The Engagement Ring Buying Guide Simplified

Have you found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with? Are you thinking about getting engaged? This is a monumental decision for anyone, and a moment many spend hours thinking about. When popping the question to your special someone, there is nothing more important than the ring next to the answer.

While this buying process might come naturally to some, it can be filled with frustration and worry for others. "Will she love the ring? Did I pick out the right one?" These and many more questions might come to mind. In this article, we'll go over the considerations you should make when buying an engagement ring for your 'hopefully' soon-to-be spouse. For even more in-depth resources for buying an engagement ring, visit ExecutiveIce.

Learning Your Partner's Taste

Every person has a preference for what type of ring suits them. One person may prefer princess cut diamonds with a huge center stone, while others prefer more dainty rings that appear more feminine or antique. Finding out what your partner's ring preference maybe isn't as difficult as you may think. Look at jewelry that they currently wear; this will give you some indication of metals that they may like. Some prefer gold While others like white gold, well, even more, may prefer something like platinum.

If your partner currently doesn't wear much jewelry, you may enlist help from their family or friends. They may creatively figure out what your partner may like. To ascertain what her ideal ring maybe, you'll need to answer these questions.

-What style is more her own? Vintage, modern, flashy, tasteful?

-What is her metal preference? Gold, Silver, Platinum, Titanium

-What color metal does she prefer? White Gold, Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum

-Is there a stone preference? Diamonds, Sapphires, Ruby, etc

-Is there a preference for the shape of the stones? Princess, Square, Marquise, Circle, Pear, etc.

How Much Should You Spend?

The question of how much to spend always comes up when it comes to engagement rings. Most who are doing the asking are worried that they're not going to spend enough or that the ring may be too far out of their budget. Planning early is the best way to ensure you have enough money for the ring. Consider options such as financing or layaway, if possible. This will allow you to put money down each week or month towards the purchase cost. Some jewelry stores offer this feature just for this particular purpose.

When it comes to the actual dollar amount, don't spend too much. While it may be suggested that you spend what you make in 3 months, you shouldn't feel the need to follow this guideline. Don't go into extreme debt over the ring. If your soon-to-be spouse has expensive tastes, you may have to plan accordingly. This means saving more money from each paycheck or enlisting financing help. Ultimately, the budget on a ring will be dictated by two factors; the financial budget and the partner's taste.

Remember the 4 C's When Diamond Shopping

Some may argue that having a bigger stone is what it's all about, but it's really hard to deny a beautiful, flawless diamond. Many jewelers will advise that choosing the best quality stone is perhaps more important than sheer size. It's essential to keep in mind the C's when shopping for the perfect center stone.

Cut-

While many people may associate the cut with the shape of the diamond, like round, cushion, or princess, it actually refers to the diamond’s proportions. The cut of the diamond, including the polish, is the most substantial factor for pricing a diamond. There are five cut grades, Excellent (EX), Very Good (VG), Good (G), Fair (F), and Poor (P).

Carat-

The carat refers to the size of the stone. This could be from 1.4 carats to many carats. The larger the carat, the bigger the diamond.

Color-

In most cases, you're going to want a colorless diamond. As a rule of thumb, a diamond with a grade D is the best color but extremely expensive. Those with a grade of I are acceptable and considered ideal for circle cut diamonds.

Clarity-

Clarity refers to if there are any imperfections in the stone. When magnified, you might see tiny cracks or scratches in the stone. This can affect the overall appearance and shine of the stone. All stones have what is known as 'birthmarks.' Clarity simply refers to the degree at which they are present.