Choosing an engagement ring can be a stressful experience. You’re about to spend a lot of money on a piece of jewelry and you want to make sure it’s perfect. And this isn’t any piece of jewelry, it’s a symbol of love that will hopefully be worn for the rest of their lives.
While navigating the world of engagement rings can feel overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. With the right knowledge and guidance, you can have confidence you’re making the right decision.
Understanding Your Partner's Style
Before diving into the specifics of a ring, you need to know your partner’s style. How you do this can depend on the type of relationship you have, and whether you have talked about marriage or not.
For example, if you’ve talked openly about marriage, then you can ask her which styles of rings she prefers. This can still be a surprise as you can infer that you are just curious or plan to get a ring when you can afford it.
Another way around it is asking one of her friends to talk to her about it secretly. Aside from this, start to look for opportunities to enquire about a style. This could be when you’re passing jewelry shops or looking at pictures when people you know get engaged.
If you don’t have such clues, consider their fashion choices and jewelry they currently wear. They may like a classical minimalist look, or perhaps they more flash jewelry. Paying attention to all of these details can help you to narrow down your options.
Setting a Budget
Engagement rings come in a huge range of prices. It’s important to set a budget and stick to it. The ring may be an important symbol, but it shouldn’t be something that causes too much of a financial headache.
There is a tradition that you should spend a certain amount of your income on an engagement ring, but you should ignore all of that. Only spend what you’re comfortable with and don’t feel pressured to conform to certain expectations.
By setting a realistic budget, you can then focus on finding a ring that matches the style you’re looking for.
Educating Yourself on the Four Cs
When it comes to diamonds, it’s all about the four C’s: cut, color, clarity, and carat. These four factors determine the style and beauty of the diamond, while also having a significant impact on the cost.
Cut – The cut isn’t just about the shape of the diamond but how much it sparkles. A well-cut diamond will reflect more light and shine more beautifully. Lower-quality cuts will be cheaper but don’t reflect as much light.
Color – Cheaper diamonds can often have a warm white appearance or, at worst, be slightly yellow. The most expensive diamonds are those that don’t have any color at all. Examine the diamond and look for any hint of color.
Clarity – This refers to how pure the diamond is. It may have small internal flaws or blemishes on the surface. Most diamonds have slight imperfections that are almost invisible to the naked eye but can offer more value for money.
Carat – Carat is the weight of the diamond. Larger diamonds are usually more expensive, but the factors above can also play a big role. Remember, you may have a partner that prefers to have a ring that is more understated rather than showy, so bigger is not always better.
Choosing the Right Metal and Setting
Choosing the metal on the ring is usually one of the simpler tasks when picking a ring. That’s because all you need to do is look at her existing jewelry. Many people prefer to use one color of jewelry and stick with it.
If you can afford to, it’s best to avoid silver. The famous metal can look beautiful but it’s soft and will tarnish over time. White gold can also fade and become dull. Instead, opt for platinum or titanium. They are more expensive but it’s worth paying extra due to the durability and the fact they don’t tarnish.
Gold is a classic and timeless choice with no downsides, but ensure that your partner likes gold jewelry. Another good choice is rose gold, which is a mix of gold and copper. It doesn’t tarnish, but it can get a reddish patina over time.
After choosing the metal, you can consider the setting. This is how the diamond is held on the ring. There are many different types to choose from, with solitaire probably being the most common. Other popular options include halo, pave, and three-stone.
Each type of setting gives a different look and feel to the ring. More subtle settings may be more practical for everyday wear, but you may wish for a ring with a more prominent setting. If you’re buying a pre-made ring, you can simply just choose what you like the look of.
Custom vs Preset Engagement Ring
When deciding on an engagement ring, you can opt for either a custom ring or choose one that has already been made. The biggest advantage of a custom ring is that you can get exactly what you want and can even incorporate personal touches.
However, this personalization will come at a higher cost. It will also take much longer, so you’ll need to plan ahead to get it right. This contrasts with the convenience of a preset ring, which you can usually buy there and then.
There are countless high street and online jewelers, which gives you high odds that the ring you want is already out there. When you add the fact that preset rings are also more cost-effective, it’s clear why so many people choose this option.
Seeking Professional Guidance
If in doubt, don’t be afraid to seek professional advice as the choice can be overwhelming. To an untrained eye, it can even be difficult to know if the piece of jewelry your looking at is an engagement ring or some other type.
An experienced jeweler will be able to offer you advice. They would have been asked these questions countless times before and can work with you to find a ring that your partner is going to love.
During the process, try not to get too stressed about the decisions you’ll be making. If you’ve given it plenty of thought, then you won’t go wrong. Not only will they adore this symbol of love that you have bought her, but you’re sure to get the answer you were looking for.
