Do you hear wedding bells?
So you’ve been in that perfect relationship for a while. You’ve been hinting at the future and he’s receiving you loud and clear. Time to make a little “showcase”. After all, you don’t want to leave one of the most important decisions of your life in his hands, do you? You will lose sleep over finding that perfect engagement ring, even though you won’t admit it. So why not help him out a bit, guide him, and guide him?
There are so many options when it comes to buying engagement rings and you and he will hear a lot of advice from many “helpful” people. Your “Uncle Charlie” will meet a guy who knows another. Your sister will tell you that you have to get your ring where she got hers. Your coworker will tell you about this really cool website. And so on, there will be tips on every corner.
Let’s go over some of the available options and identify the pros and cons of each. This should help both of you figure out which is the best option for you.
Your local jewelry:
Definitely a great place to start. A jewelry store will have a small selection of pre-set engagement rings for you to see in person and try on. If you meet a helpful sales associate who is willing to spend time with you and explain all the nuances of diamond shopping, it will be well worth your time.
PROS
See the diamond in person. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing diamonds sparkle on your finger!
Talk to a knowledgeable human being and get answers to face-to-face questions.
CONS
Limited selection. Most local jewelry stores do not have the financial resources to have a large inventory of diamonds. However, many stores work with vendors who can ship merchandise to them on a memo (such as consignment) if they have a customer looking for a particular diamond.
Price. You will pay more at a jeweler, period. Sure you can try to negotiate and feel like you got a better price, but a jeweler will not sell you that diamond for less than a substantial profit. Most jewelers need to make a “key” marking on each item, which is double what they paid for that diamond. This margin covers the high overhead costs of running a store, including insurance, rent, and sales commissions.
Antique stores:
If you are looking for a ring that is truly unique, this is the place for you. You will have to do some work and visit many different stores to see what is available, but it could be worth it in the long run.
PROS
Most likely, you will find a unique ring. If you have the need to be an original, stick with your search and you will find that proverbial “diamond in the rough.”
CONS
Unless you are lucky, wait a long search. You may only find a handful, if any, in the stores you visit.
Most rings will not have any type of certification or appraisal. Unless you know a lot about diamond grading, you may be very easily taken advantage of.
The Internet
The Holy Grail and the Abyss of information all wrapped up in one. By far, you’ll find the largest selection of diamonds and engagement rings here, but that can be quite overwhelming. Start with the basics and work your way through this checklist.
1. Shape: Diamonds are cut in the 10 most common shapes, but there are many other “designer” shapes that appear in the industry on a regular basis. Most of the shapes are self explanatory (round, oval, pear, heart), but do you know what a marquise or radiant looks like? Take a look at the most commonly available diamond shapes and decide which one you like best.
2. Size: the bigger the better, right? Not necessarily. Unless your fiancé has very deep pockets, you won’t get a 5 carat rock to weigh. Too many men are convinced that it has to be great. Would you like to have a big ugly rock that is dull and lifeless in your hand, just so you can tell everyone it’s 3 carats, or would you rather have a beautiful, bright beacon of light that catches the eye of all your friends? You won’t have to wave your hand in front of them to realize, they will come to you!
3. The 4 Cs: the most common phrase in the diamond business and the most important when buying a diamond online. The 4 C’s represent the cut, color, clarity, and carat weight of a diamond. CUTTING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF A DIAMOND’S FIRE AND BRIGHTNESS. Many people who buy diamonds focus on color and clarity, and that cut is often overlooked. You can spend a fortune buying a diamond of impeccable clarity and perfect color (white), but if it is poorly cut, it will look dull and lifeless.
4. The Mouting Metal – This is basically a matter of personal preference and what looks best on you. Yellow gold is classic and works best for a solitaire engagement ring. Yellow gold is also better for setting diamonds with a lower color grade (yellowish tint), because the yellow in the diamond mixes with the setting. White gold and platinum give a modern look and work best with three stone rings. Be sure to choose a diamond with a high color grade, otherwise the white bite will negatively emphasize a yellowish diamond.
5. The Online Engagement Ring Builder: The most fun part of buying a diamond online is being able to build your own ring. Pick a diamond and setting, then email it to your fiancé. Even if you don’t buy it online, you will know exactly what style to look for when shopping. No surprises and everyone happy!
There are hundreds of diamond and jewelry websites, but my advice is to stick with the leaders in the field. The two main players are Blue Nile and Mondera. On their sites, you can explore thousands of diamonds, as well as build your own engagement ring and see what different settings look like with different shaped diamonds. They both have highly trained and very friendly customer service staff who can answer questions about diamonds and settings, and offer a 100% risk-free return policy and guarantee.
You can also browse our site for weekly diamond price updates and a more in-depth diamond education. We also maintain a searchable database of diamonds from leading online jewelers so you can compare similar diamonds from multiple sources.
Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!