How to select an engagement ring

How to select an engagement ring

With 4 steps

Shopping for an engagement ring does not ought to be a dreadful experience. With the correct quantity of information concerning what to seem for in a ring, in addition to your excitement about asking the lady of your dreams to marry you, this will be an enjoyable exercise matching your recently discovered ring experience with the cash you have got obtainable to pay. during this article, you may learn the foremost necessary things to contemplate when selecting an engagement ring for the one you love. See Step one to get on your way to selecting the right ring for your bride to be.

Choose an engagement ring" tips & warnings

Planning to purchase the most effective Ring

1

Peek through her current jewelry to see her general preferences. selecting a ring could be a tricky proposition -- you would like to get anything she loves, however conjointly keep it a surprise. the most effective way to do that is to envision what different rings and jewelry she likes to wear. you do not need to be an professional in jeweler. Instead, keep your eye out for the following trends:

Style: will she like colorful, vivacious items or tasteful, austere, and traditional styles?

Color: What color stones will she appear to gravitate towards? will she lean towards color, or will she usually keep things simple in whites, silvers, and golds?

Bands: The band is that the metal holding stones in place. does she aim for silver, gold, or white? Or is she inquisitive about funkier, more out-there styles and materials?

Size: how huge are the stones or items on most of her jewelry? will she like smaller, more invisible jewels or big and flashy rings?

2

Use hints, family, and friends to tease out ideas for potential engagement rings. Even if you take good notes on her current jewelry, many women have particular ideas about their perfect engagement rings. As you get closer to the big question, consider:

Making a comment about a friend's engagement ring and to ask her preferences at the same time. You can say something like, "I think Mary's engagement ring was a bit flashy. What do you think?"

Asking her family and friends for ideas. Has she talked to them about rings or jewels that she likes?

Determining her stance on diamonds. Is she an impassioned supporter of Fair Trade and human rights? Be sure to look for recycled gold and conflict-free diamonds as part of your choosing process.

3

Talk to her about alternative stones if you don't think she is interested in diamonds. Diamonds account for almost 90% of all engagement rings sold, but they aren't your only option. Many people, put off by illegal "blood diamonds," the low intrinsic value of diamonds, (which companies artificially inflate), and the relative commonness of a diamond ring have decided on alternative stones. You could consider:

Sapphire: The bright blue stone is the second most common for engagement rings.

Emeralds: Bright green, you want to probably make sure she's into the color before buying.

Colored Diamonds: Yes, it is still a diamond, but yellow, black, and rose-tinted diamonds give a unique flair to the ring while still staying somewhat traditional.

4

Consider buying the "real ring" along, obtaining engaged 1st. once you are spending such a lot cash on a ring, you wish to form certain she'll love it. more and additional frequently, men are proposing while not a ring, or with a simple engagement band, then buying the particular ring as a couple. This ensures that she gets the ring she desires while not all the pressure of choosing something so high-priced by yourself. Guys do not commonly get jewelry and are usually less equipped to tell a woman's taste. so just work together!

Choose an engagement ring" tips & warnings

Selecting the Band

1

Choose the right metal for the band. The band is the circular part of the ring that sits around the finger. It's usually made from gold, silver, or platinum, although it can be made from some other combination of metals. Note that, since metals rub and wear on one another, you should only wear rings of the same metal next to each other. Look at her existing jewelry collection to get an idea of what she prefers, differentiating from the three most common metals:

Gold is yellow-orange in its natural state and is normally alloyed with another metal for durability. Some prefer the lighter yellow color of less pure gold such as 14K or 10K, as the yellow reflection will slightly tint the diamond.

White gold is gold alloyed with metals purposely to give the mixture an off-white color, it and must be plated with another metal--rhodium is common--for a bright silvery appearance. This plating wears off -- but some jewelers will replace their rings from time to time for free if you ask in advance.

Platinum is hard, strong and naturally silvery, but will dull slightly over time with wear, which is not necessarily a problem. Since a gold setting will make a diamond look very slightly yellowish, it is a waste of money to buy a very high color grade diamond to put in it.

Silver is less common, but also less expensive. It is usually alloyed with something else to hold strength and shine

2

Choose the correct style band for your partner, from recent and funky to straightforward and traditional. Once you recognize the correct metal, you continue to have some choices with the band. you frequently have a unclear variety of decisions -- from classic, plain bands to twisted, wrapped, or alternative distinctive band styles.

• Do you wish different stones inset into the band or simply metal?
• Do you desire a thick band showing off a lot of stones/metal, or a thin band?

3

Consider the "setting," or how the stone will be set in the band. The setting refers to the piece that holds the gemstone in place on the band. The setting can be "pronged" or "invisible". A setting with a bezel, or at least six prongs for some redundancy, is safer for a ring that is worn during significant activity, though some women may prefer less metal in the way of their stone.

4

Choose the right size. Choosing the ring size of the band is an important part of choosing the right engagement ring. One way you can figure out her ring size is by sneaking out one of the rings she wears a lot to have a jeweler figure out the size -- as long as she doesn't have time to miss it. If you can't get a ring out, try:

• Tracing the inside of the ring on a piece of paper, then using that for sizing.
• Placing the ring on your finger, then marking with pen or sharpie how far up it slides.

