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How to Buy an Engagement Ring
Next to a dwelling and a vehicle, an engagement reverberating is likely one of the most important one purchases a man can construct. It’s only logical you want to make sure you have the perfect reverberating to propose with. Our engagement echo buying guide has everything you need to know to pick the perfect participation ring for your special someone.
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What to Know Before You Head to the Store to Make an Engagement Ring Purchase
One of the first things to consider when buying an engagement ring is if your partner has given you any suggestions. If they’ve shown you photographs of resounds they love, or have a Pinterest board set up, that’s a good place to start. Pay attention to any comments they drop about celebrities’ or friends’ engagement echoes too. You can also take a peek at their current jewelry collection to get a sense of what stones, metals, and modes they currently wear, which can make it easier to narrow down your options formerly you’re in the store.
So, once you have an idea of your partner’s style, just how much should you spend on an engagement echoing? While the old-fashioned proverb that you are able to invest 2-3 months salary was actually a clever marketing campaign in the 1930 s, the math doesn’t hold up.
While it’s essential that you don’t head to the store without a budget, how much you spend ultimately comes down to how much you can afford. After all, it’s the feeling and commitment that goes along with the ring and the proposal that matters the most- not how much you spend on the ring itself. In fact, some experts would argue that it’s financially reckless to go into debt for such a acquisition. Wouldn’t you instead invest a little extra on the opening ceremony or your honeymoon anyways?
“A knowledgeable jeweler is a great resource when it comes to your budget, ” says Katherine Bodoh, RJ, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratory. “Tell them the rate range you have in mind, and they can show you alternatives that will fit your budget.”
According to The Knot 2018 Real Weddings Study, the average cost of an commitment echoing is around $5,680, down slightly from its first year prior. That’s a real investment, so it’s important to get the most bang for your buck.
You should also try to find out your partner’s ring size before heading to the jeweler, if at all possible. One path to do this is to bring one of their echoes with you to the store. You can also size your own fingers and compare them to your partners in order to get an approximate size. Finally, if neither of those are an option, you can always just go with the law of medians. The Swiss Gemological Laboratory notes that the average adult woman’s reverberate size is between 5 and 7, while the average adult man’s ring size is between 9 and 11.
Important Engagement Ring Factors
The most important factors when choosing a diamond engagement hoop are known as the 4Cs. The 4Cs stand for cut, coloring, clarity, and carat load, and they are the primary properties that outlines a diamond’s quality.
Cut: Of all the 4Cs, cut has the greatest effect on a diamond’s beauty, says Bodoh. “In determining the quality of the cut, the diamond grader assesses the cutter’s skill in the fashioning of the diamond. The more precise the slash, the more captivating the diamond is to the eye.” She emphasized the need for a well-cut stone renders more than enough sparkle on your beloved’s hand.
Color: The colouring of gem-quality diamonds occurs in many hues says Bodoh, who notes that diamonds generally range from colorless to light amber or light brown. She adds that other natural colourings such as blue-blooded, red, or pink are known as “fancy, ” and their colour pointing is different from colorless diamonds.
Clarity: “Diamonds can have internal properties known as inclusions or external features known as disfigures, ” says Bodoh. “Diamonds without inclusions or smudges are rare, and most can only be seen with magnification.” Keep in intellect that diamonds with no visible inclusions tend to be more expensive. Bodoh says some “imperfections” can be hidden with a strategic mount.
Carat Weight: Finally, the carat is the diamond’s physical load measured in metric karats. Bodoh explains that one carat equates 1/5 gram and shall be divided into 100 points. When it comes to carat weight, Bodoh has a tip for those who have budget deliberations: go for slightly less than the nearest carat. “A. 90 karat diamond will save you money over a one carat diamond. A somewhat smaller well-cut diamond can actually appear larger than a larger diamond with a smaller cut. Cut really is key to a diamond’s beauty.”
Bodoh’s formula for how to buy an participation resounding is simple. Sparkle+ Brightness+ Contrast= Overall beauty.
“These are qualities you can ask your jeweler to discuss, so that you have a better understanding of what makes a particular diamond so beautiful.”
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Choosing Precious Metal
When it comes to engagement hoops, white-hot amber and platinum are some of the most popular alternatives, a Maison Birks Bridal Expert told AskMen. Both are great, but each have unique pros and cons.
