So you’re in the market for an engagement ring… yay! Although we don’t know your girlfriend, we’re pretty confident in saying she will be over-the-moon when you pop the question. Ideally, she’ll be so obsessed with the ring you’ve chosen that she won’t stop talking about it for months! That’s where we can help. Below is an engagement ring buying guide for men:
Budget
We are huge believers in the fact that an engagement ring’s worth comes from the meaning behind it, not the amount of money spent. However, money does play a certain role in determining which ring to propose with. Deciding on a budget early on can allow you to fully explore all of your options when it comes to center stone characteristics and setting designs. This is important: There is no hard rule on how much you “should” spend on an engagement ring, other than that you should spend what feels comfortable for you.
Choosing a Ring Style
Selecting an engagement ring style may be the hardest part of buying an engagement ring. To start, think about the types of clothing and accessories your significant other wears or likes… this should help in terms of clues as to whether they’d prefer a classic ring, modern, nature-inspired, glamorous, or maybe a combination of those. Make sure to stay alert to any hints your partner may be dropping!
Choosing a Gemstone
You know that the most classic engagement ring styles feature a diamond as a center stone, but you may not know whether you girlfriend wants that or something more unique. We can tell you this: 90% of engagement rings feature a diamond, and sapphires are the second most common engagement ring stone, followed by morganite and aquamarine. If your girlfriend’s taste runs more along the lines of unconventional, she may prefer a stone completely different than all that we just listed.
*Kate Middleton and her gorgeous sapphire stunner!
Learn About the 4 C’s
If you and your partner are set on a diamond engagement ring it’s really important to know how diamonds are classified. Diamonds are graded according to the 4 C’s: carat, cut, clarity, and color. Unless you’re working on an unlimited budget, you can’t get the highest carat, cut, clarity, and color across the board. Striking a balance between these characteristics can help ensure you get the best diamond for your engagement ring. Check out our Blog on the 4 C’s for more details.
*Most popular diamond cuts.
Gemstone Shape
Diamonds are cut into ten standard shapes, and round is by far the most common choice, making up 75% of all diamond purchases. Because they’re so popular, round diamonds often cost more than other shapes. In fact, you can save a good chunk of money by choosing a non-round diamond.
Choosing a Precious Metal
The main choices for engagement ring metals are platinum, white gold, rose gold, and yellow gold. Traditionally, platinum and white gold are the most popular. However, yellow and rose gold have become increasingly popular over the last 2 years. To get a sense of what type of precious metal your girlfriend would prefer, pay attention to the jewelry she currently wears. If you’re still totally lost, then book a free consultation with us, and we’ll be happy to help you pick out an amazing engagement ring. In the meantime, we hope this engagement ring buying guide for men helped simplify the process for you!
“The way Rachel and Victoria took care of me when looking for a special engagement ring that wasn’t something picked off the shelf was amazing. They really know how to translate what’s in your mind into an actual ring that can be put on your finger!”
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