10 Tips to Know
Before Getting the BLING!
(print this out and just happen to leave it out for a certain someone to see) :)
1.) BUDGET
The standard rule is two months salary.
BUT this is a rule that the diamond industry created!
However it's still a decent place to start, but then figure out your personal budget.
2.) Do Your Homework
You're going to have to make a lot of choices –
platinum or gold? Modern or traditional? Flashy or understated?
It's easier if you've done your homework beforehand.
Look at the jewelry your sweetheart wears on a daily basis
– if it's all silver with intricate designs –
look for a platinum engagement ring with intricate designs (often called filigree).
If it's just a few heavy gold pieces, well, then go in that direction.
3.) Choose a Stone
While jewelers will sell you a preset ring,
you can often get a better deal if you choose the diamond separately.
It helps if you know what shape your sweetheart wants – round, pear, marquis, etc.
The most classic shape is a round solitaire.
More homework – read 'The Four C's of Diamond Buying' (at the end of the 10 tips) You'll thank me later.
Another money saving tip – look for a diamond with high color and cut, but with slightly lower clarity.
Make sure you look at the stone with a jeweler's loupe (like a magnifying glass) – but know that most flaws (or "inclusions") can barely be seen even with a loupe.
4.) Choose the Setting
After you've got your stone, then comes the setting.
You could go for simple with a solitaire setting, or you could add filigree, extra side stones, and other details.
You can choose gold, white or rose gold, platinum, or even titanium.
5.) Maximize Your Budget
If your intended is always talking about huge diamond engagement rings,
but two months of your salary wouldn't buy a Big Mac, you're going to have to stretch the budget.
Ask for a stone with more surface area – it won't sparkle as much but it will look bigger.
& ask for stones that are slightly less than the next carat (0.8 instead of 1 or 1.9 instead of 2) – the almost indiscernible difference can add up to big savings.
OR instead of a diamond solitaire engagement ring,
consider a less expensive center gemstone (such as tourmaline, blue topaz, sapphire)
flanked by two small diamonds.
Choose white gold instead of platinum. And consider an antique engagement ring!
6.) + ONE
Don't go into a jewelry store alone.They're scary places full of way too many choices.
If you can, bring your sweetheart's best friend or Mom along to help you choose.
But if you're worried they'll spill the beans, bring a trusted friend of yours.
Make sure they have taste, or you'll be trying to propose with a ringpop.
Also, this is a great moment to bond with your parents and get their advice!
7.) + LOVE
(take your love with you)
You'll lose the element of surprise, but you'll be sure that she likes her engagement ring!
More and more couples are doing it this way.
Think 'Sweet Home Alabama' ...
okay so maybe it won't be just like that,
since after all he did take her to Tiffany's, after-hours,
and let her choose any ring that she desired!
BUT it was a movie! :)
8.) Get a Quality Jeweler
Ask for recommendations from friends and family.
And make sure the store is accredited by the Jewelers of America
or is a member of the
Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Before you buy, find out what the return policy is , not that she'll say no,
but so that you can exchange it if you didn't do your homework properly!
9.) Plan Ahead
You may not be able to just walk out of a jewelry store with a ring.
Not only will you need to save up for it,
but depending on when you order it
it can & could take a couple weeks for them to set the stone,
do any engraving, or even custom design your ring.
So if you want to propose on a certain date, make sure you start working on the ring early enough!
10.) Get it In Writing
Would you buy a house without an inspection? No?
Well then don't buy a diamond without an independent diamond-grading report
from the GIA or the American Gem Society.
It should include the 4 c's of color, cut, clarity and carat, as well as the shape and size.
And, like your house, don't forget to get the ring insured!
"The Four Cs"
color, cut, clarity, and caret.
Some also include the fifth c, cost.
Color: With the exception of "fancy colored diamonds",
the more colorless a diamond is, the more valuable it is.
Jewelers grade diamonds on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).
Anything more yellow than D is considered fancy and is much more expensive!
Cut: Many people make the mistake of thinking that cut means the shape of the diamond.
Rather, it means the way the diamond was faceted to allow light to reflect from it.
In a well cut diamond, light enters the diamond and reflects straight back to the viewer's eye.
Some cutters will sacrifice cut to create the largest possible diamond, thus making too shallow or too deep of a cut and causing light to "leak" out the sides and bottom of the diamond.
Cut can be something very difficult for a layperson to evaluate,
which is why it is important to get an AGS Certificate or a GIA Certificate
verifying the quality of your diamond. Cut is graded Ideal, Premium, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. Generally you should seek an Ideal to Very Good Diamond. Budget-conscious shoppers may opt for good.
Clarity: Diamonds frequently have inclusions, or small flaws, air bubbles, scratches, or other minerals inside the diamond. The less inclusions a diamond has, the more valuable it is, and the more beautiful it is.
The scale for grading diamond's clarity is:
- F Flawless - no internal or external inclusions.
- IF Internally Flawless - no internal inclusions, slight external inclusions.
- VVS1-VVS2Very Very Slightly Included - minute inclusions that are very difficult to detect under 10x magnification, even by an experienced grader.
- VS1-VS2 Very Slightly Included - minute inclusions that are invisible to the naked eye and seen only with difficulty under 10x magnification.
- SI1-SI2 Slightly Included - invisible to the naked eye, yet easily seen by an experienced grader under 10x magnification.
- I1-I3 Included - inclusions are visible to the naked eye and affect brilliance.
Stones that are VVS2 to F are very rare and thus very expensive. Most couples will opt for something between SI2 and VS1, and will never know the difference.
Caret: This refers to the size of the stone.
While some value caret above all, others prefer a small ring regardless of budget. If you're buying a ring as a surprise for someone, consider how flashy their other jewelry is. If they're not someone who wears a lot of designer labels or big jewelry, perhaps you'll want to opt for a smaller stone.
This site has a very useful chart to see how the most common sizes look on a model's hand.
Ideally, you'll be able to try on a variety of sizes within your budget
to see which size looks best on you or your love!
♥
theChicGirls
