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So, you’ve finally met the person you want to spend the rest of your life with and you’re ready to propose to them. Congratulations to you! Your next task is to figure out how to pick an engagement ring. You want your proposal to be nothing but the most special for you and your partner. So, you need to find the perfect ring. This process can be daunting, but we are here to answer all your questions and help you to pick an engagement ring.

Pick an engagement ring in your budget

Firstly, you need to determine your budget. This is the most important part, it determines the quality of your stone, the intricacy of the settings, or any add-ons. The average engagement ring costs $5,900. With that in mind, decide how much you are willing to spend on your dream engagement ring.

Style

Secondly, select the style. To ensure that your partner loves the ring, raid their jewelry drawer to find their style. Does your partner like trendy jewelry, or do they go for more classic, demure styles?

The Band

After that, decide on the material and thickness of the band. The two most common band choices when picking an engagement ring are platinum and 14-carat white gold. Platinum scratches easily, but will never lose its color. White gold tends to fade to its natural yellow color over time but does not scratch as easily. It also costs a lot less than platinum. Make sure that the band and prongs are thick enough so that they don’t break from the pressure of the stone.

The Gem                                               

Shape

Now, consider the diamond itself. Diamonds come in many different shapes: round, princess, emerald, cushion, marquise, etc. Pick the shape that best suits your purpose. For instance, for a dazzlingly brilliant diamond, choose a round shape. If you are selecting a smaller stone, enhance its size with a princess cut. An oval-shaped diamond complements long, lean fingers, while the clarity of an emerald-shaped gem is second to none.

Pick an engagement ring by considering 4 C’s

Next, consider the 4 C’s. These are the four most important metrics for judging the worth of a diamond. A good balance of these qualities will give you your perfect gem without hurting your budget.

The first is Carat. We usually measure the weight or size of a diamond in Carat. An average diamond weighs one carat (around the dimensions of an Advil tablet).

The second is Color. Diamonds come in a spectrum of shades, from colorless to visibly yellowish. The colorless gems are rarest and most expensive. They range from colorless (‘D’) to visibly yellowish (‘Z’).

The third C is clarity. This refers to the number of inclusions (tiny flaws formed in the making of the diamond) in the diamond. Clarity is in six grades, from FL (flawless) to I3 (visibly flawed). The price of a diamond goes higher, as the inclusions become fewer or less visible. SI1 is the most budget-friendly option with almost invisible inclusions.

The fourth C is cut. The cut refers to the sparkle factor, rather than the gem shape. With a good cut, specific facets are cut into the gem to interact with light for maximum brilliance. Cuts are graded from excellent to poor. If you are looking for a radiant, budget-friendly cut, pick an engagement ring from grades good and above.

HELPFUL TIPS FOR PICKING AN ENGAGEMENT RING

If you are buying in-store, take the ring out of the store lighting and smudge it a little to see its real color and expose imperfections.

Furthermore, if you are buying online, ascertain that a reliable gem laboratory graded the diamond. Read the official grading report from the GIA, AGS, or EGL, and watch a 360-degree video of the stone to check for any imperfections that may be hidden in photos.

Choose a 0.9-carat stone instead of a one carat stone. Moreover, you can save up to 20 percent, and they appear to be the same size.

Last but not least, ensure to get insurance to protect your investment in case of theft or damage.

After you pick the perfect ring, don’t forget to send us pictures from the proposal. Do you have any other recommendations you have used to pick an engagement ring? Tell us in the comment section.