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Proposing to your significant other is an exciting time in your relationship, but many people break out in a cold sweat when the time comes to shop for engagement rings. With such a wide combination of cuts, colors, and precious metals available, it’s understandable to feel a little intimidated by this important decision.
However, choosing between engagement rings doesn’t have to be rocket science. Armed with the tips in this article and with the assistance of a high-quality jeweler it should be relatively easy to find the perfect ring to symbolize your love and commitment.
1. Determine Your Budget
You may have heard that the done thing is to spend around three months’ worth of your salary on an engagement ring, but don’t feel pressured into sticking to this tradition unless it’s affordable. While it’s worth spending as much as you can reasonably afford to get the highest-quality ring possible, there’s no need to get yourself into debt to pay for a ring.
When you visit a jeweler, be frank with them about how much you intend to spend. Many stores stock engagement rings at a wide range of price points, and being upfront allows them to narrow down the search to ones that suit your budget.
2. Consider Styles Beforehand
Before you go shopping for rings, take some time to consider your partner’s style. They are the person who will wear the ring every day, so it’s essential to think about their preferences instead of which one suits your own sense of style.
If your fiance-to-be has already told you the styles and cuts they like, you’ve got a head start. If not, sneak a look at their existing jewelry collection and consider their fashion sense to get an idea of their taste. If your partner loves vintage fashion, for example, they may prefer an antique ring to a modern piece. If you’re struggling for inspiration, ask their close friends and family members for their insights.
3. Get The Sizing Right
Buying the correct ring size is crucial if you want to achieve a flawless proposal, as your partner will almost certainly want to wear the ring right away. If you’ve already discussed getting married and engagement rings, your partner may have already told you their ring size. If not, it’s time to turn detective.
If your partner already wears a ring on their ring finger, you can try secretly taking it to a jeweler in Vail, CO, to get it sized. If not, you may need to ask a discreet friend or family member to try and find out your partner’s ring size without arousing suspicion.
4. Pick The Perfect Diamond
Choosing the ideal diamond is one of the most important steps when you’re shopping for rings. Gemologists and jewelers use a system called the 4 Cs to assess and describe diamonds. These are:
Cut: A well-cut diamond will enhance its appearance, sparkle, and clarity. The most popular cut for engagement rings is a round cut because it is a classic shape that suits most tastes. It also offers a beautiful, eye-catching shine.
If your partner favors modern rings, a square princess cut is worth considering as a more striking option. Many jewelers also sell romantic heart-shaped diamonds if you want something a little more unusual. Meanwhile, cushion-cut diamonds provide a more traditional aesthetic and could be the better choice if your partner likes vintage jewelry.
Carat: Carats describe the diamond’s weight, and you can use the carat rating to roughly guess the size of the gemstone. Generally, the carat weight reflects the stone’s size, so the higher the carat weight, the larger the stone. Of course, this means that high-carat diamonds are more expensive, so you may need to balance the diamond’s size against your preferred quality to stick within budget.
Color: The most expensive diamonds are entirely colorless, providing the most dazzling sparkle. The best diamond color-rating is D, which means that the diamond is totally clear. However, you may not be able to notice the difference between a pricey D-rated diamond and one rated F-H, which will still look beautiful in a high-quality setting without costing as much.
Clarity: Experts rate a diamond’s clarity on a scale from FL (flawless) to I (included) 1-13. It’s actually relatively unusual for a diamond to have a flawless rating, and as such, they are highly expensive. A few small flaws are unlikely to be visible to the naked eye, so ask your jeweler to show you a range of clarity options so that you can pick one that suits your budget and aesthetic requirements.
5. Choose a Precious Metal
While the diamond choice is an essential consideration for engagement rings, you should also think carefully about which precious metal you want. The metal makes up the largest proportion of all engagement rings, so it’s worth taking some time to think about the appearance you want and how much maintenance you’re prepared to do. The most popular metals for rings are:
Platinum: Platinum is the most costly precious metal, but it’s also highly durable and suitable for people who are allergic to other metals. It has a stunning silvery appearance.
White Gold: White gold provides a similar silvery aesthetic to platinum without such a high initial price tag. However, white gold engagement rings require regular re-plating, so you should factor in the costs and effort involved. It’s also unsuitable for people who are allergic to nickel.
Rose Gold: This metal is a gold/copper alloy, which gives it an attractive and romantic pinkish hue. It is less expensive than platinum and costs around the same as white gold without the need for re-plating.
Yellow Gold: Yellow gold is ideal if you want a traditional ring because of its classic color. This lustrous metal costs roughly the same as white and rose gold and is relatively durable.
The Bottom Line
Shopping for engagement rings is much easier when you have a trusted jeweler to advise and guide you. Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry of Vail, CO stocks a wide range of rings, and the expert team are always on hand to help you choose the perfect piece for a memorable proposal.
