Purchasing an engagement ring has the potential to be a major purchase. Just the thought of buying someone an engagement ring can bring up a lot of questions. Here’s a look at some of the most popular questions that pop up during the purchasing process.
How Much Should an Engagement Ring Cost?
One of the first things you should do when thinking about buying an engagement ring is to set a budget. It will allow you to stay on track and only look at rings that you can afford. In 2015, the average amount spent on an engagement ring was $5,273. While you may want to spend a lot on the ring, it’s important not to put yourself in too much debt. Some say that you need to spend two or three months pay on a ring, but this is no longer the case. This idea came from a marketing campaign from De Beers in the 1930s when the depression was hurting their sales. These days men have steered away from following the three-month salary rule.
Where Should I Buy an Engagement Ring?
When looking to buy a wedding ring you have a few options. You can go to a franchise jewelry store, a local jeweler, an online jeweler, or even an antique shop. Each of the options have pros and cons, so it’s best to look into each and figure out what’s best for you. Purchasing an engagement ring online can potentially save you hundreds, but some may prefer to have the face-to-face interaction and hold the ring before they hand over the cash.
When Do I Purchase the Band?
Some engagement rings may have a matching band that goes perfectly with the engagement ring, while others would look great with any kind of band. Consider what you think your future fiancé would want to do. She may like the idea of shopping for wedding bands together and picking out a band that matches the beautiful ring you choose for her.
What are the 4C’s?
Jewelers use the 4 C’s to evaluate the value of a diamond. When shopping for a diamond engagement ring you should have a good understanding of what each of the “C’s” stand for, and what they mean. Color, cut, clarity, and carat make up the 4 C’s. When evaluating the cut of a diamond the evaluator looks at how well the diamond is cut.
The more precise the cut, the more it interacts with light and sparkles. The color of a diamond is evaluated based on the amount of color in it.
Colorless diamonds are the rarest and most valuable. A diamond’s clarity is evaluated based on the characteristics on the inside and outside of the diamond. While most of these cannot be seen without magnification, the diamonds with fewer imperfections are more valuable. And of course there’s the carat, which measures the weight of a diamond.
When going through the process of purchasing an engagement ring, having knowledge of your budget, what to look for, and where to shop will make the process go more smoothly.
Mia Middleton works part time in a jewelry store. Her favorite part of the job is when she gets to help pick out an engagement or wedding ring, taking the time to understand tastes and preferences. When not at work Mia spends her free time shopping for antiques and writing articles.
