How to Find Affordable Diamond Engagement Rings

Affordable diamond engagement rings can be challenging to find.

The famous advertising quote "Diamonds are forever" aptly describes the common, and often expected, American practice of proposing to your future wife with a diamond engagement ring. Of course, that slogan was created by the jewelry company De Beers, which successfully used it to sell expensive diamond engagement rings. Even today diamond engagement rings can be difficult to afford for many men. A diamond ring that is beautiful and affordable is a true challenge to find.

Things You'll Need

• Pen
• Paper

Instructions

1. Write down a budget for your diamond engagement ring purchase. Diamond rings can vary in cost from several hundred to several thousand dollars. To find an affordable diamond engagement ring, you first need a budget to stick to.

2. Look up listings on diamond engagement rings from several large online sellers. Websites like Bluenile.com provide excellent resources for buyers looking for both loose diamond stones and set diamond rings. Choose a carat size, clarity rating, cut rating, color rating and a diamond style to search for your favorite diamond rings. Write down the cost of several of your favorite rings, and compare those to your budget. Consider changing your search several times to get an accurate price point for different styles of diamond rings. Write down the cost of each ring that fits your budget and taste, as well as the specifics of each ring.

3. Look up several independent jewelry stores in your area. Call each store and ask whether they have rings that match your favored specifications. If they do, ask for pricing on those rings or diamonds. Compare the answers each store gives you to your notes. If the store's pricing matches your budget and your research, write that down.

4. Go to at least three stores to look at diamond rings. Visit the stores that have diamonds matching your budget and your research. Ask to see each diamond ring in person. Look for noticeable flaws in the diamonds, and see how the rings look in direct sunlight. Consider taking pictures of each ring for later reference.

5. Ask each shop if it also sells loose diamonds. Sometimes jewelers will order loose diamonds and then set them into a ring of your choice. This will not only allow you to get a better look at the quality of the diamond, but loose diamonds are often more affordable than fitted diamond rings.

6. Take your favorite ring or loose diamond to an independent jewelry appraiser. This will allow you to get a fair estimate of the market price of your ring. The appraiser can also verify the quality of the diamond, as well as pricing for each diamond ring you have looked at. This information can help you decide which ring is the best for the price.

Tips & Warnings

• While large jewelry chain stores can provide a variety of rings, they are also generally more expensive. Stick with independent and local jewelers to get the best price for your ring.

• Do not buy a diamond ring without looking at it in person first. Different cuts of diamonds may appeal to you more in person than in pictures.

References

• Single Guy Advisor: Cheap Diamond Engagement Ring
• Georgetown University Wiki: Helpful Tips For Buying Affordable Engagement Rings
• Kansas State University: Great Advertising Campaigns - De Beers; Thomas Gould