Your budget should be what you feel comfortable with. You can read our full guides for more information on each area. A reputable online retailer will be happy to oblige with third party accreditation for your diamond or other gemstone(s). Flickr/John Jones Although the thought of shopping for an engagement ring can feel as overwhelming as popping the question, finding the perfect ring doesn't have to be an overly stressful event. Here are four simple ways to save a little money when buying a ring: Consider purchasing a stone with a carat weight slightly below the traditional cut-off point. You can thank Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for the increasing popularity of this design. Remember, a large, overly intricate ring will be more susceptible to damage or lost stones. Most importantly, you want to ensure your diamond is secure in the setting, and won’t be prone to chipping, like when the tip of a heart-shaped diamond isn’t protected by a prong. The squared-off look with its elegant, clean angles looks both classic and fresh. How to Buy An Engagement Ring: Tips. The color scaling starts from D-Z. Your email address will not be published. Second, when deciding between 14K and 18K gold, keep in mind that the main difference is in their alloy composition. After all, what type or style of engagement ring should you buy? We also recommend shopping online. The Oval shape was created in the 1960s and is a modified brilliant cut, so you’ll get the fire and brilliance of a traditional round cut, but in a more distinctive, elongated shape. If … It was first created in 1980 and has gradually become the most celebrated and popular of the fancy cuts for diamonds, especially favored for engagement rings. Then, there’s the diamond’s carat weight. Give yourself time to think about how and when you are going to propose. Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download). Are you going to surprise her, or will she help you choose? Ultimately, though, the decision is a personal choice. It can be square or moderately rectangular and looks equally dramatic in a contemporary or antique styled setting. Why buy an engagement ring at auction? 16 Things Everyone Should Know Before Buying An Engagement Ring. Simply put, you’ll find almost all of the best value diamond rings online, not in local stores. You’ve probably heard the term before but may not quite understand what it means. The following list of tips is here to help you buy an engagement ring with confidence and a great result: #1: Set the budget. The pavé setting can go around the entire band or half-way round, giving the ring extraordinary fire and brilliance. Of course, if you stick to the classics, you can get a ring that will never go out of style. You’ll also find engagement ring calculators online, which calculate how much to spend based on your income, lifestyle and debt-to-asset ratio, which is a common sense (though some may consider unromantic) way to begin your life together. There are alternatives to buying an engagement ring from a jeweller. Visit the online store today: https://goo.gl/UiM7vd Don't forget to subscribe! Tension set rings are contemporary in style and feature a diamond that is held in place by the tension of the ring, so that it appears to be floating in air. There is much less stress when you don't have a strong-arm salesperson breathing down your neck. The element of surprise is still the romantic way to go. They can help you narrow down your selection and save you money in the process. No spam. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to add sentimental value to your engagement ring. By learning what each represents, you will safely locate the best diamond that suits your budget. Dating back to 1902, this classic cut is known for its brilliance and sparkle. You also want to avoid a diamond that’s cut too deep. From choosing the right diamond or colored gemstone, to the setting, design, cut of the stone or stones to the sizing – they make it easy and much more affordable than your typical high street jeweler. You might want to read this one next: How to Dress Well: 9 Basic Style Tips for Men in 2020. We nevertheless recommend you do not start out your married life together by going into debt, as special and meaningful as this purchase may be. Check out her jewelry box when she’s not around. A final word of advice; don’t go broke buying a ring you can’t afford. From the simple elegance of a solitaire design to the ornate features of a vintage ring, you can find settings to match any personality. Home • Blog • Resources • Contact • Advertise, Privacy Policy & Affiliate Disclosure • Terms & Conditions, Copyright © 2020 The Modest Man (Registered Trademark). But for many guys, walking into a jewelry store feels like entering a maze. We hope you find the ring that brings … When designing a ring, one of the first steps is to choose the shape of your diamond. Ranging in color from pretty blush pink to orange pink, Morganite looks great against cool or warm skin tones. Ask the online customer service representative for help with this. Most importantly, do your research. Buying an engagement ring isn’t as simple a task as going to a store and picking out something. Colored diamonds range in price and intensity from blues, reds, greens, chocolate and even black. Many solitaire rings are made with a ring guard or ring wrap framing the central stone, making it appear bigger. From beautiful heart-shaped rings to oval styles, there are shapes for every personality. You can choose a channel setting in gold or platinum and a variety of diamond cuts and shapes. But if they do mention it, be sure to go with a solitaire setting, as the heart shape looks amazing on its own. Perhaps. First of all, congratulations from all of us at The Modest Man! An online retailer can customize the stone, the setting and the style of ring you want, so that it can be totally unique to you and your fiancée. If your fiancé-to-be is someone who leads an active lifestyle or has a hands-on job, consider a bezel setting or a flush setting, because the diamond won’t protrude as much as with other styles. Both of these labs provide accurate, reliable and consistent gradings of factors such as cut, color, clarity and more. White gold is significantly less expensive (though looks identical) and requires less maintenance and cleaning than platinum. Ask a friend or family member to find out her size for you. The ring should fit snuggly around the finger but slide on smoothly. That said, with the COVID-19 spread continuing in some places, one might want to (understandably) skip going into a physical jewelry store to buy the engagement ring. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. The Marquise has the largest crown surface area of any diamond shape, so it gives the illusion of greater size. Among the many engagement ring shopping tips, you may have heard the advice that you should spend two or three months of your salary on an engagement ring. Custom settings are available from many jewelers, including Brian Gavin Diamonds and James Allen. Are the pieces mostly made of white gold or yellow gold? Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring. This is a good idea if you … You can also check out our average engagement ring size article if you aren’t sure what size to get. Do you like this halo setting from James Allen? Originally known as the “old mine” cut, the Cushion cut has been around for centuries. The average diamond engagement ring tends to be around 1 carat weight. Charlotte Gomez / BuzzFeed 1. Required fields are marked *. Let’s get to work. If you're waiting for an engagement ring or you've already started to shop around with your partner, you should definitely have a few things in mind before either of you says "yes" to a forever sparkler.Read our nine tips you should know before buying an engagement ring, below. The following gems are great alternatives to diamonds, but make sure your special someone actually wants a non-diamond ring before you consider going this route! You can also slide it down one of your fingers and draw a line where it stops. Which vendor offers the most beauty for your budget? Both are mixed with other metals in order to be durable enough for jewelry. These can come in yellow gold, rose gold, white gold and platinum settings and many have colored gemstones in addition to diamonds. Of all the tips for buying an engagement ring, this one might be the most important. This is a sturdy setting as it is less likely to snag on her clothing than a solitaire or other ring style. Before you buy through any online retailer, we recommend you check out their reviews, payment and shipping methods plus their return policy. Unless your significant other specifically mentions this cut, it’s probably not your best choice. This was introduced as a marketing ploy after the Second World War to encourage diamond sales. Although diamonds have gone hand-in-hand with popping the question for centuries, there are plenty of alternatives, especially if she likes to stand out from the crowd – or if you are on a tight budget. Our experience, after secret shopping at hundreds of different diamond jewelry stores around the world, is that most brick-and-mortar stores are anywhere from 20 to 100% more expensive than trusted online vendors. The better the cut, the more sparkle the diamond will reflect. It’s not a good way to start a marriage and in the long run, she won’t appreciate it when you both have to skimp on something else. Well, this is a diamond grading that guides you on how to buy an engagement ring or other jewelry for your partner. Because this cut has a wide, flat table, flaws and color clarity tend to be more visible, so you’ll want to opt for a high-grade stone. For example, a .97 carat diamond appears identical to a 1.0 carat diamond, but it costs a lot less. You can learn more about this in our guide to diamond certification. You might already have had direct conversations about this very topic, in which case you will be on the right track already. It will give the impression of a larger ring yet will cost less. You can end up with a truly original ring by considering options like a recycled diamond or a custom setting. How much should you spend? Read more about how to choose the ideal depth and table for your cut. how to choose the ideal depth and table for your cut, platinum, white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold, recently purchased diamond engagement rings here, this 1 Carat 18K yellow gold solitaire ring. We think buying an engagement ring online is a good way to go, especially if you buy from James Allen, because you can design a ring to your (and her) exact taste and specifications. We always encourage our readers to always ask for a lab certification on any diamond. For someone who wants a unique ring, opt for something more custom like this distinct yellow gold ring. You may have heard the one, two or even three-month salary rule which “suggests” how much you “should” spend. According to most surveys on when to buy an engagement ring, December is the most popular month to pop the question. Romantic and eye-catching but difficult to make, the heart cut isn’t for those on a tight budget. Our first piece of advice? While there are many different styles of engagement ring available these days, the most popular is still the solitaire ring which features a single stone, typically a diamond, set with a four or six prong mounting. Here are the top places to buy an engagement ring you need to know about: James Allen – Along with Blue Nile, they are the best. It is flanked by two or more smaller sized diamonds, which add to the overall dimension and brilliance of the ring. Bearing in mind that the average cost of an engagement ring these days is close to $6000, you’ll appreciate that this is no inconsequential purchase. Not all diamond certificates are equally reliable. Below, we’ve drawn on our decades of diamond industry experience to share exactly how you should choose and buy an engagement ring. That’s why we encourage our readers to spend more of their budget on cut quality than any other characteristic. If you want a completely flawless diamond, choose an SI1 clarity rating. Having one of these certificates verifies that the diamond you’re receiving is indeed the diamond the vendor is selling you. Keep in mind, pear cut diamonds can be prone to chipping since the tapered end is sort of pointy. Maybe your significant other has already shared their desires or preferences. If you’re considering buying locally, we highly recommend checking our reviews of brick-and-mortar jewelers. Luckily, working out how to buy an engagement ring doesn’t need to be difficult. Don’t rush things. Diamonds come in different colors such as champagne, gray and salt-and-pepper. It is also a modified brilliant cut, so has the sparkle and scintillation of other diamond shapes. Kate Middleton’s engagement ring, although a sapphire, is an Oval. Commissioned by King Louis X1V of France for the Marquise de Pompadour, the Marquise is a football shaped, elongated diamond which was allegedly created to echo the shape of her perfect mouth. She’ll either love or hate this one, so tread carefully! What type of other jewelry does she wear? Look at reputable online jewelers such as Brilliant Earth, Blue Nile or James Allen. Christie’s is an excellent place to find the right engagement ring. There are four main choices when it comes to your setting metal: platinum, white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold. A re-set stone, such as a family heirloom can usually be done in a few days, depending on the complexity of the ring’s design. Selecting an engagement ring style may be the hardest part of buying an engagement ring. 25 Great Watches For Small Wrists (Updated for 2020), The Complete Guide to Business Casual Style for Men [2020], A Beginner’s Guide to Cutting Your Own Hair at Home. Period. Take Your Time Buying an Engagement Ring Finding the perfect engagement ring takes time, considering the seemingly infinite ring styles and jewelry stores there are to choose from. Want help in finding the perfect engagement ring that’s within your budget? They cost a lot less than a flawless white stone but are different and dramatic in their own way. But you can also purchase a diamond and a setting separately, having them mounted later. Topaz gives you a lot of carat for the money. First, opt for the color that complements your partner’s style the best. 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