Choosing the right engagement ring is important. That is the ring that will be with you your whole life. It is something that will reflect how deeply you felt for one another. But how do you choose the right one? It has to be special but also one that you can wear every day.
In this post we will look at the four things to consider when purchasing an engagement ring.
Budget
Traditionally speaking, an engagement ring should cost around three months salary. So, if you are earning $10 000 a month, that means $30 000. However, that tradition is considered out of date now. Most couples spend around $5 000 – $6 000 on their engagement ring.
More important than an actual dollar figure when you choose an engagement ring is choosing something that fits with your budget. Is it a toss-up between a dream vacation or that extremely expensive ring? Go on the vacation.
Work out what you like in an engagement ring and start from there. The right price is whatever you feel comfortable paying for it.
The Four C’s
This comes to play when you are choosing a ring with a diamond in it. It refers to:
- Cut: The cut will determine how much the diamond sparkles
- Clarity: Are there any inclusions in the diamond that make it less clear? The higher the clarity, the higher the price.
- Color: This refers to the color of the stone. Believe it or not, white diamonds are not the only type. You can also, for example, get a black diamond. The rarer the color, the higher the price.
- Carat: This is the size of the stone. More carats usually mean a higher price but the other three C’s will also have an influence here.
It might, for example, be better to get a smaller carat diamond that has better clarity than a huge one with a lot of inclusions.
The Metal
This will depend mainly on what kind of jewelry your fiancé wears on a daily basis. If their preference is for silver, for example, a yellow or rose gold ring may look out of place. In this case white gold or platinum would make a lot more sense.
Silver is not a good idea for an engagement ring as it is not as durable and will tarnish easily.
Stick to gold or platinum for your more durable options. When choosing gold, choose 18 carats or less so that it is hardier.
What Stone Will You Get?
We think engagement and we think diamonds but there are a lot of other stones that work well for engagement rings. In fact, the current “tradition” of using diamonds dates back to a marketing campaign back in the 1930s.
They do last well, but they are certainly not the rarest stones in the world. Sapphires, in fact, are just as durable and can be rarer.
You do, however, need to take cognizance of the fact that this is a ring that will be worn day in and day out. It might get doused with water, etc. so it should be a more hard-wearing stone. Opals, for example, might not be the best bet here.
When it comes to choosing the perfect engagement ring, you need something that works for you as a couple. Forget about “tradition” and choose something that you both love instead.
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