The task of buying an engagement ring is not as easy as one might think. You can ask my brother what hell he had to go through just to find the best engagement ring for my sister-in-law. But of course, all the hard work was worth it when he heard her say ‘YES’ after asking ‘Will you marry me, my love?’
For those who have finally decided to propose to their girlfriend, you surely would want everything to be perfect, from the venue of the proposal up to the engagement ring. However, with a great number of engagement rings available in the market, you can’t help but ask yourself how do you pick the right one?
To help those who are buying engagement rings for the first time, here is a simple but very useful step-by-step guide on how to buy an engagement ring.
Step 1: Know what kind and style of jewelry your future wife likes.
If you are to ask me, I would suggest that you bring your girlfriend with you when you purchase the engagement ring. By doing so, you can easily take the pressure off your shoulders since you are certain that the ring that you will purchase is something that she really likes. However, if you are anything like my brother who happens to love the idea of surprises, then you can seek the assistance of friends and relatives to help you find out what kind of ring your soon-to-be-wife would like to have on her finger (without her suspecting anything). My brother asked for my assistance to help him spot the best engagement ring. Since I am close to my sister-in-law I easily got intel on the style of jewelry she wears as well as the metal color that suits her best.
Step 2: Search for a well-known and reputable jewelry store.
Once you know what kind of ring she prefers and will look good on her, your next task is to locate the shop where you should purchase it. You can ask recommendations from your married friends for great jewelry shops selling stylish and reasonably-priced engagement rings.
Step 3: Consider your budget and know how much is too much.
Engagement rings can be expensive but you can also find those that fall right within your budget if you take time to shop around. There is really no set formula as to how much one should spend when buying an engagement ring. Basically, how much you spend for the ring will largely depend on your available financial resources. If money is not an issue, then go for the lavish designer engagement rings. You can even have one custom made but of course know that this will cost you a lot of money. Meanwhile, if you are a bit on the frugal side, there are engagement rings that are priced around a couple of hundred dollars, though they may not be as lavish and elegant-looking as designer rings they definitely have their own charms.
Your budget will also dictate what kind of stone the ring will have. Most would prefer diamonds but there are cheaper alternatives like aquamarine, topaz and sapphire stones. However, if your soon-to-be-wife is a sucker for diamonds, like most women, then you have no other choice but to go for a diamond engagement ring. Other considerations that will likely affect the ring’s price include the stone’s clarity, color, carat and cut.
Here’s a great video explaining the 4 C’s which determine a diamond’s grade.