At last, you have found that special person you want to spend the rest of your life with. You are now planning on how you are going to make the proposal grand by choosing the best engagement ring. You need some advanced planning because this is a huge step in life that you are planning to take. If you have found yourself at crossroads and you can’t decide which engagement to go with, this post will guide you through this murky path. Read on for awesome tips on how to choose the perfect engagement ring.
1. Know what you are willing to spend and stick to it
Before you decide to purchase an engagement ring, the first thing that you need to do is set a budget. You need to know roughly how much you are willing to spend and stick to it. Setting a budget prevents you from overspending, leading to bankruptcy if you are not careful since there are diamond engagement rings worth thousands of dollars. Going to the jewelry store without a budget may have an adverse effect on your bankroll. The rule of thumb is to set your budget to a three-month salary. Instead of looking for a loan to finance your engagement ring, the best thing is start saving early so that you don’t have to pay ridiculous amounts in loan interest.
2. Take some time to learn the basic 4Cs
The 4Cs of the diamond ring stand for cut, carat, color, and clarity. These are the attributes used to define the quality of a diamond. The price of a diamond engagement ring is usually determined by the 4Cs. How well the facets of the diamond are, is usually defined by its cut. The performance and sparkle of a diamond are often determined by the cut. The metric weight of the diamond is usually determined by the carat. 1 carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. The carat of a diamond is usually mistaken for the physical representation of the diamond’s face-up size. The absence of color in a diamond usually determines its color. The popularly used color grading scale is the GIA’s D-Z. Z in this scale represents a lightly colored diamond, and D represents a completely colorless diamond. The inclusions and imperfections assessment in a diamond is demonstrated by its clarity.
3. Make sure that the diamond ring that is planning to buy is certified by either AGS or GIA labs.
The most reliable lab they give quality, and valid certification is GIA. One common mistake that diamond ring shoppers who are not knowledgeable about jewelry usually make is buying diamond engagement rings that contain uncertified diamonds. You should always check to confirm whether the type of diamond you want to buy is certified by a reputable lab such as GIA or AGS, which are reputable and recognized laboratories. You will get a diamond with an inflated grade when you decide to buy from a jewelry store that is not graded by a reputable lab. Most scum vendors will claim to offer you a deal of a lifetime, but in reality, they are ripping you off by selling you a low-quality diamond engagement ring.
4. To get a white-looking diamond, you don’t grade color that is high.
If you are planning to buy an engagement ring on a budget, then you should not care so much about diamond quality. Looking for a diamond that is the near colorless range (G-J) because it will help you save a great deal of money. The reason is that this kind of diamond looks indistinguishable while facing up compared to a high color grade diamond. A good example is going for an H color diamond because it costs 20-30% less than D color diamond, which is expensive due to its rarity factor. These two types of diamonds look almost the same, and an untrained eye won’t notice the difference.
5. Look for a clean eye diamond with a lower clarity grade.
To the eyes of a first-time shopper, the diamond’s clarity is usually misunderstood. The misconception here is that a diamond with a better sparkle and brilliance has a higher clarity. Clarity does not perform this function, but it is used to determine the cut quality. Always choose to buy your jewelry, including an engagement ring from a reputable vendor such as Alex and Company Jewelers. They offer high-quality and affordable diamond engagement rings.
6. Purchase a smaller diamond that is below benchmark carat weights
Like we mentioned when we started, the price of a diamond is usually determined by the carat weight, which is often based on the 4Cs. At the psychological marks, prices jump exponentially, including 0.5ct, 1.0ct, 1.5ct, and 2.0ct. Due to their nice rounded number, the one carat-sized diamonds are quite popular. They are also very highly-priced because they are highly requested. When you consider this, you will save about 20 percent of your initial budget.
7. Online stores are better than buying from local jewelry stores
Another thing to consider is if you want to save some cash when looking for a diamond ring to buy from an online store instead of a local store. When you select to buy an engagement ring from a physical store, it limits your selection choice. Brick and mortar stores are also not ideal areas for buying high-quality diamond engagement rings because the price is always determined by the cost of the rent.
Conclusion
When it is high time to say goodbye to bachelorhood, you need to get the best diamond engagement ring. These are some factors that you need to consider before selecting an engagement ring. Remember, the knowledge of the 4Cs basics will not only help you select a high-quality diamond but will also ensure that you don’t get ripped off by scammers. Remember to come up with a budget, and don’t forget to stick with it.
