In the market for an engagement ring? Congratulations! Not only is it a big step to find “the one,” it’s an even bigger step to find the ring. Although it may seem overwhelming, it is a lot easier than you think. And, contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a beautiful ring. Wondering how? Here are the top 3 ways you can maximize the bang for your buck.
Know the C’s Of Diamond Buying
The 4 C’s of diamond buying are important to know before going into a jewelry store. They are what categorize different rings according to their value. The categories are Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat. The word “cut” does not mean square, oval, or circle. This term refers to how shallow or deep the diamond is cut. If it is cut with perfect precision, it allows the light to bounce off of the facets perfectly so that it sparkles. “Color” means how much color is in the diamond. A perfect diamond is completely colorless, and the price goes down as depending on how much of a yellow-ish tint there is to the diamond. “Clarity” means how clear the diamond is. If it is free of dark spots, (called ‘inclusions’ in the jewelry world) it will cost more because of it’s clarity rating. “Carat” simply means how big the diamond is. The average carat weight for a center stone on an engagement ring is around 0.5 carats.
Find A Trustworthy Jeweler
You will save a surprising amount of dough just by who you choose to buy from. There are jewelers who will absolutely take advantage of the fact that you are a first-time buyer. You can lessen the likelihood of that by doing your research beforehand, shopping around, and doing business with a professional, trustworthy jeweler. Find one that listens to your wants and needs, talks to you honestly about the values, and never pressures you to buy. It exists!
Choosing To Splurge Or Save
You have to know where you are willing to compromise and where you are willing to splurge. For instance, is it more important to you to have a large center stone than to have an actual diamond? Or is the most important thing to you the setting that the stone is in? A popular recommendation is to never compromise on cut. Having a bad cut means that it doesn’t sparkle, and that is obvious. Sometimes having a slightly included, colored ring is not visible to the naked eye but still gives you a big price break.
Just by reading these tips you’re on the right track. Ending up with a new, beautiful diamond ring is closer than you think!
