Lately it seems like everyone around me has been getting engaged. But as we know, in order to do so, guys… you need a ring… and not just any ring, you need a GREAT ring. So how do you know which ring to buy?
Know her Ring Size. Duh.
Have your Price Point. Everyone has their own opinion on this, but the rule of thumb says that you should spend approximately 3 months of salary on a ring. So if you make $50,000 a year, you should be spending around $11,000 - $13,000.
Shape vs. Cut. Know the shape she likes. There are several to choose from, but the most popular are Princess and Round. If you are on a budget, you may want to opt for princess shape, with a ‘good’ cut, which is not the most brilliant cut, but above average.
Color and Clarity. Guys, I know the size is what most of us ladies look for, but trust me, a big cloudy diamond has nothing on a slightly smaller, clear diamond. For the best value, choose a colorless or near-colorless diamond that has no noticeable color, which are grades D-J. For the clarity of the diamond, look for VVS (Very Very Slight), VS (Very Slight) or SI1 (Slight Imperfection) diamonds. Anything less than an SI1 will show imperfections visible to the naked eye. Guys, we DO NOT want that!
Carat (Size). Personally, I want at least a 2 carat diamond, but this isn’t about me. LOL! Ok, so… here are the tips. If your girl wants a 2 carat like me, you can potentially get a 1.97 carat (for example), that looks like a 2 carat, but it will be significantly less expensive. Also, ask the jeweler to show you his 2 carat diamonds that meet your criteria (shape, cut, color and clarity), then take a look at the base of the diamond (butt) and determine which diamond has a smaller butt. This will mean that the weight is on the surface, which gives the diamond the appearance of being larger as well. Was that too much to comprehend? Just tell the jeweler you want a slim ass! LOL
Additional Tips:
a. Princess shaped diamonds have more surface area, which makes the diamond appear larger.
b. If the diamond is smaller than you want, you can get a slimmer band to make the diamond appear larger.
c. If you want diamonds to go around the band of the ring, don’t have them on the bottom of the band, you cannot see them anyway.
d. Never go to a designer store like Tiffany’s. Find a good jeweler (usually by word of mouth) and chances are, they can duplicate the same ring or better for at least 25% less. Then you will have more money to upgrade the diamond :)!
I hope this helps you understand diamonds and how to shop for rings. BlueNile.com is a great read for more information. Happy engagement!
AskHeatherG
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