7 Steps to Buying an Engagement Ring

For most men, buying a diamond ring is their first (and perhaps only) time stepping into a jewelry store. Most people have never bought jewelry before, so they don't know what to look for.

Men should choose their engagement ring after a lot of consideration. And the same goes for the women who will wear it. The ring needs to be liked by both sides, without being too extravagant or ridiculous in another way.

Buying a diamond engagement ring is not always an easy task. However, there are many steps you can take to make your search for the perfect ring easier and more enjoyable. These 7 steps include looking for a jeweler with a personal style and expertise in specific aspects of jewelry making.

Set And Stick To A Budget

You shouldn’t spend more than what you can afford for your engagement ring. The whole idea of spending 2 months salary on an engagement ring was created by a diamond company in order to market their products to people 80 years ago.

Remember, you have many expenses to bear in the future, which include your marriage, honeymoon, buying a home, and so on. It is best to set a budget and stick to it when choosing an engagement ring. A jeweler can help you find the perfect diamond anywhere in the US that fits your budget. If they don't have what you're looking for, they'll create a custom-made ring tailored to meet your needs.

Consult Jewelers And Take Second Opinions

One of the best ways to find a good deal on jewelry is by looking at more than one jeweler. If you approach different jewelers with the same question, then you can compare what they have to offer and get even better prices.

Choose The Right Diamond

The first step towards choosing an engagement ring is to buy a diamond that is within your budget. You can start by choosing a diamond according to its 4C features- each diamond is unique, with its appearance depending on the cut, color, clarity, and carat weight of the diamond.

• Cut - The way the diamond is cut makes an impression on how well it sparkles. The diamond’s cut is rated on a scale of mediocre to excellent. The diamond’s cut is directly proportional to its ability to refract light efficiently. This depends on how well the diamond is cut for the best sparkle.

• Color - Though diamonds are available in a variety of colors, colorless diamonds are the most popular. Diamond color is graded on a scale between D to Z with D being most expensive to Z having a yellowish hue. Fancy color diamonds in pink, purple and brown are also popular but are quite rare and expensive.

• Clarity - Each diamond has some defects, or inclusions as they are called. These can be minute black flecks or lines that form naturally. The lesser the inclusions, the higher the price.

• Carat Weight - A diamond is weighed in carats, with one carat being equal to 200 milligrams.

Choose The Right Diamond Shape

You should select a diamond’s shape according to your style-

• Round - A round diamond shape is the most common as it shows its brilliant sparkle.
• Oval - This suits those women who have long and slender fingers.
• Emerald - This highlights the diamond’s clarity.
• Asscher -This is somewhat of a square emerald.
• Cushion - Similar to Asscher, this has rounded edges.
• Princess - This unique shape gives the ring a larger appearance.
• Marquise - A long and tapered diamond shape for those who want to get a lot of compliments.
• Pear - This is a cross between a round and marquise-shaped diamond. 

Choose The Right Metal For The Ring

You have a lot of options when it comes to choosing the type of metal for your ring. It can be either gold, silver, palladium, platinum, and so on. This is based on your budget. Gold is by far the most popular choice these days but there are other metals that come at a lower price point as well as those that have different color variants.

Choose A Setting Style

The design of the ring should represent your style. You might want something simple, or more elaborate depending on what your personal tastes are. Your jeweler would be able to help you choose the ring's design which suits your needs and preferences best.

Determine Her Ring Size

There are many ways to do this, and you should use the method that suits your circumstances the best. If you want to surprise your partner with a proposal, you can measure their finger manually or try borrowing one of her rings. If you have mutually agreed to get married, she can go with you to the jeweler and choose the ring together.