Tips for Buying the Perfect Engagement Ring

Photo: This is Feeling Photography

Go buy yourself a ring, even seven, just because you want to, says Arianna Grande in her song “7 Rings.” After all, wearing rings can make anyone feel extra special and treasured. And the delectable choices — oh my — so many are drool-worthy. 

Yet, if you’re the type who looks beyond the present and always racks up ways to save up for the future, you need to give yourself a really good excuse to indulge. Now is that perfect time — your engagement! 

As you approach the next blissful phase of your life, you know you need to manage your money better. Consider these gems of advice on being financially prudent while still finding that perfect engagement ring to fall in love with over and over again. 

Photo: Kashya Photography

I can see clearly now 

Having a financial plan for your wedding — and for the rest of your life — will probably be one of the best decisions that you will ever make. Oh, wait, what has that got to do with anything when all you want is to look for an engagement ring. The answer? A lot. 

Your engagement ring stands for forever, a forever relationship with your future lifetime partner, and an eternity of decision-making and planning. Why not start it off on the right foot by discussing possibly sensitive issues off the bat. And money matters can easily land among the top five on that list. Discuss with your future spouse what your dreams and priorities are. Put them in writing to help secure them in your mind. Decide which ones are the non-negotiables and which ones are the nice-to-haves. What are your investment strategies? Do you intend to retire early? 

Once you've worked out all these questions, it would be a great idea to talk to a financial advisor. Talking to a professional can help ensure sound financial advice and helps guarantee that you’ve got everything covered. It can also help you make that firm commitment to stick to your long-term plans and short-term goals, including how much to spend on your engagement event and wedding day. 

Diamonds are forever

Checking in with your financial planner can initially take a bit of fun out of your jewelry shopping, but this can save you from needless worrying as you browse the stores. With a clear spend amount in mind, you can freely focus, for instance, on how to buy a diamond engagement ring, instead of wondering if you can afford to. 

Now, if diamonds really are your bling of choice (Marilyn did say they were a girl’s best friend), consider the 4 C’s: carat, cut, clarity, and color to make sure you get your money’s worth. 

Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. A heavier-carat diamond can be diminutive when compared to lesser-carat ice. A carat (equivalent to 20 grams) helps determine the price of a diamond, but it is not the sole determinant. 

Cut talks about how well the surfaces, or facets of the diamond, reflect the light. Regardless of carats, if a diamond isn't cut well, its beauty and brilliance are not optimized. To make sure this doesn't happen, jewelers need to know the ratio of the diameter to the depth of the diamond (aren’t you missing your grade school math teacher now?). Several popular cuts can bring out the sparkle of any raw diamond. The top choice, which can also bring the peak price, is the round brilliant. Aside from its symmetrical shape that can deliver the highest volume of light return, the timeless beauty of its classic shape also makes it highly valued. You can also opt for more affordable cuts, such as the emerald and Asscher cuts, which will still be as dazzling on your delicate bridal hands.

Clarity is all about the purity of the stone when seen under 10-power magnification. A diamond with a high clarity grading has the lowest number of imperfections or “birthmarks” that can interfere with the flow of light. The interference makes the diamond less brilliant. For less visible imperfections, look for a clarity grade of V S2 or higher if your diamond is over two carats.

Color is the natural hue of a diamond. For white diamonds, those with the highest values are nearly colorless (G, H, I, and J grades). The opposite is true for colored diamonds, the value of which increases the more intense the colors are. 

Photography: Maddie Blecha Photography

Kaleidoscope

If ice is less your style, then there is good news for you! There are plenty of gemstone choices that can also bring bling to your engagement and wedding parties. Aside from diamonds, you can consider other precious stones such as rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. And yes, they can also come with a hefty price tag. But not to worry. Aside from checking back on the 4Cs (they apply to all gemstones), you can perhaps take a look at semi-precious stones that can be as elegant and also as colorful. 

All other gemstones that are not any of the four precious stones are considered semi-precious stones. While semi-precious stones can be a misnomer ( some semi-precious stones are even more highly valued than precious stones), there are affordable ones that can help you stick to your engagement ring budget. Some of these are Amethyst, Jasper, Turquoise, and Rose Quartz. How cool is it to have your birthstone encrusted on your engagement band? 

Photo: Caitlin Lisa Photography

Right in front of you

The exquisite array of diamonds and other gemstones can indeed be the stuff of wedding dreams. Do you know one smart way to get hold of your jeweled visions while still keeping them within your spending threshold? Cash in on that wedding tradition of “something old, something blue!” Are you one of those fortunate brides-to-be whose loved ones (hello, mom and grandma!) cherish that wedding maxim? Then you can save a great deal of money by resizing and repurposing their vintage baubles! Though this technically isn’t a “buying” tip, the shopping money you can save can be used to customize pre-loved treasures to your heart’s content. 

Not only will their precious antique gems be one-of-a-kind pieces, but you also get to honor your loved ones when you include a part of them on that most special of days, your wedding. It can also give them that unspoken assurance that their keepsakes — and the memories attached to them — will be taken great care of and deeply valued, even in your lifetime.  

Photo: Shannon Lee Photo

Stunning ring photography by the following talented individuals, by order of appearance in slide reel:

Brittan Runnels Photography
Karen Shoulfer Photography
Alaina Lindenfeld Photography x3
Shannon Lee Photo
Caitlin Lisa Photography
Maddie Blecha Photography
Sandra Armenteros Photography

Article written by: Sophia Young with Sophia Young Content Studio