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Engagement Buying Guide
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Though it’s a strange cultural contradiction that men are responsible for selecting the single most important piece of jewelry that a woman will wear, it can be a surprisingly rewarding experience. There is a lot to know when shopping for a diamond engagement ring, and since most men have little or no knowledge of jewelry, we have assembled this guide to help out in this process.
The first step in the process is to become familiar with the “Four C’s” of diamonds. Our “Diamond Education” section can get you up to speed on this information. Once you feel that you have a good grasp on the various components of a diamond, you’ll need to consider some other matters.
SURPRISE
Would she want to help choose the ring, or should you surprise her? Though this can be a tough decision to make, here are some questions that can help:
Is her taste very particular?
Are you good at guessing her style?
Is she a take charge kind of girl, or does she prefer for you to make decisions?
Ultimately, the majority of women want a proposal to be a surprise, which means that you will need to do some covert research. Talk to other women that she is close to like her mom, sisters, or best friends. They should be able to give you some good pointers about what type of ring will be best.
BUDGET
The question of how much money you need to devote to your engagement ring purchase has no concrete answer. While it’s common to suggest allocating approximately 2 months worth of income, the decision ultimately depends on your particular circumstance. Our best advice on this issue is to keep in mind is that this is the most important piece of jewelry she will own, and it is a symbol of your love and devotion.
WHITE OR COLORED DIAMOND
White diamond engagement rings are a long standing tradition, and it’s hard to go wrong with this classic choice. However, there are some women who prefer to express their individuality with a natural fancy colored diamond. In general, if she hasn’t specifically mentioned that she wants a colored diamond, it’s best to stick with a white diamond.
HEARTS ON FIRE
There are a variety of premium diamond cuts available, but only one company has earned the legal right to call their diamonds “The world’s most perfectly cut”-and with good reason. Hearts On Fire’s diamonds provide superior light performance, which means that their level of sparkle, fireburst and scintillation is unmatched. If you are searching for a truly extraordinary diamond, Hearts On Fire should definitely be on your list. Our concierge jewelry specialists are available to answer any questions that you have about these dazzling diamonds.
SHAPE
Though round diamonds are by far the most popular, there are a wide range of shapes available. It’s hard to go wrong with a round diamond, but it’s worth checking into other shapes to see if there’s something else that suits her taste.
DIAMOND CERTIFICATION
Diamond grading institutions such as GIA, AGS and EGL provide an independent source of information on diamonds. The majority of loose diamonds are sent to one or more of these laboratories to be independently evaluated and certified. A diamond certificate will detail the color, clarity, carat weight and cut of the diamond.
WHITE DIAMOND COLOR
White diamonds come in a range of “color” grades with colorless at one end of the spectrum and light yellow at the opposite end.
CLARITY
Diamonds and other gemstones usually have some degree of natural imperfections within their structure. Clarity grading details the number and type of imperfections present in a diamond.
CARAT WEIGHT
Carat weight is a measurement used for gemstones and describes the mass of a gemstone. Carat weight also provides a rough estimate of a diamond’s diameter.
MOUNTING
As the showpiece of the ring, the center diamond receives the majority of attention, but selecting the right mounting is important too. Every woman has their own preference from estate styles to modern designs, and there are countless mountings to choose from.
One idea that is popular with customers who plan on a surprise engagement is to select a basic mounting. This allows you to focus your budget on the diamond, and then select a remount at a later date with her input. A common anniversary gift is to remount an engagement diamond into a new ring mounting.
WEDDING BANDS
Oftentimes, customers will choose to purchase their wedding bands a few months before their wedding ceremony. However, it’s important to consider whether you would like to have a matching engagement and wedding ring set. If you do, then it’s usually a good idea to at least research the wedding band at the time that you purchase your engagement ring. You’ll need to make sure that a matching band is available and if so, if it can be ordered separately.
PLAN AHEAD
It’s typical for an engagement ring to take 4-6 weeks to put together. Finding the perfect center diamond can also take some time. We suggest that you give yourself around 2 months of lead time when shopping for an engagement ring.
If you would like assistance in selecting an engagement ring design and center diamond, our concierge jewelry specialists are available to help. Please contact us to begin your search for the perfect engagement ring.
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