How to Buy an Engagement Ring

Contributor

By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(14 Ratings)

Bucking tradition might be necessary when it comes to selecting an engagement ring that she'll wear for the rest of her life. It's always best to get input from the bride.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Yellow Pages
Diamond Engagement Set
Wedding Bands
Credit Cards And Loans

Step 1

Discuss styles, stones and budget with your bride-to-be if you're going to be shopping together.
Step 2

Expect to pay about $2,500 to $3,500 per half carat for a quality diamond. This is a rough estimate that will depend on several factors, including the diamond's size - larger diamonds are rarer, and therefore more valuable (see "eHow to Buy a Diamond').
Step 3

Go shopping with your intended after your proposal, or shop alone so that you can surprise her.
Step 4

If you shop alone and aren't sure what style she wants, buy just the stone, make an appointment with a jeweler to return later for a setting, and pop the question using a fun dime-store ring. After she's accepted, go back and pick out a setting together.
Step 5

Have the ring made or buy one ready-made, once you've discussed styles with your sweetheart.

Tips & Warnings

Despite the old adage that the ring should be worth two months' salary, if you can't spend that much money, go for a simple design that can be dressed up with the wedding band.
Use the stone from a family heirloom to make a unique and less expensive ring she'll treasure.
If you buy the ring without the bride's input, don't fret if she doesn't like your choice. Get a basic setting with an understanding from the jeweler that you can come back and trade up.

Comments

outdoorsguy83 said

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on 8/14/2009 It is very important that you buy a stone that has a diamond grading report... I had no idea how many ways there are to alter a diamond until I started researching engagement rings! Also, I was really surprised to find out that you actually can't determine the 4Cs of a stone with the naked eye... it has to be done in a laboratory. I'd recommend making sure your diamond has been graded by GIA. GIA is the oldest and most advanced grading lab, and it actually invented the industry standards (including the 4Cs!). A diamond is a really significant purchase, and it's really important to know what you're getting!

GabeC7 said

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on 1/14/2009 I'm proposing to my girlfriend at the end of the month and I'm going to make it s surprise. For the past couple of months I did a lot of research on rings, just to make sure I would get the perfect ring for her. I looked at her current style of jewelry, she mostly wheres white metals so I knew it would be between Platinum and white gold. But after a lot of research I decided to go with Platinum. I learned that Platinum is a more enduring and pure metal which makes it much more worth it. The setting of the ring is classic and simple which I know my girlfriend will absolutely love. I came across this great website www.engagementguide.com

DMNDS4YOU said

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on 6/12/2008 The correct full name of EGL is European Gemological Laboratory.

If you are a guy shopping for a ring a good tip is to also take a friend, or close relative shopping with you -- chances are they will have good insight into her likes and dislikes to help you along the way.

DMNDS4YOU