But only trained eyes can identify the difference between G and higher grades, so if you want to maximise your budget, go for a G or H. To sum up, clarity refers to the degree to which the stone contains flaws. Select an SI1 or SI2 clarity grade since, while a more excellent clarity rating may raise the stone's worth, your future spouse probably won't perceive a difference without a magnifying lens.
Know The 4Cs
You understand the 4Cs is essential if you, like most others, are in the market for a diamond engagement ring. An evaluation of a diamond's quality is based on the 4Cs. The 4Cs are briefly described below.
- The grade is given to a diamond based on how well it was cut and thus how well it reflected light.
- Colourless white diamonds have varying degrees of this quality.
- Diamonds are graded on their clarity to indicate how internal and exterior flaw-free they are.
- Carat is a unit of measurement for the diamond weight that provides a rough estimate of a diamond's size.
But Don't Be Tied Down By Them.
The four Cs should not be viewed as strict requirements. Invisible to the human eye but of more excellent value in the eyes of an appraiser are subtle variations in a gem's colour or clarity. Also, keep in mind that some people like more understated rings, while others think that rings with coloured diamonds or other gemstones look more contemporary. Setting and bandwidth, in addition to carat and cut, can drastically alter the appearance of a ring.
It takes a jeweller's eye to determine which characteristics are vital and, even more importantly, how they complement one another.
Your Metal Options
Not everything that shines is made of real gold. There is an abundance of choices when it comes to picking the metal for your significant other's band. While yellow gold is the more conventional option, white gold's unique colour is achieved by combining the precious metal with an alloy such as nickel, making it heavier and hence more scratch-resistant than its yellow counterpart.
Rose gold, however, has more power than each of them together. If your significant other has a keen eye for style, they may appreciate the pinkish colour of rose gold, which is achieved by combining gold with the more trendy metal copper.
Platinum bands are beautiful and expensive, so if you can afford them and your intend to like silvery white colours, it's an option to think about. Platinum is more difficult to work with, is hypoallergenic, and requires regular polishing to keep its lustre.
Know Your Precious Metals
There is a wide variety of precious metals used for engagement ring settings. The same type of setting may usually be fabricated in a variety of other precious metals. Platinum, white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold are the most well-liked precious metals for engagement rings. Your ring's appearance and care requirements will change depending on the precious metal you select.
Diamonds Aren't Always A Girl's Best Friend.
Although diamonds are the traditional stone for engagement rings, other gems can also be used. If money is tight, you may want to choose less expensive alternatives such as emeralds, rubies, or sapphires. However, some people prefer a more colourful gem regardless of cost.
The Right Setting Can Make All The Difference
Despite their widespread association with engagement rings, diamonds are by no means indispensable. You can save money by opting for less expensive precious stones like emeralds, rubies, or sapphires, and some individuals would rather have a more colourful gem than a diamond anyhow.
Settings And Diamonds Are Often Sold Separately
Let's begin with a little-known fact: centre stones and settings are often offered independently. Engagement rings typically consist of two parts: the main stone (usually a white diamond) and the mounting (the metal framework that holds your centre stone).
However, some rings do feature a pre-set gemstone in the centre. Traditional engagement rings from the past often came with all the trimmings, and many contemporary jewellers provide preset rings. Be aware that many jewellery stores now sell mountings and centrepieces independently.
Shape And Settings Set Style
The shape of your centre stone and the setting it is in will have a dramatic effect on the overall look of your engagement ring. Each individual has a unique condition, represented by the shape of the diamond at the centre of their ring. The setting of your engagement ring will have an aesthetic effect as well. The scenes can be anything from traditional to retro-inspired to cutting edge to wholly original.
Sales Tax Can Affect The Price
Sales tax is typically levied on all purchases save those made in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. This tax can add hundreds or thousands of dollars to the price of a large purchase like an engagement ring. Buying things online could be an excellent way to save money by avoiding sales tax: Companies who sell items online but don't have any physical locations in your state are exempt from collecting sales tax from you. However, this exemption is not guaranteed because your condition might assess a use tax analogous to the one avoided here.
How To Ensure The Ring
You've found the ideal engagement ring; congratulations; now it's time to insure it. It would be an understatement to say that losing or having the ring stolen would be a significant disappointment. The simplest solution is to speak with your insurance agent about including the ring as a "floater" on your current homeowners' or renters' policy.
Although this may cause your plan's premiums to rise somewhat, the additional expense will be well worth the assurance it provides. (And hurry up and buy insurance for your home or apartment if you don't already have it.) Even if you and your fiancée don't share a home, you should still have the ring insured if something happens.
Warranties Are Not The Same Thing As Jewellery Insurance
Warranties are often confused with jewellery insurance, but the two are not the same. Our Peace of Mind extended maintenance plan, like other warranties, shields your ring against damage caused during production as well as regular use. On the other hand, jewellery insurance can shield you against mishaps like these.
Don't Rush
Consider the purchase of an engagement ring a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one to savour and dwell upon for as long as is required. Do you believe you've discovered the one on your first shopping trip? Cool. Take notes, snap some photos, enquire as to whether or not it will sell out quickly, and then move on.
Before you go out and spend money, be sure you've looked into all of your options thoroughly. Put that deadline out of your mind until you know that the ring is perfect for your partner.
Remember Why You're Doing It
Despite the stress and uncertainty, shopping for an engagement ring is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to demonstrate your love for your future spouse. Just keep in mind the reason you're doing it, or more accurately, the people you're doing it for, and you'll be OK.