“Platinum has a higher price point because it is rarer than gold. It’s likewise more expensive due to its high-pitched concentration and durability, which establishes it much less susceptible to scratches, ” said the expert. “Gold, on the other hand, is a soft metal. In order to make a secure band, amber should be required to mingled with other metals and alloys. This means that less of the precious metal is being used and farther delivers down the price. White gold doesn’t exist in the natural world and so, unlike platinum, these bands will need to be re-plated over time to maintain their color. Likewise, having in mind that while these two metals may look similar, white-hot gold has a shiny silver finish, whereas platinum has more of a grey-headed undertone.”
For those with a classic feel of style, either alternative works, but the Maison Birks Bridal Expert says they’ve likewise ascertained a growing interest in yellow and rose amber the past few years.
“Think of its consideration of this agenda item your spouse wears on a day-to-day basis. Usually a person will have a preference, and this can help when it comes to choosing the perfect metal for an engagement ring.”
Bodoh said here today something to be reminded is that the color of the metal surrounding the diamond( if that’s your stone of select) can impact how it looks.
“If you want a colorless diamond, a yellow gold ring can create an effect that stirs the diamond give out a yellow-bellied hue.”
Engagement Ring Shapes
After metal, the shape of the stones in a hoop is another thing to consider when buying an engagement ring.
Popular stone shapes( sometimes confused with cut) include 😛 TAGEND
Round
Oval
Princess
Emerald
Pear
Assher
Cushion
Radiant
Marquise
Heart
The Maison Birks Bridal Expert says that while reverberating shapes are always changing in popularity, tendencies are often tied to the world of celebrity.
“Meghan Markle’s three-stone engagement resound brought a resurgence of interest in the mode. Some other standouts include the emerald cut, which dedicates a prism-like effect, and the infinity stripe, which loops-the-loops around the finger and frames the diamond beautifully.”
When selecting a ring shape and setting for your collaborator, think about their personal style. Do they stick with more classic and traditional pieces or are they more quirky and chic?
“At the end of the day, round is still our number one shape and a great option for anyone. You can also make a classic shape more unique by altering the setting.” For example, the company offers a “North Star” ring which aspects an uncommon five-prong setting that creates a beautiful star-like effect around the diamond.
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Engagement Ring Gemstones
When it comes to choosing a gemstone for your partner’s engagement ring, Bodoh recommends those that be addressed to a pair and their relationship. She says it’s best to select a gemstone that is at least a nine on the Mohs’ Scale of Mineral Hardness, which determines the durability of minerals and gemstones.
“Diamonds are a 10 on the Mohs’ scale, building them one of the most difficult of and most durable selects, ” says Bodoh. “Other great options are sapphires and rubies.”
Bodoh notes that the price of a gemstone depends on numerous factors.
“In a diamond, you have to look at the cut, colour, and clarity factors. The sizing questions somewhat less depending on the quality of these characteristics. The higher the slash, coloring, or clarity grade, the more costly the diamond will be. These ingredients is also available traded off to match your budget and what’s important to you, ” she says. “With colored gems, the quality of the color is the most determining factor in price, along with considerations of relative rarity, country of origin, and standard grading factors such as cut, clarity, and carat weight.”
No matter what stone( s) you finish up with, Bodoh says customers should always ask to see diamonds that come with a grading report from a reputable diamond-grading lab to ensure the quality of the stone. And, it’s important to see and touch the jewelry in person, so that you can try it on and look at it in different lighting conditions is how it sparkles.
“There’s a personalized level of customer service that you get from a credentialed professional jeweler that you cannot get online.”
Engagement Ring Settings
Once you’ve chosen your stone and metal, consider how the stone is “set” onto the ring.
Prong: Prongs are the most common defining, and use a small metal claw to hold the gemstone securely in place. Prongs can be rounded, flat, pointed, vshaped, or even heartshaped, and most stones will have either three, four or six prongs comprising them in place. Keep in thinker that the more prongs the most secure the stone is, although you will be able to see less of it.
Tiffany: A specific sixprong solitaire defining designed by Tiffany& Co. in 1886, this setting maximizes a diamond’s sparkle.
Bezel: A bezel giving holds the diamond or gemstone in place with a custom induced thin metal rim or frame, and is also available full( surrounding the stone completely) or partial( leaving the sides open ).