Choose an engagement ring" tips & warnings

Choosing a Quality Diamond Ring

1

Know your diamonds. Diamonds tend to be the traditional engagement ring choice because they are enduring and match everything. Only deviate from a diamond if you know that your girlfriend loves another stone much, much more, or has voiced her intense dislike of diamonds. When choosing a diamond, be aware of the following 4 C's of diamonds.

• Cut
• Carats
• Color
• Clarity

2

Choose the right cut, or shape, of the diamond. There are different ways to cut a diamond and the type of cut impacts a diamond's sparkle. The cut that produces the most sparkle is the "round" (or "brilliant") cut, while "radiant" and "princess" cuts are good at hiding flaws. Other cuts include "square," "emerald," "pear," "marquise," "cushion," "Asscher," and heart-shaped. The oval shape looks best with larger stones, and as it looks bigger than the round cut. A high-quality cut is more important than weight or an extremely high clarity or color grade: a diamond, like a road reflector, shines light back out the direction it came in and breaks it up a bit in the process.

• It is also important to base your selection of diamonds based on objective data such as ASET or Ideal scope images that you can acquire from your jeweler. This is particularly important if you are buying a diamond engagement ring online

3

Use "karats" to determine the weight or general size. Karats refer to the unit measurement of the diamond, and refers to weight, rather than size. Karats are broken down into 100 ‘points’, which are essentially a measurement of the percentage of a karat that a diamond is. For example, if a diamond is 75 pt then it is 75%, or 0.75 of a karat. Higher karat ratings generally mean larger diamonds and are more expensive.

4

Consider if you want a clear or colored diamond. The color of diamonds varies considerably and most people prefer a white colored diamond for an engagement ring. Colors are graded from D (colorless and rare) and most good quality diamonds will be around F and H. However, all grades from D to I are almost identical when mounted.

• In general, stay away from any diamonds that are below an H grade in color, as they are noticeably yellow.

5

Keep an eye on the diamond's clarity. Because diamonds are formed naturally, there are imperfections in nearly all diamonds. These are known as ‘inclusions’ and come from tiny impurities being present when the diamond was formed, millions of years ago. The fewer imperfections, the greater the clarity and the more light is reflected from the diamond, causing it to "sparkle". Naturally, more clarity increases its value. Perfectly flawless diamonds with no internal flaws or surface blemishes are very hard to find as they are extremely rare.

The scale used to grade clarity goes from F 1 for a flawless diamond, to VVS 1 and VVS 2 for very slight inclusions, to VS 1 and VS 2 for very slight inclusions, SI 1 and S I 2 for slight inclusions and I 1, I 2 and I 3 for imperfect diamonds.

Diamonds are magnified by 10 times to judge their clarity so very slight imperfections are difficult to see with the naked eye. This means that there is a range of diamonds available even for more modest budgets. If you can see a mark without magnification, however, think carefully before you buy.

6

Don't forget about the practicality of the ring. If your girlfriend is a real outdoorsy type, consider a ring that is able to cope with the wear and tear of constant activities. The higher the positioning of the gemstone on the ring, the easier it is for it to get caught on clothes, gear, hair, etc. and the greater likelihood that it'll get knocked about. Look for a lower gemstone setting for an active girl, and a higher setting for a fashionista or glamour woman.

Choose an engagement ring" tips & warnings"

purchasing the Ring

1

Fix your budget in advance. There is a tradition that holds that a man should spend two months of his salary on the engagement ring, but this is a foolish, baseless rule. You should by the best ring you can afford without going into debt, setting a budget early on and working from there. Some ways to save money without sacrificing quality include:

• Stay just shy of common karat sizes, like 1 or 2 karats. A 1.9 karat stone is not noticeably different, but can save you as much as 20%.
• Aim for a wider cut, which can make a smaller stone look bigger.
• Check out antique stones and rings instead of buying a brand new piece -- it has flavor, uniqueness, and can be much cheaper price.

2

Choose a good jeweler, considering online sources as well. Look for a store that makes you feel comfortable and where the staff is pleasant and helpful. If you can, check that the jeweler is registered with a society, association, or organization that regulates, certifies, etc., jewelers, such as the National Association of Goldsmiths in the UK. Furthermore, don't be afraid of online jewelers -- you can save as much as 100% compared to a chain like Kay's:

• Ask around your married friends or your family for recommendations on a good, trusted jeweler.
• An online jeweler such as James Allen, Harry George or Blue Nile can be a good option if you're willing to accept a little less "hand-holding" for a better price. Be sure to check that the jeweler has a strong online reputation before purchasing by searching "(Name of online jeweler) + Reviews" on Google.

3

Ask for a certificate of authenticity and a warranty to accompany the ring. Certificates are very useful to collect with a diamond to find out exactly where they originated from. They are usually only available with the purchase of diamonds larger or at 1 karat. For smaller diamonds, a certificate adds a considerable amount to the cost of the stone, as you may end up paying an extra several hundred dollars or pounds to obtain one.

• For more expensive rings, a certificate is a near necessity to ensure your valuable new stone retains it's worth.

4

Get the ring insured. The ring is probably going to be the foremost high-ticket piece of bijou you've got ever bought, and therefore the costliest piece of jewelry your groom-to-be has ever worn. to forestall her from losing it to appraisal and insurance once she's simply obtaining accustomed carrying it, get it all done before you pop the question. make sure to envision that your insurance covers its loss, or ask for insurance from the jeweler's store if offered.


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