I’ve been dating my girlfriend for several years. She captured my heart, and I found a soulmate in her. We spend hours talking about various ideas, discussing our future and planning funny weekend activities. She enriches my life in so many aspects. That is why now is the right moment to pop the question. But I’m having trouble with a key decision, selecting an engagement ring.
I know my partner’s size, preferences and yet I’m unsure how to find a first-rate band on such an abundant market. I don’t want to rush into anything because I’m not a jewellery expert. What should I look for?
It seems like you’re ready to settle down. Congratulations on the joyful occasion! And we hear you, buddy. Indeed, picking out a betrothal gift can be scary, especially if you’ve never dealt with diamond pieces before. It’s easy to get tricked by all the pomposity and fake brilliance. However, a few tips for buying an engagement ring could make your shopping process loads simpler. Let’s dive deeper into those:
Examine the Assortment and Choose a Stone to Your Liking
The first question you should ask yourself is – what gem do I wish to place on the mounting. With the rapid development of technologies and the advancement of mining procedures, colourless diamonds are no longer the sole match for engagement bands.
Modern customers can purchase artificial brilliants, colourful semi-precious stones, peculiar salt and pepper crystals, etc.
It’s important to understand what kind of look you aim for and what message you want to convey. We suggest breaking down your ring hunt into the following steps:
- Make up your mind: yay or nay to diamonds.
- Gauge the quality of the preferred rock by comparing it to international standards.
Scintillating Diamonds
If you are inclined to buy a glittering stone, there are several points to consider. You’re probably aware that the majority of diamonds on sale are organic, e. g. mined from the earth crust, where they have been laying for millions of years. However, there is also a second, less common type of diamonds – man-made. As the name presupposes, they are created in special labs mirroring natural formation conditions.
Artificial diamonds possess the same specs as organic ones and differ only in manufacturing. Thus, they can not be distinguished with the unaided eye.
The biggest appeal of lab-grown diamonds is their eco-friendliness and attractive tags. They are up to 40 % less expensive, and their production revolves around renewable energy sources, which significantly reduces the otherwise huge amount of carbon emission. If you desire a lovely ethically sourced stone for an agreeable price, a man-made diamond is your best bet.
After you’ve decided on the diamond’s origin, it makes sense to ponder over the colouring component. A transparent crystal remains a fan favourite, but you can spot gorgeous rainbowy rings more and more frequently these days. Tinted brilliants are the rarity of the jewellery world. They enchant with their uniqueness: chances are you won’t meet a single person with a similar rock. Plus, they are a solid investment that doesn’t lose value over time. If your honey appreciates contrast play, opt for a coloured diamond and prepare yourself to embrace a hearty hug.
Regardless of what you go for, you should measure your rock against the grading system, the famed 4Cs(colour, clarity, carat, cut). We are going to break down how to make the most of every component financially:
1. Cut refers to diamond’s proportions, faceting, and ability to reflect light. A properly cut stone beams with radiance and pleases the eye.
Diamond cuts are usually graded as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. We suggest selecting either an Excellent or a Very Good one.
2. The Colour range of diamonds falls under the D-Z scale, with D being completely white and Z having a yellowish hue.
The shading of a brilliant also depends on its shape. Fancy shapes like marquise or radiant don’t mask colour, so you can’t go lower on them. On the contrary, round diamonds conceal colour well, so you can sacrifice a few marks without influencing transparency.
3. Clarity stands for the absence of visible blemishes. The scale rates vary from Flawless(FL) to Included(I). Although the price difference between a seamless diamond and a flawed one is tens of thousands of dollars, they appear almost identical.
In our humble opinion, there is no reason to go higher than VS1 clarity. The exception can be made for emerald and asscher cuts because their inclusions are more noticeable.
4. Carats are measurements of a diamond’s factual weight. The bigger the carat, the pricier the diamond. To increase the overall size without going bankrupt, try this:
- add accent stones;
- pick elongated cuts;
- choose relatively shallow depth.
If you learn to manipulate ”C” components, you’ll be able to negotiate yourself a winning deal and won’t end up swindled by cunning traders.
Rubies, Emeralds and Other Gems
In 2021 individualised accessories took the front stage. Diversifying an engagement band with coloured rocks became a fad of the season. Many grooms purchased gems that depicted fiancees’ astrological signs or embodied powerful associations. If your darling is sick of run-of-the-mill diamonds and craves something extraordinary, tinted rocks are a befitting present. We advise checking their quality on the Mohs scale. The item of 8 and higher is likely to serve a lifetime.
Style
While stone is a crucial part of a ring, you can’t disregard its mounting. The mounting sets a general tone and characterises the owner as modest, passionate, easy-going or mysterious. There are countless setting designs to every taste. Before focusing upon one, we recommend keeping an open mind and mulling over your partner’s fashion choice. The latter should be a determining factor for the coveted ring.
The most popular setting styles include:
- Solitaire: a raised elegant setting featuring a single stone held by four to six prongs. It underlines the contours and allows for maximum light exposure. Solitaire is an excellent solution if your goal is to emphasise the magnificent shape and diamond’s authenticity.
- Halo: a striking luxurious setting that showcases a larger centre stone surrounded by tiny luminous diamonds. The conception behind such an arrangement is to grant more prominence and eccentricity. It is a top-notch variant if your better half favours bulky jewellery and longs for an extra blink.
- Bezel: a minimalistic contemporary setting with the sole gem enclosed in a thin metal strip. It provides outstanding protection and prevents your jewel from chipping. If your partner is involved in sports or has a hands-on job, this ring will offer stability without compromising the beauty.
Metal
While stone is a crucial part of a ring, you can’t disregard its mounting. The mounting sets a general tone and characterises the owner as modest, passionate, easy-going or mysterious. There are countless setting designs to every taste. Before focusing upon one, we recommend keeping an open mind and mulling over your partner’s fashion choice. The latter should be a determining factor for the coveted ring.
The most popular setting styles include:
Solitaire: a raised elegant setting featuring a single stone held by four to six prongs. It underlines the contours and allows for maximum light exposure. Solitaire is an excellent solution if your goal is to emphasise the magnificent shape and diamond’s authenticity.
Halo: a striking luxurious setting that showcases a larger centre stone surrounded by tiny luminous diamonds. The conception behind such an arrangement is to grant more prominence and eccentricity. It is a top-notch variant if your better half favours bulky jewellery and longs for an extra blink.
Bezel: a minimalistic contemporary setting with the sole gem enclosed in a thin metal strip. It provides outstanding protection and prevents your jewel from chipping. If your partner is involved in sports or has a hands-on job, this ring will offer stability without compromising the beauty.
Sticking to Your Budget
We understand the temptation to remove limits and purchase the most fabulous ring. However, we shall remind you: it’s not the gold that matters; its promise interwoven into it. An engagement band shouldn’t leave you rich in love, but strap on cash. Your partner would be smitten even by a plain, unadorned piece because it would be coming from you.