Let’s face it, engagement rings are trickly: you need to know your future bride’s ring size, her preferences when it comes to the metal, diamond cut, number of stones and other features of the ring, but at the same time, you need to stay within your budget. If you want to get the best engagement ring possible for the amount of money that you can spend, here are a few tips on how to get the most of your money.
Don’t buy an engagement ring online
While today we’re using to buying most of the things we need online, this is not such a good idea when it comes to engagement ring shopping. The truth is, diamonds are complicated and unless you have special training in the field, it can be very difficult to tell a high-quality stone from a low-grade replacement. If you buy an engagement ring online, you may get a better price compared to traditional jewelry stores, but you may also end up with a low-quality stone that’s not worth the money. Plus, when you consult an expert to get help with your engagement ring purchase, you get the help of a professional who knows how to manipulate the “Four C’s” to get you an amazing ring at a great price.
Buy an engagement ring without a diamond
Diamonds are by far the most expensive part of an engagement ring, so a simple way to slash your engagement ring cost is to buy a ring without a diamond. But it doesn’t mean that the engagement ring shouldn’t have any stones in it – you can simply opt for cheaper alternatives to traditional diamonds. For instance, white sapphires have a similar color to diamonds at a cheaper price, or you can choose rubies, blue sapphires, emeralds as slightly cheaper options, or pink morganite, green tourmaline and blue aquamarine as unusual and much cheaper alternatives to diamonds.
Compromise on the stone setting to get a cheaper engagement ring
The setting of the ring can affect its price dramatically. For instance, three-stone engagement rings or three-row pave rings are some of the most expensive options out there! If you choose a setting like this, it can bring your engagement ring price through the roof, leaving you with very few options for the center stone. Alternatively, if you choose a single-diamond ring, you will have a lot more money to spend on the main diamond, plus, it will look more prominent in the ring.
Play around with the “Four C’s” to find an affordable engagement ring
When shopping for an engagement ring, consider what matters to your and, most importantly, your future bride. If your main concern is the size of the diamond, you can easily choose a diamond that’s on the lower end of the spectrum for color and clarity without sacrificing the overall look of the ring. Diamond experts say that unless you can see inclusions in the stone with a naked eye, the low clarity grade of the stone won’t be noticeable. At the same time, the color of the stone should be selected according to personal preference, so it doesn’t necessarily need to match the widely accepted standards.