So, you’re ready to propose. Congratulations! Now all that’s left is to find the perfect engagement ring. As every man knows, this is no small feat, and there is a lot riding on this one piece of jewellery. No pressure, boys! To help you on your way, there are some crucial things you need to know (from the experts) before you start shopping for her engagement ring, courtesy of Majesty Diamonds!
We’ve all heard of women who have been unhappy with their engagement rings, and have taken them back either to upgrade the diamond or exchange the ring for something completely different. Trust us, this is not the outcome you want when you propose to your sweetheart. You want a ring that is going to create fireworks when you propose. This is the moment you both have been waiting for, so you need to make sure you are slipping the ring of her dreams onto her finger. There is a lot of pressure on you to find the perfect ring, but if you are truly smitten, and you know your lady well, then you’ll be more than equipped to do the job right.
Budget
We can’t stress this enough. Make sure you know your budget, so that the jewelers you approach will know which rings are in your price range. It used to be that a man was expected to spend 2-3 months salary on the engagement ring, but with a change in times and the economy, anything goes. Don’t feel pressured to spend more money than you can afford on the ring. An engagement ring is meant to be a symbol of your love and commitment – not how much you were willing to spend. There’s no point in starting your lives off together with the burden of debt, so focus on finding a ring she’ll love that is within your financial means.
Determine Her Ring Size
If you are hoping for the surprise factor, you may not want to come straight out and ask your girlfriend what size of ring she wears. Instead, borrow one of the rings out of her jewellery box and take it to a jeweler’s to determine the size. If your girlfriend doesn’t wear rings, then ask her friends or mother what size of ring she wears. You may have to get a bit sneaky about it, but better that than have her catch wind of the impending proposal!
Know Her Style
Knowing your soon-to-be fiancée’s style is going to be the key to finding her perfect engagement ring. With so many possible engagement ring styles to choose from, you are going to need to know her preference on:
Metals – Does she wear a lot of yellow gold, or is rose gold more her thing?
Diamond Cut – Would she prefer a more traditional cut like round or princess? Or would she prefer something more unique like a marquise or emerald cut diamond?
Diamond color – Not every woman wants a white diamond. She may prefer a black diamond or a gemstone as her setting.
There are so many things to consider when buying an engagement ring. It’s also important to know whether her sense of style is more understated or glamorous, so that you are sure to get her a ring that isn’t too bling or unsuitable to her overall fashion sense.
The 4 C’s
To determine the quality, as well as the beauty and rarity of a diamond, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of the 4 C’s. When you start shopping for her ring, you should also take these diamond features into consideration: color, clarity, carat, and cut.
Color – The most desirable diamonds are those that are near colorless, and these diamonds are the most expensive to buy. Refer to the GIA color scale, which rates diamonds from their varying shade of colors and will give you an idea of which shade of diamond is in your price range.
Clarity – Inclusions, also known as fingerprints, are a diamond’s birthmarks. The least inclusions a diamond has, the greater its clarity. Like the color of a diamond, the clarity is measured on a scale. Try to find a diamond in the range of SI1 or SI2, as the inclusions will be invisible to the naked eye.
Carat – Carat refers to the weight of the diamond. The bigger the diamond, the more you will pay. If carat size is important to you, but you don’t have the budget for a heavy diamond, through proper mounting and shaping, a diamond can be made to appear larger than it is.
Cut – Cut refers to the shape of the diamond. The cut of a diamond comes down to preference – so make sure you know which diamond shape your girlfriend would prefer. The round cut is the most popular, closely followed by the princess cut. But there are also the pear, oval, marquise, heart, and emerald diamond cuts to consider.
Follow these 4 tips, and you should be well on your way to finding the PERFECT ring to propose to your sweetheart! Good Luck!
Look at all of these styles and options and loads more at Majesty Diamonds!
