Engagement Rings

An engagement ring is one of the most important purchases you will have to make, not necessarily because of the price, but because what it means. An engagement ring means that you are ready to commit to spending the rest of your life with her as your partner. As you are reading this, you have already made the decision to marry and only need some advice on the right engagement ring to buy. Below you will find a list of things to keep in mind when looking for the right engagement ring for you.
Before you begin your research, figure out how much you want to spend on an engagement ring, as that will help you focus on which types of engagement rings you are able to purchase. It is important to arrive at this budget with a clear head and stick to your price threshold as you begin shopping. As a rule of thumb, it is traditional to spend two months salary for an engagement ring. Engagement rings can also be bought along with wedding bands as bridal sets.
When looking for your engagement ring, browse through a few websites that sell engagement rings online to familiarize yourself with the many options available, such as type of diamond to place in your engagement ring, type of setting for the diamond, type of metal for your ring, and overall ring style. Make a note of the styles, metal, and design you like of any engagement rings you see as you do your research.
Once you know what to look for, start shopping around for the best price. Unless you want a particularly unique style for your engagement ring, you should be able to negotiate for the best price. You should visit several jewelers before buying your engagement ring, as it could save you hundreds to thousands of dollars!
Engagement Ring Considerations
Diamond professionals use four factors to describe and classify diamonds, called "The Four C's", which affect a diamond's price. Briefly, the four C's of a diamond consist of Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat. Rather than explain each component of a diamond to you, we believe you would have a better understanding of the Four C's by taking GIA's online interactive diamond tutorial before shopping for your diamond engagement ring. When selecting a diamond for your engagement ring, ask the jeweler to provide you with samples of different grades of diamonds so you can compare between them.
Once you have decided on a diamond for your engagement ring, learn about the different settings available for your diamond. The most common settings for diamond engagement rings include the Solitaire, the Cathedral setting, the Prong setting, the Channel setting, and the Bar setting.
The metals most commonly used for engagement rings are: gold, white gold, platinum, and titanium. The ring metal you choose should be determined by its wearability as much as by price. Platinum engagement rings are more durable than gold, but gold wedding rings can be found at a better price.