How to Purchase an Engagement Ring

"How to buy an engagement ring?" is a question not to be taken lightly. Here I offer a brief step by step guide. There are several key factors to Buying an Engagement Ring.

Budget.
Style.
Quality.
Retailer.
Support.

We will look at all of these factors in turn.

1) Budget.

Before thinking about what kind of ring to purchase and where to purchase it, you need to work out a comfortable amount of money you can put into the ring. Tradition holds that it should be 3 months salary, but it really is down to what the individual is comfortable with spending. Some may spend more, others less. Sit down and work out exactly what you can spend and decide a tolerance level of how much over this number you can go if you do find a ring that may be a little more than you budgeted for. Typically, treat ten percent as a good tolerance level, but again this is down to the individual.

2) Style.
What does you intended bride to be like with regards to jewelry styles?

Some ladies like very modern jewelry. Others like vintage looking jewelry. She may like a traditional and simple looking ring, she may like a heavily detailed ring with engraving work.

Do not let this part scare you. It actually is one of the easiest parts to complete.

Take a look at what she usually wears and be alert for any hints she may drop with regards to what she likes. If she usually likes modern looking white gold jewelry, it may not be the best idea to get her a vintage looking yellow gold ring etc.

If you are really lost on this part, simply ask one of her friends or family members, you can trust to keep a secret, what she likes.

3) Quality.

Next compare what she likes to your budget.

If she likes platinum settings but your budget is not a large one, then you will either have to sacrifice on the quality of the diamond to afford the mounting or you will have to sacrifice the platinum for a white gold setting to ensure enough financial room for the diamond. Bear in mind, when it comes to diamonds, bigger is by no means always better. There are other factors such as color, clarity and cut to take into account. You can read more about these factors at the link at the bottom of this article.

4) Retailer.

Once you have completed the above steps you need to find a reputable dealer.

Most jewelry dealers these days value their customers far too much to pull any underhanded moves, so generally it is just a case of preference when looking for a retailer.

Ask friends and relatives of local jewelers they advise and you usually wont go wrong when choosing a diamond retailer. Some people have been using the same company for literally decades and will readily advise you to a good jeweler.

Another factor in this step is to check if the jeweler can actually provide what you need.

If your bride to be is totally in love with a certain type of jewelry designers product, then you will have to find a local jeweler that actually carries the designer line. If you are thinking of buying a loose diamond and a ring to mount it in separately then you may also have to use certain jewelers as most of the traditional corporate jewelry stores do not usually carry loose diamonds.

5) Support.

Once you have found a retailer you should also find out what kind of after sale support they offer.

Some jewelers offer life time warranties, some do not.

Some jewelry stores offer trade up policies where you can trade in your stone towards a larger one at a later date.

Free cleaning, rhodium dipping, prong re-tipping, there are plenty of things a jeweler may offer. Ask and see what they offer for after sale support.

Once you have researched these steps you are then ready to actually start shopping for your engagement ring.