{"id":9395,"date":"2019-11-07T08:00:36","date_gmt":"2019-11-07T13:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=9395"},"modified":"2019-11-07T13:03:39","modified_gmt":"2019-11-07T18:03:39","slug":"affordable-engagement-rings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/affordable-engagement-rings\/","title":{"rendered":"AFFORDABLE ENGAGEMENT RINGS"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Affordable<\/div>\n

Save MONEY!<\/h2>\n

\nThere are a lot of tricks<\/strong> and tips<\/strong> to saving money on diamond engagement rings.<\/p>\n

If you know how to shop and what to look for, you can actually save yourself hundreds<\/strong>, if not thousands<\/strong> on an engagement ring purchase.<\/p>\n

That’s the purpose of this post. To show you how to buy a beautiful ring and how to save money at the same time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Do keep in mind that saving money, especially a Lot of money, may mean sacrificing the quality<\/strong> of the diamond.<\/p>\n

But if you want to save big bucks… this is how you do it…<\/p>\n

\n12 sneaky ways to cut cost on an engagement ring.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) Buy Carat Total Weight Diamonds:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Cheaper<\/p>\n

\nYou can buy a one carat diamond ring (1.00 carat) and save thousands if you do this one simple trick: <\/p>\n

\nBuy a smaller center stone.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Instead of buying a diamond engagement ring with a one carat in the center, buy a ring with a 50 point (1\/2 carat) diamond in the center, and another 1\/2 carat of diamonds around it.<\/p>\n

What this does is split up the carat weight<\/strong>. You still get a diamond ring with “one carat of diamonds<\/strong>“, but that weight is distributed around the entire ring.<\/p>\n

\nThis will really save you a ton of money.<\/p>\n

\nShe will still get the “carat<\/strong>” she wants, but you will not<\/strong> end up spending an arm and a leg.<\/p>\n

Pure genius!<\/p>\n

Read more: Diamond CT or CTW?<\/a><\/p>\n

2) Buy Light Carat Diamonds:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Cheaper<\/p>\n

\nRound the carat weight down<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Instead of buying a 1.00 carat diamond ring, buy a 93 point <\/strong>diamond ring instead.<\/p>\n

Or, buy a 43 point<\/strong> diamond instead of a 50 point diamond. Buy a 68 point<\/strong> diamond instead of a 75 point…<\/p>\n

It’s smart to buy it shy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Buying a light carat weight<\/a> will save you plenty.<\/p>\n

Visually, the diamonds will look similar, it’s hard to see the difference of just a couple of points… But, you will see a huge difference in price<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Speaking of prices, James Allen<\/a> has some unbeatable deals on diamonds… – Awesome diamonds, awesome prices – use “RINGSUM<\/strong>” at checkout and save 10% off the ring mounting.<\/p>\n

Take a look:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n
CARAT WEIGHT, CLARITY, COLOR, CUT, CERTIFIED<\/strong><\/td>\nPRICE<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
.45, SI1+, COLORLESS, EXCELLENT, GIA<\/strong><\/td>\n$790<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
.72, SI1+, COLORLESS, EXCELLENT, GIA<\/strong><\/td>\n$2,010<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
.93, SI1+, COLORLESS, EXCELLENT, GIA<\/strong><\/td>\n$4,290<\/strong><\/td>\nVIEW<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

3) Buy Illusion Head Diamonds:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Best<\/p>\n

\nIllusion heads are a type of head with a flat plate on top<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

That flat plate has a hole in the center of it and small prongs that hold in the actual diamond. Upon closer inspection, you’ll see that the diamond is visually smaller, but it looks big<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The plate is what helps give the appearance of a larger diamond (like this ring below from Fred Meyer Jewelers<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\n\"Fred<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s all an illusion!<\/h2>\n

\nIllusion heads are a great way to go if you have limited money<\/strong>, but still want a big bang for your buck<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

4) Buy Invisible Set Diamonds:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Cheaper<\/p>\n

\nInvisible set<\/a> illusion heads (also called clusters) are the modern day illusion heads. You will find tons of different shapes and variations of these in stores today.<\/p>\n

They look great. They look huge. <\/strong>It’s the process of fitting smaller diamonds together (like a puzzle<\/strong>) to give the appearance of a larger looking stones.<\/p>\n

