Shopping for the right engagement ring can be a baffling experience to begin for most people. If they have never shopped or bought diamonds before how do they know what quality they are looking at? Maybe these tips will assist you in knowing where to start. It should be fun shopping for an engagement ring. Try not to get stressed about this purchase because this is supposed to be an exciting time! Let's examine the 1st 3 things for you to do. Once you do these things you can turn your attention the most important section of the ring, which is the diamond.
1) Set a budget
My clients are always recommended to do this first. You want to decide what price you can pay and stick to it. There is no "set in stone" rule about how much you need to spend, although many people recommend spending the equivalent of 2 months salary for the ring.
Please don't spend more than you can afford. I have friends who took out a massive loan just so they could buy a bigger ring and they are still paying it off years after the fact. There is no point putting you (and her) in financial difficulties. If you can't get her the size of diamond you want right now, you can always "upgrade" her ring later on in life when money isn't as tight. Your budget is going to depend on a number of different factors, but be prepared to fork over a decent chunk of change. Diamond aren't cheap, but she will wear it forever and I promise the smile on her face will make it worth it.
Choose the Preference of Metal for the Band
You have three main choices here - Yellow gold, White gold or Platinum. Have a look at what she already owns when it comes to jewelry. If she wears only yellow gold, then it's an easy decision. If most of her jewelry is silver or white gold - you are left choosing between white gold and platinum. Platinum is about 3 times the price of gold. It is the most durable metal and many people love the fact that the ring could be passed on to future generations in their family. You will have to get it polished occasionally as it can start to have a "matte" look, but other than that there isn't much upkeep.
White gold has a little more shine than platinum and is quite a bit cheaper. It can damage a little easier but usually that isn't something you have to worry about. You will have to take it in to get replated every year or two - keep this in mind. White gold isn't actually white - it is gold that is mixed with other metals to give it a white look. It is also plated with rhodium to take away any yellow tinge. As the plating wears off, you will start to see a slight yellow tinge come back. Having it related isn't expensive but do keep in mind that it will need to be done.
You need to compare the looks of both platinum and white gold at this point. You will be able to see which you prefer this way. This will help you decide which to buy.
Select the Setting
The setting is the basic style of the ring itself. Does it have one diamond? Are there several diamonds on the ring? This is determined by the setting you choose for your engagement ring. You have three main choices to chose from. A solitaire engagement ring is the simplest but also the most popular. It is one single diamond mounted on a band. This is the perfect way to show off a diamond. A three stone engagement ring has one center diamond, and two smaller diamonds beside it - one on each side. These side diamonds are usually about 30-60% of the size of the center diamond.
The last choice is the engagement ring with a center diamond and side stones - the side stones are numerous small diamonds. These small diamonds do not cost much because they are so small. If you are undecided as to which one she wants, try to discover her preference. Put one of her friends up to finding out after you swear them to secrecy. Since women chat about diamonds and jewelry so much she shouldn't get suspicious. You will also know whether you have made the best choice which will make you feel better.
You can now get to the fun part since you have done the three first steps - selecting the diamond! Since she will wear this ring for life make sure to concentrate on getting a diamond that is truly stunning - it is such a pleasure watching my wife receive positive remarks on hers. Lets me remember that I did good picking it out! - 15343
1) Set a budget
My clients are always recommended to do this first. You want to decide what price you can pay and stick to it. There is no "set in stone" rule about how much you need to spend, although many people recommend spending the equivalent of 2 months salary for the ring.
Please don't spend more than you can afford. I have friends who took out a massive loan just so they could buy a bigger ring and they are still paying it off years after the fact. There is no point putting you (and her) in financial difficulties. If you can't get her the size of diamond you want right now, you can always "upgrade" her ring later on in life when money isn't as tight. Your budget is going to depend on a number of different factors, but be prepared to fork over a decent chunk of change. Diamond aren't cheap, but she will wear it forever and I promise the smile on her face will make it worth it.
Choose the Preference of Metal for the Band
You have three main choices here - Yellow gold, White gold or Platinum. Have a look at what she already owns when it comes to jewelry. If she wears only yellow gold, then it's an easy decision. If most of her jewelry is silver or white gold - you are left choosing between white gold and platinum. Platinum is about 3 times the price of gold. It is the most durable metal and many people love the fact that the ring could be passed on to future generations in their family. You will have to get it polished occasionally as it can start to have a "matte" look, but other than that there isn't much upkeep.
White gold has a little more shine than platinum and is quite a bit cheaper. It can damage a little easier but usually that isn't something you have to worry about. You will have to take it in to get replated every year or two - keep this in mind. White gold isn't actually white - it is gold that is mixed with other metals to give it a white look. It is also plated with rhodium to take away any yellow tinge. As the plating wears off, you will start to see a slight yellow tinge come back. Having it related isn't expensive but do keep in mind that it will need to be done.
You need to compare the looks of both platinum and white gold at this point. You will be able to see which you prefer this way. This will help you decide which to buy.
Select the Setting
The setting is the basic style of the ring itself. Does it have one diamond? Are there several diamonds on the ring? This is determined by the setting you choose for your engagement ring. You have three main choices to chose from. A solitaire engagement ring is the simplest but also the most popular. It is one single diamond mounted on a band. This is the perfect way to show off a diamond. A three stone engagement ring has one center diamond, and two smaller diamonds beside it - one on each side. These side diamonds are usually about 30-60% of the size of the center diamond.
The last choice is the engagement ring with a center diamond and side stones - the side stones are numerous small diamonds. These small diamonds do not cost much because they are so small. If you are undecided as to which one she wants, try to discover her preference. Put one of her friends up to finding out after you swear them to secrecy. Since women chat about diamonds and jewelry so much she shouldn't get suspicious. You will also know whether you have made the best choice which will make you feel better.
You can now get to the fun part since you have done the three first steps - selecting the diamond! Since she will wear this ring for life make sure to concentrate on getting a diamond that is truly stunning - it is such a pleasure watching my wife receive positive remarks on hers. Lets me remember that I did good picking it out! - 15343
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It's important to read a diamond buying guide to make sure you know exactly what to look for when shopping for an engagement ring. There are ways that you can save big bucks on a diamond - Click Here to discover the ways to save money!
