Guys are always asking me "How much should I spend for an Engagement Ring?"
It's a good question!
They don't want to come across as "Cheap", but they also don't want to spend and arm and a leg.
How much a person spends really depends upon their situation and how much money they make. The Industry says "Spend 2 Months Salary!" I say don't go overboard, but... You do want to buy something nice.
The BEST I can tell you is what the Average Price is for a Diamond Ring. You'll have to take it from there...
The Average Price
Knowing what most guys will spend for an Engagement Ring can help greatly. It can give you a starting point. That way you can get a better feel of what is appropriate and what you should expect.
The dollar amount I'm presenting here is just an Average Price that I've encountered from working in the Jewelry Industry for over the last 20 years.
This amount could vary greatly depending on your neck of the woods. For me, this is what I see and this is what I sell...
The Average Price is $3,000
$3,000 give or take. It's usually around that mark. Granted, I may have a lot to do with these figures, because I do spend some quality time with my customers and teach them the difference between Good Quality and Bad Quality. I'm sure that has some bearing on what they choose and what they spend.
What will $3,000 get you?
This is what it all comes down to. What will $3000 get you as far as an Engagement Ring is concerned? What Size and Quality can you expect?
I've gone to Blue Nile and James Allen to get you these answers for you. Keep in mind, these deals will change from day to day and week to week. The market fluctuates, that's just the way that it is.
For now... Take a look at Blue Nile's Diamond Deals!
| CARAT WEIGHT |
CLARITY |
COLOR |
CUT |
CERTIFIED |
PRICE |
| .74 |
SI1 |
D |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$2,703 |
| .74 |
SI1 |
E |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$2,801 |
| .71 |
VS1 |
F |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$2,820 |
| .76 |
VS2 |
F |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$2,907 |
| .71 |
VS2 |
D |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$2,934 |
| .71 |
VVS2 |
H |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$3,000 |
| .75 |
VS2 |
F |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$3,159 |
| .78 |
VS2 |
E |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$3,207 |
And now the deals from James Allen - Awesome Diamonds, Awesome Prices (use "RINGSUM" at checkout to save an additional 10% off your ring mounting!)
| CARAT WEIGHT |
CLARITY |
COLOR |
CUT |
CERTIFIED |
PRICE |
VIEW |
| .50 |
VVS1 |
F |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$3,000 |
VIEW |
| .60 |
VS2 |
D |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$3,100 |
VIEW |
| .70 |
SI1 |
H |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$2,960 |
VIEW |
As you can see from these Prices listed , they are ALL GIA Certified (the Best there is) AND they are ALL Ideal Cut. You can't get better than that.
The Average Carat Weight is right around 3/4 Carat (.75 points). The Average Color is G-H or higher. And the Average Clarity is SI1 or higher.
These are the Diamond Qualities that I whole-heartedly recommend.
My Favorite Diamond
My Favorite Diamond out of all the Diamonds shown is the last one listed:
| CARAT WEIGHT |
CLARITY |
COLOR |
CUT |
CERTIFIED |
PRICE |
| .78 |
VS2 |
E |
IDEAL |
GIA |
$3,207 |
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent Diamond!!!!
You couldn't ask for a better combo.
.78 Carat puts you into a very nice Carat Weight. Anything over 3/4 Carat is going to look large (depending on Cut, which in this case is EXCELLENT!)
The Clarity is VS2, which is my Favorite Clarity. It's very clean and very impressive. Under a microscope you would only see a couple of small imperfections. Stunning Quality!
The Color is E Color (Colorless). That's the BEST Color range there is on the market. Pure White, extremely Bright and White. I love E Color.
And, like I said before, this Diamond is also Cut to Ideal Proportions!
You can't beat it!
For $3,000 (or close to it), it's worth every penny. This is a Diamond you would never regret buying.
Plus, she will absolutely love it. It's got both Quality and SIZE!
The Mounting
Have the Diamond set into a Classic Tiffany Style Mounting. White Gold or Yellow Gold is Perfect!
That's it! Your job is done. Choosing an Engagement Ring couldn't be easier. Knowing where to begin makes everything simple.
Blue Nile and James Allen have some of the biggest and best Diamond Selections on the net.
I highly recommend them!
$3,000 really isn't that much to spend for something that will last her a lifetime and look brand new forever.
And, if you really want to splurge...
Buy her a One Carat Diamond instead (Average Price $6,000). That will knock her socks off! Just don't compromise on Quality!
Enjoy the Diamond, enjoy the Shopping, it's a pretty painless process.
After all, Love is Priceless! :)
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