You get a lot of bling with a greatly reduced price.<\/p>\n

\nYou could get a one carat total weight diamond ring for almost half the cost<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Just be careful with this many stones and settings, they may come loose in the mounting. :\/<\/p>\n

5) Buy Lower Quality Diamonds:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Inexpensive<\/p>\n

\nI’m not<\/strong> saying “buy bad quality<\/strong>“, I’m saying “Buy a little less quality”. <\/p>\n

\nLike one notch lower in either color or clarity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/h2>\n

\nInstead of buying a VS2 clarity diamond<\/a>, Buy a SI1 clarity<\/a>. Instead of buying an SI1, buy an SI2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Buy an H color<\/a> instead of G.<\/p>\n

\nYou just have to think lower…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nWhen you buy slightly less in quality, you probably will never be able to see a visible difference<\/strong> between the two diamonds, but you will save yourself a lot of dough.<\/p>\n

Less is MORE!<\/strong><\/p>\n

6) Buy a diamond that has color:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Diamond<\/p>\n

\nA good way to save some cash is to purchase a diamond with a slight yellow tint <\/strong>to it.<\/p>\n

Yellow hues are generally in the K-L-M range<\/a> (or lower).<\/p>\n

Most diamonds on the market do have a slight yellow tint to begin with (like I-J color<\/a>). But K-M stones will have more color.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This yellow may or may not be obvious depending on the shape of the stone, the cut, or the clarity.<\/p>\n

Most people don’t notice color anyway unless the stone is really, really, super yellow<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

My advice:<\/h2>\n

\nIf you buy a stone that has a yellow cast to it, you can mask that color by setting the stone in a yellow or rose gold mounting (14kt Gold<\/strong>). This will hide the color<\/strong> and make the stone less noticeable.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/strong>: Hide diamond color.<\/a><\/p>\n

7) Buy Eye-Clean Diamonds:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Save<\/p>\n

\nBuy a diamond that’s eye-clean<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Eye-clean basically means that there are no obviously visible inclusions<\/strong> to the bare eye.<\/p>\n

Generally these diamonds are SI2 clarity or higher<\/a>, but you will still run across some really good looking I clarity diamonds<\/a> that face up well and could pass for an eye-clean stone (even if they’re not).<\/p>\n

As long as the diamond doesn’t have any eye visible inclusions, like huge black carbon spots (that look like pepper<\/strong>), you’ll be fine.<\/p>\n

Plus, most people would never notice inclusions in a diamond unless you point it out to them.<\/p>\n

One other note about inclusions<\/strong> in a diamond… <\/p>\n

\nIf you buy a diamond that has inclusions that you can see with the eye, make sure these flaws are white inclusions<\/strong>, versus black inclusions<\/strong>. White inclusions tend to hide more in the stone and look invisible. Black inclusions, or dark inclusions, stand out like a sore thumb.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nRead more: White inclusions vs black inclusions.<\/a><\/p>\n

8) Buy Spread Diamonds:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Affordable<\/p>\n

\nBuying a spread diamond<\/a> (a diamond that is shallow, but looks bigger than it really is) can get you a much cheaper diamond.<\/p>\n

You can purchase a diamond that’s 80 points, and that diamond could appear to be 1.00 carat or larger in size. Spread stones really do look bigger.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Granted, spread stones will sparkle a little less<\/strong>, and may even appear dark, but they do look large and the price will be less.<\/p>\n

Diamonds with a poor cut <\/strong>like this may lack life and light (and sometimes become more brittle<\/strong>), but most will still look good and save you money.<\/p>\n

9) Buy Clarity Enhanced Diamonds:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Inexpensive<\/p>\n

\nBuy a diamond that’s been Clarity Enhanced…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nThis means that man has made attempts to make the diamond look better.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Things like burning out eye visible internal inclusions<\/strong> (called laser drilling<\/a>), which is basically getting rid of black carbon spots, and sometimes even taking it one step further and filling those cavities<\/strong> with a clear substance, which is called fracture filling<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Laser drilled diamonds or fracture filled diamonds can make an I2 clarity diamond look more like an SI2 clarity diamond.<\/p>\n

\nThis enhancement lowers the price<\/strong> of the diamond and makes it look better.<\/p>\n

Just be careful, because clarity enhanced diamonds are frowned upon<\/strong> by the jewelry industry. After all, they are altering the real quality of the diamond.<\/p>\n

