A lot of thought goes into selecting the right engagement ring for you and your partner. The ring you pick will symbolize the union of your souls for the rest of your lives and will act as a solidified representation of your love for one another. With that in mind, it’s a very important decision.
While selecting an engagement ring is exciting, nerve-wracking, and even thrilling, it can also be a little bit daunting and overwhelming, especially if you’re coming to the table without any knowledge about engagement rings.
This guide will take you through a step-by-step process that will help you pick the perfect engagement ring for you, your partner, and the very special love that you share.
Setting a Comfortable Budget
First things first, when it comes to engagement rings, it’s essential to set yourself a realistic budget. This is because engagement rings can very quickly climb in price. Additionally, there is a very wide spectrum of engagement ring pricing in general.
Various factors play into the overall price of the engagement ring, like the type, colour, and quality of a diamond, as well as its size. On top of that, the setting and metal chosen for the setting will also impact the price of the ring.
This is why you’ll want to take a little time to set up a budget for yourself, so you know what you’re comfortable spending at a maximum and at a minimum. Having an established engagement ring budget will prevent you from overspending on an engagement ring and putting yourself in an uncomfortable financial situation.
Choose a Diamond Shape That Speaks to You
After setting a budget for the engagement ring, the next place to start looking is at the diamond shape itself. Again, there are a wide variety of diamond shapes to choose from, and each of them has its own unique attributes.
There are diamond shapes that appear more traditional and classic, while others have a more modern look to them. Understanding the personality of the recipient will be integral to choosing the right shape for the diamond.
There are diamond shapes for people who prefer a more minimalist and sleek look, while there are also plenty of shapes that are suitable for a louder personality as well. Let the personality of your partner guide you in choosing a diamond shape that you will both love for years and years to come.
The 4 C’s of Diamonds
When it comes to diamond shopping in general, there are four big C’s to consider: cut, colour, clarity, and carat.
The first C stands for cut and is all about shine. The cut of a diamond refers to how it’s internally aligned and impacts the path light takes entering and exiting the precious stone. In other words, the higher the quality of the cut, the more brilliant the shine.
After the cut is the colour, the closer a white diamond is to being colourless, the more rare and precious it is. Engagement ring diamonds are almost always as near to colourless as possible.
Next up is clarity which refers to the number of inclusions in the diamond. A flawless diamond is the rarest, while clarity diminishes with more inclusions noted.
Finally comes the carat, which refers to the size of the diamond itself. This is a bit of a misnomer, though, because size carat refers to the weight of the diamond and not the physical dimensions.
Selecting the Perfect Setting
After choosing the diamond you want to use in the engagement ring and considering your budget, the 4 C’s, and the shape you want, it’s time to decide on a setting for the ring.
This is as important a step as any in the process. Once again, there’s a wide variety of setting styles and designs from which one can choose. This is another place in the ring shopping process where personality comes into play.
There are sleek and elegant settings, bold and loud settings, intricately delicate settings, and of course, traditional and classic settings as well. Choose a setting that speaks to the personality of the person who will be wearing the ring.
Picking a Metal
Finally, you’re in the home stretch. You’ve selected a diamond, paired it with a setting, and chosen a shape, and now all that’s left is to pick the metal of the ring setting.
Gold is traditional, while platinum is a more modern selection with a sleek aesthetic. White gold and rose gold are also popular options for an engagement ring.
A Few Final Thoughts
There are plenty of nerves already involved in asking someone to marry you. Being confident in your engagement ring, though, will be one less thing on your mind when popping the big question.
