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.
Make 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 never spend more than your budget is. Some of my friends actually took out large loans for the express purpose of buying a larger ring and they wind up paying on the loan for years. You do not want to wind up with financial problems. Remember that if you can't get her the size stone she wants now you can upgrade it for her later on in life when you have more money. You will figure your budget depending on a few factors, but be ready to put out a large chunk of cash. Diamonds are not inexpensive, but she will wear them forever and I promise the smile it puts on her face will be worth it.
Choose what type 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.
It is a good idea to compare how the white gold and platinum look. Some people like one and not the other. This will assist you in making a decision.
3) Choose 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.
A diamond engagement ring with side stones has one main center diamond and then several small diamond on both sides. These diamonds are usually very small so they don't cost an arm and a leg. If you aren't sure what she would prefer, try to find out. The best way is to have one of her friends (that you trust!) ask her and then let you know. Girls talk about jewelry so she won't automatically suspect anything. You will feel a lot better knowing you got her the right one.
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! - 15784
Make 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 never spend more than your budget is. Some of my friends actually took out large loans for the express purpose of buying a larger ring and they wind up paying on the loan for years. You do not want to wind up with financial problems. Remember that if you can't get her the size stone she wants now you can upgrade it for her later on in life when you have more money. You will figure your budget depending on a few factors, but be ready to put out a large chunk of cash. Diamonds are not inexpensive, but she will wear them forever and I promise the smile it puts on her face will be worth it.
Choose what type 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.
It is a good idea to compare how the white gold and platinum look. Some people like one and not the other. This will assist you in making a decision.
3) Choose 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.
A diamond engagement ring with side stones has one main center diamond and then several small diamond on both sides. These diamonds are usually very small so they don't cost an arm and a leg. If you aren't sure what she would prefer, try to find out. The best way is to have one of her friends (that you trust!) ask her and then let you know. Girls talk about jewelry so she won't automatically suspect anything. You will feel a lot better knowing you got her the right one.
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! - 15784
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Look for a diamond buying guide to make sure you you are fully educated when shopping for an engagement ring. There are ways that you can save big bucks on a diamond - Click Here for a copy of my buying guide!