03 Jun Tips To Consider When Selecting an Engagement Ring
Shopping for the perfect engagement ring is exciting and it’s the first step in the process of creating a family with your partner! It’s accompanied by various steps such as understanding the gemstone, styles, and, most importantly, your partner’s wants. Educating yourself on various diamond cuts, clarities, and carat weight is an essential first step to buying the perfect engagement ring.
Before you begin your search for the perfect engagement ring, set a budget and talk to your partner about what she has envisioned for herself. By understanding the tips to consider when selecting an engagement ring, you allow yourself to develop a plan of action to make a well-informed decision!
Know the Essentials
Begin by knowing the four essentials about gemstones: color, cut, clarity, and carat weight, as they will affect the price and the overall look of the stone.
Color
The Gemological Institute of America color scale goes from D to Z and measures a diamond’s color grade. While D diamonds typically are of the highest quality and colorless, a Z diamond may be a shade of light yellow or even brown.
Color directly affects the price, as a D diamond is more costly than a Z diamond and looks clearer to the naked eye. It’s important you understand these differences so you can pick the perfect diamond while staying within your price range.
Cut
Another key aspect to evaluate the gemstone for is its cut, however, this does not mean facets. Contrary to common belief, adding extra facets will not give a diamond more shine.
GIA has defined cut as the relationship between facets as that impacts a diamonds light performance; cut grade is instead about how precise the cut of a diamond is.
Clarity
How clear is the stone? As you evaluate different rings, another component to understand is clarity. An inclusion may result from the cutting process or formation of the stone. This can also include chips or clouds along or in the stone—a cloudy stone will appear hazy.
Clarity refers to how many blemishes and inclusions it contains under 10x magnification; however, brilliance isn’t directly impacted by clarity.
Carat Weight
Lastly, look at the diamond’s carat weight or size. Like the other factors, this will directly affect your price as a higher carat weight is more expensive. Set a budget before selecting a carat weight; however, if you want to buy a diamond with more carats, you can do so at a fair price by sacrificing on cut, color, or clarity.
You need to decide what’s most important—color, cut, clarity, or carat weight during the purchasing process.
Look at Various Bands
Once you understand gemstone evaluation, it’s time to consider different metals and styles as you’ll have to think about material and style. Does she want a thick band or a thin band? While some brides love a skinny band engagement ring, others don’t. Similarly, knowing what kind of metal she prefers for her jewelry is crucial as different metals look different on various skin tones.
Assess various metals ranging from yellow gold, to titanium, to rose gold and keep your budget in mind as you do so. Some of the metals used for an engagement ring include:
- Yellow gold
- White gold
- Platinum
Before you purchase a ring setting, do your research on the material to properly evaluate all its advantages and disadvantages—platinum may look beautiful, but it could be over budget.
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold is traditional as its use dates back to ancient civilizations, and because of its history, many brides gravitate towards it. This metal comes with various advantages and disadvantages. For example, it will never go out of style because it’s traditional and looks great on all skin tones! Additionally, it typically does not require much maintenance.
Despite its advantages, one disadvantage of yellow gold rings is that they wear thin as flakes of metal peel off over time. While maintenance is minimal, polishing is a must to maintain its shiny appearance. However, this material is usually easily affordable so long as the karat weight isn’t too high.
White Gold
White gold is sought after because of its modern look and is often made from a combination of gold and another metal such as nickel, zinc, and copper; however, since some people have allergies to nickel, gold is sometimes blended with palladium instead.
Like yellow gold, white gold bands come in karat weights, and the higher the karat weight, the more expensive it is. Although, like yellow gold, it is not typically too pricy.
When purchasing a white gold band, keep the grade of diamond in mind as white gold will bring out the hues of yellow in a low-grade diamond. However, it will also emphasize the beauty and shine of a high-grade diamond.
Similar to yellow gold, one disadvantage of a white gold ring is that the metal can peel off over time after extended use.
Platinum
This beautiful, hypoallergenic metal has various advantages; most notably, it is durable and can last a hundred years. It shares the beauty of white gold but is lower maintenance, often making it a better choice. Additionally, it has more shine than both white gold and yellow gold.
However, platinum rings are much more expensive because they’re more pure and much heavier than gold—rings are sold by the gram. Moreover, Platinum rings also scratch and dent more easily than yellow or white gold and appear dull unless the platinum is flashed with rhodium.
Setting
Once you’ve selected a diamond and band metal, it’s time to take the setting into account. Some of your options for setting include:
- Prong setting
- Bezel setting
- Tension setting
When you choose a setting, think about the bride-to-be’s style to ensure you get something she’ll love to wear and show off.
Prong Setting
A prong setting is among the most common and typically has four or six prongs holding the diamond in place. It is sought after because of its classic look, easy upkeep, and because it shows off the diamond’s facets and sparkle.
One major disadvantage of a prong setting is that it can snag on material, so it’s crucial you take lifestyle into account before selecting this setting. Another risk you run is your diamond coming loose, so it’s important to get it checked by a jeweler every few years.
Bezel Setting
This setting is perfect for an active bride because it keeps the diamond in place with a metal trim, making certain it doesn’t fall out. This also protects the precious gem from damage. Additionally, a bezel setting is very easy to maintain as it requires no routine checks from a jeweler.
Due to the metal framing holding the gemstone in place, a diamond may not appear as shiny in this setting—a con to some buyers.
Tension Setting
Finally, a tension setting appears modern and unique as two ends of the band securely suspend the diamond. Another sought-after feature that this setting offers is how it allows light to reflect off the diamond, enhancing its brilliance.
If you plan to purchase a ring with a tension setting, make sure you know the exact ring size, as getting it corrected is both challenging and expensive with this setting. Moreover, while it does hold the diamond securely, it is important to get it checked by a jeweler as it may become loose over time.
Fire & Ice Diamonds offers a wide variety of diamonds, settings, and band styles to ensure you find the perfect fit! As you get ready to propose, remember the tips to consider when selecting an engagement ring—evaluate the stone, metal, and setting. Get something that suits her lifestyle, and don’t be afraid to talk to your fiancée.
By keeping communication open, you’re sure to purchase the ideal diamond, ring band, and setting. Picking a ring together is the best option and ensures you give her a ring she’ll love. Consider Fire & Ice Diamonds as you shop for an engagement ring and evaluate your many options.
