How to Buy an Engagement Ring That’s Perfect for Her
You’ve got all the details of your proposal planned out. It’s going to be personal, special, and if she cries tears of joy? You’ve done your job.
But no matter how elaborate your proposal plan is, you need one more thing: the ring.
The engagement ring is valuable because it’s what she’ll wear for the rest of her life. It’s also an excellent way for you to show how well you know your bride-to-be.
The right ring helps set the tone for the rest of your lives. That’s why you need to know how to buy an engagement ring.
Check out our engagement ring guide so you can find the ring that’s perfect for her.
Make Your Budget and Stick to It
You know how we said your ring would set the tone for your marriage? Going into debt for an engagement ring is not the tone you want.
Instead of worrying about saving up three months salary, buy the best ring you can for your budget.
If you want a large ring, go with a stone with a larger surface area. It won’t sparkle as much, but it’s still impressive looking.
If you’re worried about the degree of the stone’s sparkle, you can try looking for stones with 1.8 carats instead of 2. This will reduce the cost of your ring and work better for your budget.
Tips for Researching Her Style
Your fiancee will wear this ring every day for the rest of her life. That’s why you need to do some research about what kind of ring she likes.
Think about the way she dresses. Are her clothing choices simple? Then a simple diamond and band might work. Does she like a little bling? Make sure her ring reflects that. Does she prefer older styles? Look into vintage ring settings. You can also check if your families have an heirloom ring you can use.
What is her lifestyle like? If she’s super athletic, then she probably doesn’t want a ring that will get caught on everything. If she’s in a service business like real estate, it won’t matter as much.
You can also ask friends and family for their input. Her friends might know exactly what she wants, so they’ll be able to guide you.
Know Where and How to Buy an Engagement Ring
If you wanted to buy an engagement ring in the 1950s, you went to a jeweler. Now we have more options online.
Instead of going to the nearest mall, ask your friends about if they know a reputable jeweler. If you want to look online, you can shop here for a lot of great options.
Regardless of where you get it, give yourself about six weeks for it to be ready.
Need to Figure Out Her Ring Size?
If it’s possible, sneak a ring out of her room and take it to the jeweler to measure its size. If you can’t, then do your best to guess.
If you’re going to guess, guess on the big side. You can resize the ring later if it doesn’t fit.
Pick Out a Gemstone
While diamond engagement rings are the norm, colored gemstones are gaining popularity.
If your fiancee is non-traditional, then a gemstone like amethyst, emerald, or ruby might work for her. If she loves diamonds but is socially conscious, check out lab-grown diamonds.
Learn the Four C’s of Engagement Ring Guides
When you’re learning how to buy an engagement ring, it’s useful to read up on the Four C’s. They apply to all rings, regardless of what metal or gemstone you choose.
Carat
We’re all familiar with carats. They tell us how big the stone is. Carats refer to the weight of the stone.
Cut
You can cut stones with smaller carats can to look bigger than stones with larger carats. It all depends on the depth or width of the stone.
Clarity
If a stone has clarity, it has fewer imperfections. There’s no such thing as a flawless stone. But the more clarity a gemstone has, the more expensive it will be.
Color
Every gemstone has a gradient of color. Diamonds with lots of colors have more defects, but they’re less expensive.
Other Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing an Engagement Ring
When you’re buying an engagement ring, keep these things in mind.
Metals
What metal do you want the ring band to be? The most popular choices are gold, white gold, and silver.
Pick Out Prongs
Prongs are the things that will keep a stone in place. Most rings have three to four prongs. The only time you need to pay particular attention to the prongs is if your stone has sharp edges. Cuts like heart shapes or marquise cuts need v-shaped prongs.
Wedding Sets
If you want to make sure her engagement ring will look good with the wedding band, its advisable to check out wedding sets. Some rings will come with a matching wedding band. This could save you some money in the long run.
Gemstone Shape
Round diamonds are a classic choice. You can also pick out a Princess cut, or a square cut, gemstone.
Ovals, heart shapes, and marquise diamonds are also popular choices for engagement rings.
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