There are a few big purchases that you'll make in your life that need a bit more thought than just, "do I have enough money in my bank account." For instance, your first car, your home, and - if you plan on getting married - your engagement ring. Although it might seem like a simple transaction, a lot goes into purchasing "the ring". To help, we've put together a helpful list of things to consider before buying an engagement ring.
Your Budget
Before you even start looking at rings, you should have a general budget in mind. Although some couples hope for a proposal to be a total surprise, talking with your significant other about ring budget can help gauge what he/she is expecting vs. what you were hoping to spend. Many people follow what's called the "three month rule". Although this might be a perfectly fine number for some individuals, there really isn't a set dollar amount that you should be spending. Everyone and every situation is different and your budget should be specific to you and where you're at in life.
Once you have a good budget in mind, you should relay that number to your jeweler and talk with them about payment options. If you're working with a trusted diamond expert that wants the best for you and your partner, then he/she will not pressure you to go outside of your set budget. They will do what they can to find the perfect ring at your perfect price. They should also bring up the option of a payment plan. Many companies, such as affirm, will help you turn that large price tag amount into easy payments over a period of time. This can help ease the blow of such a large purchase.
The Style of The Ring
There are tons of different styles when it comes to engagement rings. From pear-shaped halos to princess cut solitaires, just the names of the diamond shapes and styles can be confusing. If you've been paying attention, your significant other might have flat out told you what type of ring she's hoping for. If that's not the case, we have a few tricks up our sleeves to help you out.
- Check to see if she has a Pinterest board. If she's pinned a certain type of ring over and over again, it's likely that she's hoping to see it on her left hand one day. Take note and show it to your jeweler.
- Talk with her friends and family. They might know something that you don't! Even if everyone has been left in the dark about what her dream ring is, you can all work together to eliminate what type of ring you think she wouldn't want...then narrow down your search from there.
- Ask to use her computer and see if she's being followed around by any diamond ring ads. If she's done any searching, they'll likely be remarketing her and you can benefit from the ads.
The Type of Stone
Although diamond rings are the most popular type of engagement ring stone, there are several diamond alternatives out there. Insiders tip: if she's interested in a stone (such as a ruby, emerald, opal, etc) that isn't a diamond, she's likely already mentioned it to you. If she hasn't, your safest bet is to go with a diamond. But, even in the diamond industry, there are alternatives to the "traditional" mined diamonds.
In recent years, the mined diamond industry has come under fire for the negative effects that the mining industry has on our earth and on their workers. Thankfully, scientists took note and figured out how to create a diamond in a lab - ultimately ending almost all ethical and environmental impact (if we want to get specific: producing 1ct of a mined diamond created nearly 100 sqft of disturbed land and almost 6000 lbs of mineral waste. Producing 1ct of a lab-grown diamond disrupt just 0.07 sqft of land and only 1 lb of mineral waste).
So, companies like Clean Origin were created to distribute these stunning, ethical, and environmentally friendly diamonds to the public. With the same chemical, physical and optical structure as a mined diamond, the difference between the two is simply the origin. Not to mention, Clean Origin diamonds are anywhere from 20-30% less expensive! So now, if your original budget was $5,000 for a mined diamond, you can get a lab-grown diamond at the same cost that's 20-30% larger!
So, do your research, make sure you know a good amount about the 4 c's of diamonds, and follow our helpful tips. In the end, you really just want a ring that represents the love you have for your partner.
