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The challenge of shopping for an engagement ring is experienced by every soon-to-be groom around the world. What ring do I get? Where do I buy from? How do I shop for an engagement ring? These are just a few of the many anxiety-inducing inquiries that fill your mind when browsing through hundreds of different diamond ring designs to choose from.
The help you need is here. These are all the important tips to minimize the stress of shopping for an engagement ring, help make this easier, and ultimately, fun to do.
Have a Budget in Mind
The first thing you need to consider when you plan to shop for an engagement ring is not the way it looks, but rather, to confirm what your budget for an engagement ring is. The purpose of this is to help you narrow down your search, and make it easier to do.
For example, you can Shop for 2 Carat engagement rings for a price range of $5000 to $6000. Having a budget in mind will shorten the time it takes for you to find a diamond ring, and will make the search for one a lot easier with a specific price range set.
Understand the 4 C’s of Diamonds
As soon as you begin asking questions about diamonds and their cost, you’ll be faced with the 4 C’s.
- Carat Weight – The weight (size) of a diamond
- Cut – The shape or the way the diamond is cut
- Clarity – The measure of how flawless or clean a diamond is
- Color Grading – The measure of how colorless a diamond is
The 4 C’s all affect the price and appearance of a diamond, and thus, an engagement ring. For example. The heavier the Carat weight is, the more expensive a diamond will be. The better the clarity of a diamond is, as well as the way it is cut, the more brilliant and beautiful it looks. Or the more colorless a diamond is, the higher its market value is.
Before you dive into a shopping spree for diamond rings, get a good understanding of the 4 C’s of diamonds as to not get confused when trying to make your purchase. The more you know, the easier it will be for you to make an informed and sound decision on what ring to buy.
Look for an “Eye Clean” Diamond
You don’t need the most perfect ring to get one that looks impeccable. A diamond that is completely flawless, colorless, and one that’s perfectly cut will cost you a fortune.
On the other hand, a diamond that has a few flaws, a slight color, and one that is not that perfect on paper, will cost you less, and might even look identical to a perfect diamond.
But how do you know what ring to buy?
The key is looking at the engagement ring with your naked eye. There’s a term used by jewelers that describes how a diamond looks to the naked eye. The term is “eye-clean”. This refers to an instance when a diamond has flaws and inclusions, but it can not be seen with the naked eye, therefore the ring looks flawless (despite the fact that it is not).
An eye-clean ring will cost significantly less than a perfectly clean diamond, but they will both look close to identical with one another.
Look at the Diamond Ring Under Good Lighting
If you’re looking to shop for an engagement ring at a store or online, you should ask to see the ring in good lighting conditions. This can be with the use of bright light or sunlight. This is important as you will be able to see the diamond and the ring at their best quality under a good light. And therefore, you’ll be able to judge the diamond yourself, if it is good enough to buy.
Pro Tip: If you are shopping online, you can always ask the jeweler if they can take a long video of the ring moving in all angles, under good lighting. This is because a photo can be very deceiving. But with a video, you can get a far better look at a diamond ring, for as long as it is under good lighting.
Read Online Reviews Before Buying
The worse mistake you can make is buying the perfect ring but finding out that the quality of the piece of jewelry, or the service provided by the shop, is far below par and not worth the money. The best way to avoid making a mistake like this is to read online reviews.
Nowadays, all businesses rely on their customer’s feedback. In the diamond and jewelry industry, the reputation of jewelers relies heavily on their customer’s reviews and testimonials You can get a good idea of what to expect from the products and services of a business, from what their previous customers say about them.
Tips for reading online reviews:
- Read recent/up-to-date reviews
- Check that the reviews are written by real people
- Read through more than 20 customer reviews
- Read both negative and positive reviews
Get a good idea of what to expect from a shop, and who you can trust with your engagement ring purchase, by evaluating the overall experiences of previous shoppers.
Take Your Time Doing Your Research
As exciting as it may be to shop for an engagement ring, don’t let yourself rush the process. Take your time doing your research. Compare different jewelers, the rings they offer, and the prices. This will give you the opportunity to find the right ring, at the price that you are most comfortable with.
The more time you spend doing your research, the less likely you are to make the mistake of getting the wrong engagement ring. It will be unfortunate if after you have bought a ring, you discover a better, more affordable option. This designated time for research will help you confirm that the diamond ring you choose, will be the best one.
Ask for the Warranty and the Return Policy
To be on the safe side, it’s always a good idea to ask for a warranty or return policy. This is to guarantee that you have the option to have your ring repaired if something does happen to it, or that you can return it if need be.
Most diamond jewelers offer a lifetime warranty and a reasonable return policy. It’s important to ask about this before you buy a ring. Ask what is required from you. For example, to have a ring repaired or returned, you’ll need to provide the diamond’s certification.
Conclusion: Slow Down and Shop
Having a budget set, and understanding all the factors that go into the value of a diamond ring, will make shopping for one easier. Taking your time doing research and reading online reviews will guarantee that you buy the right ring from the right jeweler. When you shop for an engagement ring, slow down and give yourself the time to find the perfect ring, for the exact budget you are looking for.
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