Tips on Buying an Engagement Ring
Buying an engagement ring can be an exciting yet scary experience! Of course, you would want the ring to be perfect since it will represent your everlasting love for your partner. Although it is easy to romanticize the process, buying an engagement ring can be a big expense that you want to get right. Whether you are shopping for rings together or buying it solo, here are some tips for buying the perfect ring.
Choose Your Shape and Band
Knowing what diamond shape your significant other would love will help you tremendously. This will give you more information on pricing, carat count, and more. Every shape has a different price per carat. Pear and marquise cuts are less expensive, whereas round cuts can be costly. Research different ring cuts, and find two styles that suit your significant other.
Engagement rings and wedding bands are traditionally made from yellow gold, white gold, silver, or platinum. However, rose gold has gained popularity as a modern alternative. Platinum is more expensive than silver because of its higher density and rarity. Take into account your lifestyle, aesthetic, and budget, for some metals scratch or wear down easier than others.
Pick Your Carat Size
Some prefer a large stone, whereas others prefer the clearest diamond possible. Your significant other should have an idea of their stone size since that is an important factor in ring shopping. Once you find that size, color and clarity can be tweaked to something within your budget. Keep an open mind–your significant other may think they know what size they’d like, but may find something different once you start shopping. Save costs by buying a less common carat size. Diamond prices are also determined by popularity.
Cut and Clarity
You can save money by purchasing the lowest color diamond that remains colorless to the naked eye. Same with clarity–opt for the lowest clarity diamond. However, never sacrifice the quality of the cut of the diamond. The cut is a major factor in the sparkle of the diamond. If an expensive, rough diamond is cut poorly, it will look worse than a less expensive diamond cut perfectly.