How to Choose an Engagement Ring
Are you looking to choose the perfect engagement ring for your significant other, but you don’t have a lot of knowledge about diamond quality or what type of style you’d like to get?
There is a large variety of styles and settings of diamond engagement rings that are available. In this blog, we are going to give you some tips on what to know and consider before you begin engagement ring shopping, so it will be an enjoyable and memorable experience for you.
Steps to Consider Before you Begin your Engagement Ring Shopping
Set a Budget
Decide how much you are planning on spending on the engagement ring. This can help you in decision making and guide your choices on gemstone, settings, precious metals, etc. Tradition has suggested spending one to three month's salary on an engagement ring, but not everyone follows that. How much you decide to spend will be a personal decision.
The choice of a lab-grown diamond versus an actual diamond will have a significant impact on your budget. You may be surprised to learn that choosing a diamond that is larger in size, but is rated lower in the 4 c's versus getting a smaller diamond that has a higher rating will influence the overall price of the diamond. Differences in settings will also impact the overall price point of your ring.
Understand Your Partner’s Style & Ring Size
What type of jewelry does your partner already wear? Do they prefer to wear a specific precious metal? Do they have a style that is classic, modern, vintage, or something unique? Knowing their personal style will help guide your decision of what type of ring style will best suit their personal taste. Does their work or lifestyle determine how simple or elaborate the ring should be?
If the proposal is going to be a surprise, you may want to enlist the help of best friends or family members of your significant other to help you figure out the ring size. Another option is to get help from a local retailer by providing some ring styles for her to choose from, giving you an idea of what you want to buy. The jeweler can also measure her ring finger for the exact size.
Choosing a Gemstone
Diamonds are the most well known gemstone associated with engagement rings. However, colored gemstones like sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are becoming increasingly popular for engagement rings. When selecting your gemstone, think about what reflects your partner’s style, making it the right ring for them.
Choose the Setting Style
Engagement ring settings will impact its overall appearance. You can choose from a more simplistic setting to an elaborate setting. The shape of the gemstone may influence the settings you choose. Intricate settings may also be better with particular precious metals.
The solitaire engagement ring, which is made of a single stone, can be displayed many different ways with the use of prongs, a bezel, a split shank, a pave setting, a channel setting, or a tension setting, all which give the solitaire a unique look.
A halo setting will use a center stone surrounded by smaller stones which creates a more elaborate look. A three-stone setting will often have a larger center diamond with two smaller gemstones surrounding it to represent past, present, and future. There are a lot of varieties in ring settings from which to choose.
Customizing the Engagement Ring
If you prefer to have a unique ring, customizing it may be your best option. Many jewelers offer customization options where you can choose the setting, gemstones and precious metals like yellow gold or white gold, platinum, rose gold, silver, etc.
Ring Certificates and Insurance
When purchasing a diamond ring, make sure it comes with a certificate from a reputable gemological laboratory like GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or AGS (American Gem Society). Their gemologists are trained in knowing the quality of diamonds by using a set standard that is well known and used for determining diamond quality.
Consider getting insurance for your piece of jewelry once you’ve chosen your special ring. You will want to protect it against loss, theft, or damage.
Understanding the Characteristics of Diamonds
It’s a good idea to understand how the value of diamonds are determined. The four c’s of diamonds are a standardized system that is used to evaluate and describe the quality of a diamond. There are four components used when determining the quality of the diamonds. These ratings will impact the price-point of the diamond.
Cut
The cut diamond includes its proportions, symmetry, and polish (not its shape, i.e. round, princess cut, etc.) Diamonds that are well cut reflect light more effectively which maximizes its brilliance, sparkle and overall beauty. The cut is graded from Excellent to Poor. An excellent cut is more valuable than one that is rated poor.
Here is an example of diamond cuts from poor to excellent.
Color
You may be surprised to learn that diamond color actually refers to the absence of color. The most valuable diamonds are colorless which allows more light to pass through and create greater brilliance. The GIA grades diamond color on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
Clarity
Clarity measures the presence of internal and external flaws called inclusions in a diamond. These flaws can influence the diamond’s brilliance and overall appearance. Clarity grades range from Flawless where no inclusion or blemishes are visible under 10x magnification, to Included where inclusions are visible to the naked eye. Diamonds with fewer inclusions and blemishes have a higher clarity grade, making them more valuable and leading to a higher price tag.
Carat Weight
Carat weight measures the diamond’s weight (size). In general, the larger the diamond, the higher its carat weight and price. However, it is the combination of all of the four Cs ratings that determine the diamonds overall value. The composite of all four of these factors will determine the rating for the quality and value of the diamond.
Types of Engagement Ring Styles
There are numerous engagement ring styles, precious metals, and settings that will impact both the appearance and value of your engagement ring. Take a look at a few of the many styles available.
Engagement Ring Styles
The diamond solitaire is a popular choice in engagement rings because it is a timeless and classic style. Below is a 18K White Gold round Brilliant Cut Diamond, an 18K Cushion Cut Diamond Solitaire Ring, a Pear Cut Diamond Solitaire Ring in Platinum, and a Platinum Square Emerald Cut Diamond Solitaire. You can see that all are solitaires, but the diamond shape of each stone provides a different unique look for each ring.
Halo
A halo engagement ring will have the center stone surrounded by a circle of smaller diamonds or colored gemstones which gives the ring a more elaborate look. This style adds extra brilliance and dimension to your ring. Below is a Yellow Diamond Solitaire Halo Ring in Platinum and 18K Gold, a 14KW Marquise Diamond Solitaire Ring, a Gabriel & Co. contemporary Collection Diamond Halo Engagement Ring, and a 14K Rose Gold Pave Diamond Double Halo Ring. Halo rings can include extra stones on the ring’s band for even more sparkle.
Three-Stone Ring
The three stone ring features three stones symbolizing the past, present and future. The gemstone and the diamond shape will again impact the appearance of the ring. Featured below are a Madagascar Blue Sapphire and Diamond Ring in Platinum, an Emerald and Diamond Ring in Platinum, a Fancy Yellow Radiant Cut Diamond Solitaire in Platinum, and an18KY Yellow Gold, and an 18KW Round Diamond Three Stone Engagement Ring. There is a lot of variety with a three stone ring to include what gemstones and precious metal you decide to choose.
Vintage, Colored Gemstones and More.
Perhaps you are planning on passing down a family heirloom for your engagement ring, or you want to go with a colored gemstone, or a unique design. Featured below are an Oval Sapphire and Diamond Halo Ring in Platinum, an Old European Cut Diamond Antique Ring in Platinum, a 14K White Gold Diamond Cluster Halo Split Shank Ring.
There is no right or wrong answer to the gemstone, style, or engagement ring setting that you choose. There are many options available to suit everyone’s individual style and taste.
Find a Reputable Jeweler
After reading this blog and putting in your research, you should feel more comfortable knowing what diamond quality, precious metals, styles, and settings you want to consider when shopping for an engagement ring. Your next step is finding a reputable dealer at a local jewelry store.
Your jeweler can also help you select a wedding band to finish the ensemble. They can answer any questions you may have when you visit them in-store. They will help you find a high-quality ring that fits your budget to give you the perfect engagement ring you desire.
If you are in Scottsdale, let our professionals at E.D. Marshall Jewelers help you find the engagement and wedding rings of your dreams.