How to buy an Engagement Ring

There’s no better feeling in the world than knowing you’ve found the love of your life and that you’re ready to take the next step by asking them for their hand in marriage.  If you’re planning to propose to that special man or lady in your life, this is something that should be thought out so that you don’t get it wrong. After all, it’s a story you’ll be telling your kids and grandkids for years to come. Alongside this, if you’re following the De Beer’s one month’s salary rule, you’re about to spend a serious amount of cash on your diamond engagement ring.

If you wish to buy a diamond engagement ring or a gemstone engagement ring, then you should follow these universally agreed guidelines, ensuring that you’re getting the best quality GIA certified diamond ring and value for your money.

What is a diamond?

A diamond is  a precious gem that is made up of 99.95% pure crystallised carbon and some diamonds are three billion years old. Diamond is one of the hardest, naturally occurring substances on earth, and are formed beneath the Earth’s surface.

Tips for buying a diamond engagement ring

Make sure you’ve discussed marriage before you propose!

Getting married is a huge commitment and should be taken seriously for everyone involved. It’s easy to forget that marriage is more than just wearing a wedding ring – it is about patience, compromise and understanding, which is why you should make sure you and your partner have discussed what you want from life.

Decide on your budget

Once the marriage discussion has happened, the first thing you need to do is work out your budget for the engagement ring. Push the myths and ideals aside and spend the amount you can afford and that you want to spend. Whether you choose to go for an expensive 18 carat platinum solitaire diamond engagement ring that’s financed, or a smaller vintage diamond and gemstone ring paid for up front, the choice is entirely yours. You should give your budget a 10% margin for any extra costs.

Get your partner’s ring size

People have different finger sizes, so unfortunately jewellery shopping isn’t a one size fits all method. This is why you should try your best to get your partner’s ring size before you choose the style.  It’s important to remember that getting the wrong ring size isn’t the end of the world, but it can make it challenging if you’ve chosen a delicate multi-stone diamond engagement ring that’s too big, as resizing a diamond band can be very tricky.

The best way to get your partner’s ring size is by finding a ring they aren’t wearing and taking it to a jewellers to be measured. If your partner isn’t going to be choosing their own ring, and you want to maintain surprise, then this is the best route to take.

If you do get the wrong size, then be prepared to pay a little more money to get the ring properly fitted, which is why it is best to have a margin.

Find out what style your partner likes

As your partner will be wearing their engagement ring everyday for the rest of their life, you’ll want to make sure that you’re choosing a diamond engagement ring that fits your partner’s tastes and style. One of the best ways to do this is by going window shopping with them and casually walking past jewellery displays. Don’t forget to ask your partner’s friends and family what style ring they think your beau would like (the ones you trust to keep this secret!).

Your partner’s personality will influence the style of ring you go choose. If they’re bold, outgoing and vivacious then an oval cut diamond halo ring set in yellow-gold may be the perfect fit! Is your significant other reserved but has a classic and elegant style? Then a white-gold solitaire round cut diamond engagement ring will suit them.

Choosing the metal

Now that you’ve ticked the budget and style off the list, you need to decide on the type of metal for your ring. This can be a challenge as there are a variety of metals to choose from – you should choose a metal that suits the diamonds and jewels in the engagement ring. Alongside this, the budget will dictate the type of metals on offer. The most common metals are: yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, platinum, and silver.

Choose the diamond

So your budget, metal and style are decided – now it is time to look at the focal point of the ring – the diamond! Diamonds are expensive, and purchasing a diamond can often seems like a very and difficult daunting task. If you follow these simple tips, you’ll choose an engagement ring your partner will love!

The 4Cs of Diamond Quality

Whenever you buy any piece of diamond jewellery, you should always make sure the diamond is graded against the 4 C’s: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. These dictate the quality and cost of the diamond. That being said, you should remember, there’s no right or wrong carat size that a diamond engagement ring should be – it is all down to your personal taste.

The cut specifies the shape and angles of the diamond – choose from the following:

• Round cut
• Cushion cut
• Heart cut
• Asscher cut
• Oval cut
• Marquise cut
• Princess cut
• Pear cut

A high quality cut diamond reflects light from one facet to another and projects it through the top  of the stone.

Diamonds come in a variety of colours and are rarely colourless. From a yellow diamond engagement ring to a pink diamond ring or brilliant white diamond, you should choose a diamond that you and your partner love.

Clarity grades the imperfections of the diamond. The clearer the diamond, the more expensive it is. Inclusions are other minerals or tiny fractures in the diamond. The fewer inclusions the better.

So there you have it! If you’re still unsure on what style of engagement ring to go for, then get in touch!