Composite: A composite specify is an excellent way to get the appearance of a larger stone, without totally blowing your budget. It arranges groupings of smaller diamonds together for the look of one large stone, and is also sometimes called a cluster setting.
Tension: Tension establisheds use the tension of the ring’s band to hold the stone in place, affording the appearing that the stone is floating.
Channel: A channel-set ring features small-time grooves, or canals, where diamonds or other gemstones are slid into, before being sealed in securely.
Bar: The saloon defining is similar to the channel fix, nonetheless, the stones are only closed in on two sides, rather than all around.
Pave: The pave determining applications multiple small-scale diamonds defined closely together for a carpetlike result along the band.
Halo: The halo defining is an excellent way to enhance the appearance of a smaller diamond, as it refers to the placement of tiny gemstones around a larger center stone to make it appear larger.
Cathedral: A cathedral fix applications arches of metal to hold the stones above the shank( band) in order to make them show larger.
AskMen
Buying Custom
The Maison Birks Bridal Expert says there is a misconception around the word custom, with people automatically assuming custom= expensive, but that’s not always the case! While they might not be more expensive, they do take more time.
“Custom reverberates can take a lot longer and it’s important to give yourself a proper timeline, ” they said. “Make sure that the jeweler you choose is patient and in tune with your vision and needs.”
They say that you should bring inspiration images along to your consultation to make the process of designing a custom-built participation ring smoother, and be open to the creative process that comes from collaborating with a jeweler.
“You may go in thinking you know exactly what you want and be agreeably surprised by something new.”
Creating a custom ring does take longer and expects greater involvement, but allows you to give your special someone something one-of-a-kind.
“You have to be OK with not getting to see, touch or feel the ring until it’s completely finished. But having the ability to create something completely one-of-a-kind is a marvelous opportunity.”
Buying an Antique Engagement Ring
It’s important that you speak with a professional if you’re considering buying an antique engagement resound, as it’s easy to get duped.
“Don’t be fooled by the words ‘Art Deco Style’ when you’re on the hunt for an’ Art Deco’ ring, ” says the Maison Birks Bridal Expert. “There are many re-creations out there and costume jewelry parading as the real thing.”
They say it’s important to do your research when buying an antique ring.
“There are many storages out there with marvelous reputations for finding incredible vintage resounds. Simply make sure that when you do find an antique resounding, you get onto verified with a gemologist if it’s missing newspapers of authentication”
Giving Your Partner an Engagement Ring That’s a Family Heirloom
Alternatively, modernise an heirloom fragment is also an option. Birks Concierge supports a service where its experts will work with jewelers to re-imagine a precious heirloom. Other stores may provide this service as well, so inquire if you want to keep a special stone or ring in the family.
While no one likes to think that their matrimony won’t work out, if the heirloom is important to you and you don’t crave your partner to have it in the event of a separate, make sure both parties sign a contract stating as such before the marry day.
Engagement Rings for Same-Sex Spouse
If you’re a boy buying a ring for a male partner, you’re in luck! Over the years, most diverse options have become available.
Some pairs choose to wear matching commitment rings, while others opt for different rings. In some partnerships merely one person wears the participation echoing- there really is no hard and fast etiquette for same-sex engagement rings.
This is also an area where the Maison Birks Bridal Excerpt says a tradition resounding is a great choice.
“Having the freedom to create something that truly represents your relationship allows you to create something special.”
How to Protect Your Engagement Ring Investment
Bodoh says the best way to protect your engagement hoop is to insure it.
“First, get an appraisal from a Certified Gemologist( r) Appraiser or an Independent Certified Gemologist( r) Appraiser. Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group offers personal plans for jewelry customers, ” she says. “It’s so easy. You can get insurance in minutes.”
She also notes that care is different for colored gemstones vs. diamonds.
“Make sure you take the ring back to your jeweler every two years for inspections and fixings, such as prong retipping. If needed, get the advice of a credentialed jeweler seeing care and maintenance, and make sure the fragment is reappraised every two years.”
Also Consider …
Depending on where you buy your commitment resounding, the retailer might offer additional services such as free cleaning, resizing, or special warranties. That runs for custom-made fragments too! Some retailers, like Maison Birks, Peoples, or Jared offer diamond trade-up programs, where you can upgrade your significant other’s ring at the total value of the original purchase price.
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