Getting married is one of the most exciting happenings in a person’s life. If you’re into conventions, you would probably consider making your engagement formal by buying your fiancée an engagement ring. This process has several considerations, especially if you want to make it right. The most important thing to consider is your budget.
This will dictate how much you can splurge. After all, an engagement ring is not only a huge engagement but also a meaningful one. You will want to strike a balance between getting a stylish ring that will impress the love of your life and making sure it fits your budget. It takes careful financial planning.
You will not want to sacrifice the quality and look of the ring just to save money. Fortunately, we’ve gathered some handy tips to help you buy a stylish engagement ring without breaking the budget.
Decide on Your Budget
Essentially, you will want to set a budget. This will help you decide the kind of ring you will purchase. To give you an idea, the national average cost of an engagement ring is $6,000.
The very first step when it comes to buying your engagement ring is to consider your financial situation. More than asking how much you are willing to shell out, it is even more important to determine how much you can realistically afford for an engagement ring.
This means looking into your finances, including your monthly income, current expenses, savings, and potential income in the future. Can you pay for the engagement ring that you have in mind?
When you have an idea of what you can comfortably afford, you can start looking for a stylish engagement ring that will fit your budget. You won’t want to end up with a huge debt before you even get married.
Know What Your Fiancée Wants
Now that you have a set budget, it’s time to consider another important factor—knowing exactly what you’re looking for. So where do you start?
It starts with knowing what your fiancée wants. Yes, you want to surprise her. You don’t have to ask her directly. You can ask her closest family and friends to find out what you need. Does she prefer modern and trendy engagement rings or vintage pieces with timeless quality? Is she into advocating sustainability? Does the size matter to her?
She is the one who will wear the ring, so you must find the perfect one for her. You can’t go wrong with a stylish ring, however. You just need to ensure that your choice will be something she will appreciate and match her personality. If your fiancée is leaning toward minimalism, it won’t be a good idea to buy her an engagement ring with the biggest stone or anything too flashy.
If you’re not planning to surprise her and you are already engaged but just looking for a ring to formalize the milestone in your life, you should be able to talk it out. It’s a good way to start sorting out your finances and agreeing on a ring that will not put you both on the red months down the road. As responsible and mature adults, making important decisions like buying an engagement ring is a no-brainer.
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Look Beyond the Diamond Certificate
A diamond certificate does not tell the whole story, as they often say. It is far more advantageous to consider other important factors beyond a certificate. Otherwise, you'll end up paying more. While a certificate is useful in proving the authenticity of a diamond and providing you with the stone’s specifications, it does not certainly affect the style and beauty of the ring.
There are cases where two diamonds may have the same classifications on the certificate, but the other is priced differently. Often, the certificate won’t divulge the reason. You must see and feel the diamond in your hands to understand its inclusions.
Seeing the diamonds personally gives you the confidence to know that you are getting the best value for your money.
Study the Four C’s of the Diamond
Shopping for a ring is not as easy as buying a bag or shoes. There are many considerations entailed in the whole process. You might have a particular cut in mind. What kind of metal do you prefer, gold or platinum? Answering these basic questions will narrow your search and bring you closer to finding the ring you are dreaming of.
To be safe, you need to find out as much as you can about the four Cs of a diamond. This includes the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. Cut is often put as a priority. You will want a well-cut diamond to make it last, as they have more spark and are known to be healthier. The color grade determines the colorlessness of the diamond. A colorless D-grade diamond is better than a near-colorless J-grade one.
As a rule, always buy the best cut you can afford. No need to worry about color, clarity, and carat weight if you are on a tight budget.
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Consider Budget-Friendly Options
You have several options for buying a stylish engagement ring, especially if you’re on a budget. There are traditional jewelers you can personally visit in your local area. Some of them may even allow you to pay in installments.
However, searching for an engagement ring online is pretty common for busy people. It offers a lot of budget-friendly options. You might even want to consider shops that sell preowned engagement rings, which are considerably cheaper. These shops often have a variety of options, with many of the rings showcasing vintage beauty—perfect for a fiancée who loves classic and timeless rings.
If buying online, you may want to consider extra costs like the shipping fee and resizing in case the ring does not fit.
Choosing the right jewelry store can be challenging. To be sure, you can shop around and weigh your options. You don’t have to do it in a rush because buying an engagement ring is a meaningful investment.
Wrapping Up
Finding the perfect stylish ring on a budget is tricky but certainly not impossible. We hope these tips will help you in your purchase decision. You will want to do it right the first time—all within budget!
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