Between posting pretty Instagram pictures and posing for perfect engagement photos, buying the right engagement ring and proposing have become a pop culture phenomenon that can put a lot of pressure on couples. Falling in love and wanting to spend your life together is a wonderful and fun process and we're here to tell you that the engagement ring shopping experience can be the same.
The Rules of Engagement Ring Shopping
There's no reasons why you can't go engagement ring shopping together. It's a major purchase and she will be wearing the ring for the rest of her life. If the surprise proposal matters to you or your partner, keep the proposal a surprise, not the ring!
Here's another trend that we're seeing and we love. Tastes in jewelry can be very specific and also your partner may have a certain idea in her mind about how her ring should look. So, a lot of men are buying the diamond or the center stone but not the ring. You can always choose a ring setting or design later and then have the diamond mounted. How does this work? You can have the diamond mounted in a placeholder setting like a simple solitaire and then design her dream setting together.
Remember, it's your day! You set the rules. You don't have to do what everyone else is doing or listen to some arbitrary rules.
Do your research
If you had to buy a new TV or even a car, would you go into a store and buy the first shiny, pretty thing you see? Sounds absurd, doesn't it? You have to put in the same amount of research and hard work into buying a diamond engagement ring. But, here's the thing – it's not as difficult as it sounds. There's a whole world of knowledge out there in the form of blog posts, videos and ebooks. You can even post queries on forums and experts will answer your questions for free! So, don't go into a store blind and be fooled into buying something you don't know the value of by a pushy sales agent. Know your 4Cs like you're studying for a test.
Go Online
Buying an engagement ring online is actually a smart decision. Here's a little secret most jewelers won't tell you: the reason why their diamond engagement rings are so expensive is because of their high markup charges. Good quality diamonds are quite affordable. It's a myth perpetuated by chain jewelry stores that diamonds are prohibitively expensive.
Most online diamond retailers have affordable rings because their markup charges are reasonable (as low as 10% to 20%). Mall stores and chain jewelers can sometimes mark up their engagement rings up to 200%! These stores have the overhead of sales staff, rent or mortgages, and store upkeep which must be added into the cost of the diamonds. As online retailers don't have to bear these same costs, they pass on the benefit to their customers.
Still Not Sure?
There's always a return policy. Like most online retailers, online diamond retailers also have a return policy. Online stores also have other attractive policies like free shipping and one year warranty. All you have to do is choose your diamond retailer wisely. Established stores that have been in the business for a couple of years and that have positive reviews are as safe as your neighborhood jeweler. If you're worried about whether the ring will fit, most stores also do resizing.
You can upgrade the diamond. Yes, really!
Don't have the budget for a big diamond right now? You can buy a budget diamond now but upgrade it later. Most online diamond retailers have an upgrade policy. When you return the original diamond, they give you a store credit of the cost of your original stone minus a small restocking fee.
Customization
Don't be afraid of customization. Customizing an engagement ring may sound expensive, complicated and something only celebrities do. But, it's not. It actually helps you save and you get exactly what you want.
This is how the customization process works: You pick the diamond and the ring setting separately. The major chunk of your cost is for the diamond or the center stone so do your research and choose the best diamond within your budget. You can have this diamond mounted onto any ring that you like. For example, you buy a beautiful one carat loose diamond. This diamond can be mounted on a solitaire ring or a halo ring.
Unlike pre-set engagement rings where the stone is already mounted, customization allows you to choose the diamond wisely and that's the most important aspect of buying a diamond engagement ring. You can also be sure of the quality of the diamond as you'll know the exact cut, color and clarity grade of your diamond.
Go ahead and buy her the engagement ring she'll love while staying in your budget with these insider tips.
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