Engagement Ring Shopping Advice

Choosing a beautiful engagement ring to ask for your partner’s hand in marriage may seem like a daunting and overwhelming process, but knowing the basics can help you along the way. Before you begin your happily ever after, here is some important advice when engagement ring shopping.

Know the 4 Cs

Before you can begin engagement ring shopping, it’s important to know the 4 Cs: cut, color, carat, and clarity. Each of these details can impact both the cost and appearance of your future ring. They’re also helpful to know when meeting with jewelers to ensure you get what you’re looking for.

• Cut: How a diamond is cut can affect its light. The cut is what gives it that extra sparkle, including its angles, proportions, and more. While well-cut stones are often more pricey, you’ll also be getting more shine.
• Color: Diamonds are graded based on their color, with D being the whitest and Z being a yellow diamond. Colorless diamonds are often the most popular, as well as the most expensive.
• Carat: Diamonds are measured in carats for both size and weight. While stone shapes can weigh differently, in general, larger and heavier diamonds are more expensive.
• Clarity: Even the most beautiful diamond can have a few flaws, or inclusions. These small flecks occur naturally and also determine a stone’s clarity. Diamonds with fewer inclusions rate higher in both price and quality.

Set a Budget

While there is a general guideline of spending three months’ salary on your engagement ring, there is no exact amount you should spend on a ring. So many factors go into the price, including the Four Cs, the shape, metals, and more. While we do recommend having a budget in mind when beginning the engagement ring shopping process, there’s no “one price fits all” for the ring.

Find the Right Jeweler

An engagement ring is an expensive purchase, so it’s important to choose a jeweler you feel you can trust. Ask friends and family for any recommendations, as well as checking reviews for local jewelers in your area. When browsing for a jeweler, be sure to ask about added perks such as free resizing to make your shopping experience seamless. You can also shop for engagement rings online, however, we do recommend finding a reputable jeweler with offers such as a return policy if needed and gemstone certification.

Don’t Rush

The best piece of advice we have when engagement ring shopping is not to rush the process. We recommend starting the search about six months before you plan on proposing. This gives you ample time to learn your partner’s preferred ring styles, along with giving you time to save funds if needed and browse a few selections of styles before finding the one.

Once you’re ready to walk down the aisle, don’t forget to invest in a great manicure for your special day. Check out some of these wedding nail ideas to pair with your beautiful ring!