Choosing an engagement ring is a momentous decision that involves careful consideration. From understanding preferences and style to the complexities of different gemstones, metals, and settings, the process can be both exciting and overwhelming.
We will feature several factors to consider when buying an engagement ring to help you feel well-informed moving forward with your future commitment.
Aesthetics and Personal Style
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Engagement rings are not only a beautiful symbol of love and commitment, but they can also be a unique representation of your style. Gone are the days when every engagement ring looked nearly identical. You can now select different colored stones, styles, and accompanying wedding bands to meet every one of your desires and preferences.
Gemstones
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All precious gemstones are judged based on the 4 C’s: color, cut, clarity, and carat. If you can’t select just one stone, go with multiple! Colored stones can be the central, only, or complementing stone, the possibilities are endless.
Although diamonds are the traditional gemstone for engagement rings, you can choose numerous other gemstones for your engagement ring. Other gemstones such as rubies, sapphires, opals, and emeralds each possess their own beauty and significance and include opportunities that diamonds simply do not offer such as being multi-tonal, appearing differently colored in varying spectrums of light, and most importantly – carrying a personal significance to you.
Accompanying Wedding Bands
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Another important consideration for your engagement ring includes the question: will you be including a wedding band? An engagement ring is given to symbolize one’s love and commitment to another, while wedding bands are exchanged to symbolize the couple’s marriage. While some engagement rings come paired with wedding bands, many do not; and you should consider what this may look like for you. Contemplate the shape of your engagement ring, and how this may affect the shape of the wedding band to sit flush together.
Will you always wear both the engagement ring and the wedding band together, or will you sometimes wear them separately? Do you want the wedding band to be more simple or elaborate? Some may even prefer not to have a wedding band at all. The choice to have a wedding band is personal and should compliment your ring if you choose to include one.
Budget
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There are engagement rings for every budget that use different qualities that affect the price. For a timeless engagement ring that is going to be in your life forever, and be worn nearly every day, you gotta love the ring. However, no ring should come at the cost of financial distress and that’s why evaluating your budget for an engagement ring is an important part of the decision-making process.
Pre-Owned Rings
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Pre-owned engagement rings are one way to improve affordability. This can include vintage rings that date from other centuries, or simply rings that are no longer serving the intended purpose for the original owner.
When contemplating a pre-owned ring, ensure to obtain the original paperwork indicating its quality and assessment. Also, consider getting the ring appraised and inspected by a professional jeweler, and consider the material and setting if re-sizing is possible, as it is likely you will be buying a ring that will need to be adjusted.
Band Material
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Different metals for the band material can offer different price points. Gold, platinum, and silver are traditional engagement ring materials, but are often quite expensive. Alternatively, metals such as stainless steel and tungsten and considerably more affordable and can offer more in the way of durability.
Lab-Grown Options
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Ultimately, if you desire a diamond but find it financially unattainable, contemplating a lab-grown diamond engagement ring is a viable option. Lab-grown diamonds present a significantly more budget-friendly alternative, with costs ranging from 30% to 50% less than traditional diamonds.
Lab-grown diamonds possess identical chemical compositions to natural diamonds and undergo grading based on the same criteria as natural diamonds. Furthermore, gemstones other than diamonds can also be created in a lab, expanding the options you have for your engagement ring.
Lifestyle
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How you live your life every day plays a big role in choosing an engagement ring as it can affect the wear and tear on the ring. Consider things like career. Does your job have you working with your hands a lot? Perhaps you spend your workday washing your hands frequently or working with food. Consider hobbies such as weight-lifting; would a higher or lower profile ring suit you better? Even daily wear; are you a person that will wear the ring 24/7 or take it off in the evening?
Travel is also something to consider if you like to wear your ring abroad. You might consider looking at engagement ring insurance in the event of theft. Jewelry insurance can be beneficial for individuals who travel frequently. Traveling increases the risk of loss or theft, and some jewelry insurance policies offer worldwide coverage, ensuring that your jewelry is protected regardless of where you are in the world
The journey to finding the perfect engagement ring encompasses a myriad of considerations including personal style, budget, and other practical aspects. As you embark on this meaningful journey, armed with these considerations, may your choice be as enduring and unique as the love it represents.
