Gearing up for the proposal to the love of your life can be both exciting and daunting. There are a ton of preparations that need to get done. One of the most important is buying an engagement ring. While you can get easily caught up in the romance, choosing an engagement ring should be carefully considered.
It is a significant chunk of your budget. You need to select the right one. The choice is more challenging than picking between the princess and emerald cut or opting for white gold or yellow. The modern world has evolved, and so have the many considerations when finding an engagement ring.
Whether you’re buying the ring solo and surprising your fiancé or doing it together to make it more meaningful, our handy tips will help you think of every consideration in the process.
Infographic provided by Jewelry Display Manufacturer, Gems on Display
Table of Contents
Avoid Getting Caught Up in a Trend
Trendy rings abound, but you’ll tend to forego the importance of a perfect match when you focus too much on this aspect. You will want your engagement ring to be perfect for your fiancée. It is often a timeless symbol of love that will last forever.
Instead of checking out the latest trends, why not focus on your fiancée’s personal taste? What will suit their style best? Maybe they prefer platinum over gold. Perhaps they want to keep it simple and minimalist. Or maybe they want grand things, so going all out with a piece of statement jewelry is the best option. Observe how they get dressed and the usual jewelry they wear.
Keep all those personal style choices in mind to help pick the perfect engagement ring they will wear every day for the rest of their life.
Look at the Stone Beyond the Paper
Some stones might be perfect on paper, hitting all the four Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat. However, the grade of the stone is only one of the many factors you will need to consider when choosing an engagement ring. This means you must pay attention to how it feels in your hand.
You may want to look at it under different lighting, for example. This is important if you are opting for a diamond ring. Diamond often looks different under various lighting conditions. Look at it under the daylight, fluorescent light, and soft lighting. Jewelers usually use white spotlighting to highlight a diamond’s brilliance, making it look dazzling.
Size Matters Only If You Think It Matters
When choosing an engagement ring, you will always consider the size of the stone. Yes, a big one will make the grandest statement. However, your fiancée might feel differently. She might want to be less showy, so a modest size is the best option. Only consider the stone’s size if it matters to you both. In cases where size matters to your future wife, knowing her preference will help you decide.
For fiancées that do not really put that much importance on size, you may want to look at other essential factors. Maybe you can focus on the band. Metal is usually a good choice, but you have various options when it comes to this. You can opt for yellow gold, white gold, silver, or platinum. Rose gold is also popular as it offers a fresh and modern alternative. If you want to go for quality, platinum will give you good value for your money as it has a greater density.
The cut of the stone is also a good consideration. Each cut has a different price tag. For example, round cuts are the most expensive. Pear and marquise tend to cost less.
Pro-tip: you can choose an alternative to a classic round cut if your budget doesn’t fit. This means you should study the different ring cuts before you head out to shop, as this will save you so much time and effort.
Know the Backstory of the Stone
Nowadays, the production and sourcing of any product in the market matters to many consumers. If you appreciate a good and clean background story to your engagement ring, knowing the history of the jewelry and the brand will allow you to keep your peace of mind. Ethically sourced gems are always the better choice. Knowing that your engagement ring supports sustainability efforts can do wonders for your conscience.
Many jewelry designers make sure to pick suppliers that can prove their gemstones have been sourced ethically and sustainably. They can trace their diamonds and precious metals from mine to market. The trick here is to find a jeweler that supports such initiatives and discuss your options.
Think Outside the Box for a Change
You don’t want your engagement ring to be like everyone else’s. It’s better to inject some personality into it and make sure it complements your taste and style. Your fiancée might be one who eschews diamonds and traditional settings entirely and opt for something personal and unique. You might need to find the perfect balance between fashionable and timeless. Yes, unusual rings are great, but you also need to ensure the ring you get is clean, sleek, and will not go out of style.
If brand-new engagement rings are not your thing, you may opt for sure classics by looking at pre-owned engagement rings. You are bound to find something unique that is no longer replicated today. This ensures your fiancée will have a classic, timeless engagement ring in their hand.
Wrapping It Up
These tips are just some of the most important considerations you need to keep in mind before you leap headlong into engagement ring shopping. Of course, it’s just as important to remember not to compromise the quality of the ring over your need to save a few bucks. The price tag is not all there is to it either. Vintage pieces may sometimes be better than modern ones, so you can always consider going for secondhand rings. Ultimately, the choice is yours to make.
