Buying the Perfect Engagement Ring: A Buying Guide

Purchasing an engagement ring for that special day can be an overwhelming task for any men. It’s your symbol of love and commitment for the “one”, and obviously you’d want it to be special. On the other hand, for most men, the process of purchasing an engagement ring is often their very first foray into the world of jewelry. In short, most of us are completely blind.

Then, it doesn’t help that there are a lot of complex terms and concepts surrounding the engagement ring: what actually is the halo setting? How to choose a diamond shape? And so on, and so on.

With that being said, in this guide we will discuss the key steps of purchasing an engagement ring, as well as some key terms you should understand before making a purchase. Without further ado, let us begin.

1. Choosing Your Stone

The stone(s) on an engagement ring is often the most important aspect, and is also often the most expensive part. There are two main options here: going for the traditional diamond or going for unique, colored gemstones. We will discuss both of these options one by one.

The Diamond

The classic choice for any engagement ring. Diamonds can come in many different shapes, and the secret of a beautiful diamond ring is the balance between shape, the diamond’s quality, and how matching is the band supporting the stone.

Regarding diamond quality, we have the four important aspects we know as the 4Cs:

• Cut: one important thing to remember is that the term cut is not referring to the diamond’s shape, but rather referring to the quality of shine and brilliance. You might want to check out this guide by GIA regarding a diamond’s cut grade.

• Color: color refers to how transparent a diamond stone is. The less color it has, the higher the grade (and the more expensive).

• Clarity: clarity is about whether the diamond contains any microscopic imperfections (and the quantity).
• Carat: carat actually represents the stone’s weight, which is often—although not always—tied to its size.

Colored Gemstone

Colored gemstones are also popular nowadays, not only for alternative brides-to-be, but also for the mainstream audience. There are certainly many different gemstones to choose from with varying qualities. To a lesser extent, the 4Cs can also be applied here.

Another important thing to consider is the fact that different gemstones will offer different durability. Consult with your jeweler whether your chosen gemstone will require a special care or maintenance.

2. Choosing Your RIng: Setting, Metal Band, Size

Your stone is only as beautiful as the ring supporting it, and here there are three main factors to consider: setting to support your chosen stone, metal options—which can dramatically enhance the stone’s beauty—, and an often overlooked importance: the perfect ring size.

First, setting. There are many different setting styles to choose from; from the classing solitaire to the recently popular halo style. The main principle here is to find the right balance between your stone shape, ring shape, and setting. A quick tip: if you can only afford a smaller diamond, a halo setting is a great way to make the stone appear larger that it is, which is part of the reason why it’s a popular setting style.

There are also many different metal options to choose from, but the most popular ones are:

• Yellow gold: timeless classic, recently regained popularity throughout the end of 2018
• White gold: a very popular choice nowadays, a mixture of yellow gold with platinum/silver
• Platinum: the rarest and the most expensive metal with its signature natural white luster
• Rose gold: the very popular, modernized variation to yellow gold

There are also unconventional metal choices like titanium, palladium, or ceramic, although they are generally more popular with groom’s wedding rings.

For size, although it’s pretty self-explanatory, it is very important to look for the perfect size for the bride-to-be. For men who are looking to surprise their loved one with an engagement ring, this can be a difficult process, and you might want to check out this article listing a few useful tips.

3. Decide a Budget

An engagement ring can be really affordable or really expensive depending on many different factors from the intricacy of design, size and quality of the stone, metal choices, and many more. So, virtually your options are only limited by how much you are willing to spend.

On average, a diamond engagement ring costs around $3,500, and although a beautiful engagement ring is certainly important, you should also consider your long-term financial health. So, assess your current financial situation: your total income and your fixed/variable expenses. Decide on a budget based on this assessment, and stick to it.

The key here is finding the balance between the engagement ring’s quality and the amount of investment you are comfortable with.

4. Finding Your Jeweler

Now that you’ve decided on a budget, there are generally two options to pursue: whether you’ll shop for a ready-made rings or whether you’ll get a custom-made ones.

Obviously buying a ready-made engagement ring will be an easier process, but you’ll have less flexibility. On the other hand, getting a custom-designed ring can be more complex, but you will get more freedom to get the ring you (and the spouse) actually wanted.

Nevertheless, the principle of choosing your jeweler remains the same: find a reputable, trustworthy jeweler. You can check for online reviews, as well as asking around for recommendations from your peers and family. Also, if you are looking to get a customized ring, remember that each jeweler will have their own unique touches, even when you’ve prepared all the design elements by yourself. This can be a deciding factor when choosing a jeweler.

Last but not least, remember that your engagement ring can be an expensive investment, and so check out whether your jeweler offers insurance options.

End Words

While shopping for an engagement ring can be a daunting task, especially for men who are not really familiar with jewelries in the first place, the key principles are actually quite simple once you’ve got the hang of it.

By following the quick steps we have shared above, you can start shopping for your ideal engagement ring right away.