As a side note: <\/strong>All enhanced diamonds sold should<\/strong> be disclosed at the time of purchase from the store (especially fractured filled stones). If not, they could get themselves into hot water<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

10) Buy Fancy Shaped Diamonds:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Inexpensive<\/p>\n

\nThe round brilliant cut diamond<\/a> is the most expensive<\/strong> cut of diamond there is… Because it’s the most popular.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every other cut of diamond will be cheaper in price (that’s if everything else is identical: Cut<\/a>, Color<\/a>, Clarity<\/a> and Carat Weight<\/a>…)<\/p>\n

For example:<\/h2>\n

\nA 1.00 carat round diamond of VS2 clarity, F color<\/a> could cost you $6,500. That same clarity and color in a pear shaped diamond<\/a> could save you a thousand dollars or more<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Fancy shapes, like the marquise, princess, oval, pear, radiant, emerald, asscher, and heart are generally cheaper cuts of diamond. <\/strong><\/p>\n

11) Buy Estate\/Vintage Diamonds:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Save<\/p>\n

\nBuying estate, pre-owned<\/strong>, or vintage diamonds will save you plenty of money.<\/p>\n

Purchase an old mine cut diamond<\/strong>, or an engagement ring from a pawn shop<\/strong> and you could knock thousands off the retail price of that ring.<\/p>\n

Older cut diamonds, or previously owned diamonds are a good choice (just like it’s your grandmother’s ring<\/strong>) if you want a good sized diamond, but don’t care if it has a new modern cut, and want the most affordable ring you could buy.<\/p>\n

P.S.<\/strong> You can always buy a diamond from a friend who is looking to sell theirs. And you could also check the local newspaper listings<\/strong>, or Craig’s list; people are always looking to get rid of their rings.<\/p>\n

12) Buy Trio Set Diamonds:<\/h2>\n

\n\"Trio<\/p>\n

\nTrio wedding sets are some of the most affordable wedding rings on the market (and Amazon has tons of them<\/a>).<\/p>\n

They usually have pretty small carat weights to them, but the good thing is, the pieces all match<\/strong>; the ladies engagement ring, ladies wedding ring, and the gent’s wedding ring.<\/p>\n

What’s cool about this is that by buying them all together at the same time, you save tons of money<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

These rings are generally cheap with small lower quality diamonds<\/strong> (most set in illusion heads). But, I have seen some nicer sets where the mountings are a little bit more durable, heavier, and the stones at least SI clarity.<\/p>\n

You get what you pay for!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rule of thumb:<\/h2>\n

There are tons of ways to save money on engagement rings. In fact, you could also buy a promise ring<\/a>, buy man-made diamonds<\/a>, buy a CZ engagement ring<\/a>, or buy a gemstone as an engagement ring<\/a> (like Sapphire <\/strong>or Ruby<\/strong>) instead.<\/p>\n

Also note that if you buy both<\/strong> the engagement ring and the wedding ring together at the same time you can usually save even more money.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind, some of these ways will not get you the best quality of diamond<\/strong>. You have to be careful that you buy a diamond that faces up well<\/strong> and doesn’t look dark or lifeless.<\/p>\n

I always advice buying quality<\/strong> over quantity<\/strong>, but every diamond is different and every one will appear differently. <\/p>\n

Microscope the diamond:<\/h2>\n

\nIt’s wise to microscope<\/a> the diamond and do your homework before you buy. And above all else, if you can buy it certified (GIA<\/strong>), then do so.<\/p>\n

These ways will definitely save you money, but buying the cheapest diamond available isn’t always the best diamond to purchase.<\/p>\n

\nOften cheaper diamonds will be poorly cut<\/strong> with very little brilliance or sparkle.<\/p>\n

This is why you must…<\/strong><\/p>\n

Compare the diamonds!<\/h2>\n

\nGo around to all the local jewelry stores and compare rings<\/strong>, prices<\/strong> and quality<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

You don’t need to buy a bad quality diamond<\/strong> in order to save yourself some money. You just need to know where you can cut corners. Sacrifice only what you can afford to. Plus, shopping online with James Allen<\/a> will save you tons more money (they have no overhead. Compare prices, you’ll be amazed<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\nCheers! :)<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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