Before you go shopping for a Diamond, before you go looking for the
Perfect Engagement Ring for her, there are a few things that you might want to consider... I call them Shopping Tips from our exclusive
Diamond Engagement Ring Buying Guide!
It consists of Ten Tips that will not only help you choose the right Ring, but the right Diamond, right Metal and the right Price as well.
Following these rules and tricks can not only get you the perfect Diamond Ring, but it may save you Time, Money and Frustration too. It's well worth the read!
Most of the Steps are actually done before you ever walk into a Jewelry Store! It's all about Learning, Understanding and doing your Homework first. That way, you'll know if what the Salesperson is telling you is correct, or not!
So let's begin! Ten Shopping Tips from the Ultimate Diamond Engagement Ring Buying Guide! Here we go:
1) Decide how much Money you want to Spend
2) Decide which Metal to Buy
3) Decide which Shape of Diamond to Purchase
4) Decide on a Carat Weight range
5) Decide on a Clarity range
6) Decide on a Color range
7) Compare, Microscope and Buy a Diamond
8) Pick out the Mounting
9) Have it Set and Sized
10) Get it Appraised and Insured
Now for a closer look...
1) Decide how much Money you want to Spend - Before you step foot into any Jewelry Store, you're going to need to set yourself some guidelines. First up, how much money are you willing to spend? Knowing what you can afford and what you want to spend can help you make better Buying Decisions. It can keep you from going overboard and getting talked into a Diamond Ring that's way over budget.
Figure out your money situation. Decide whether you're going to be paying in Cash, putting it on a Credit Card, Financing it, or putting it into a Layaway.
Most Jewelers recommend spending 2 months salary on a Diamond Ring. But it's really up to you. You have to be comfortable with the payments. Know your limits!
Pick a price range and stick to it. The average price for an Engagement Ring varies from $1500 all the way up to $6000. Don't go in blindly. Otherwise you may be walking out of the store with a $10,000 Ring. (Not that she would complain!)
2) Decide which Metal to Buy - Does she want Yellow Gold, White Gold, Platinum? (These are the top 3 choice of Metals) If she wants a Yellow ring: Yellow Gold it is! Keep in mind that the best Gold to buy for Engagement Rings is 14kt Gold. 14kt Gold keeps the luster of Gold better and it's Durable enough to hold in your Diamonds and Gemstones. Anything higher than 14kt in Gold Content (like 18kt or 20kt) will be Softer and more Expensive. (Plus it may not match the Color of her other Rings!)
14kt is the best in my book. Platinum is awesome, but it also costs 4 times the price of Gold. (It is also 4x more durable as well!) You could easily spend $2500 just on the Platinum Mounting alone. It won't be cheap! So unless you have money to burn, stick with White Gold. (White Gold is the most popular Metal there is right now!)
White Gold does have its faults though. White Gold will fade overtime (turn Yellowish) because the Rhodium Plating will wear off. It's not a big deal, but just know that you'll probably have to get it Polished, Cleaned and Re-Rhodium Plated at least once a year or every other year to keep it looking Bright and White. (That's just how White Gold is! - read: White Gold turns Yellow!)
3) Decide which Shape of Diamond to Purchase - Round (Brilliant Cut) is the most popular choice of them all and also the most affordable as well. (Can't beat that!) Round Brilliant Cuts look great and have the most Brilliance of any Cut of Diamond there is. (Hence the name!) You can't go wrong with Round Diamonds. Chances are she'll love it!
The second most Popular Cut of Diamond is the Princess Cut Diamond. (Square Cut or Rectangular Shaped) The great thing about Princess Cuts is that they look Huge. They look much bigger than any other Diamond Cut of the exact same Carat Weight.
Either Round or Princess Cut will work perfectly. They are the big favorites and you really can't go wrong with them.
Next up Carat Weight, Clarity and Color...
