Unique Wedding Tips

Are you planning to buy your significant other an engagement ring? Are you wondering how much to spend on that engagement ring for her? Here is a 5 step way to figure out how much to spend on an engagement ring.

Step #1

Figuring out how much to spend on an engagement ring is not an easy task. Each woman is different and each woman wants something different. They will almost always be modest so the first rule of thumb is to go a little larger than what they think they are getting. If they think they are getting a half carat, then bump it up to a three quarter carat diamond. This will ensure she is happy.

Step #2

The price of the ring is only part of what you need to look at. The real price tag is the value. She does not need to know exactly what you spent, but the value is going to be on the appraisal so she will know that. There is nothing wrong with getting a $3,000 ring for $1,000. That is called smart shopping.

Step #3

Figure out what she thinks the value of her ring should be and make sure the ring is worth more than that. If she will be satisfied with a $2,000 ring, then make sure you get at least a $2,500 ring. It is always good to go above and beyond when it comes to her diamond engagement ring. This does not mean you have to spend $500 more than what she expects the value to be, that is up to you.

Step #4

Forget the 2 months salary rule right now. That was just intelligent marketing on the part of DeBeers about 15 years ago. If you make $4,000 a month, then you are talking about spending $8,000 on a diamond engagement ring. Most people that make $4,000 a month cannot afford to spend two months of their salary on a ring. Maybe getting a ring that is worth $8,000 would be a good idea if you can get a great deal and spend around $3,000. Trust me this can be done and we will talk about that a bit in step 5.

Step #5

Spend what you know you can afford and get a great diamond engagement ring that she will love. Your goal is to make her happy and make sure she says yes so you need to get her what she wants and go a little above what she is expecting. Trust me what she is expecting and what she wants are two different things. You need to find these out and then do some creative shopping using online discounter like eBay. Avoid the mall jewelry stores and make sure to get prices from more than just a couple stores. There are a ton of great deals out there and the more patient you are the better your chances of getting a ring that will appraise for twice what you spend.

You now have 5 steps to help you figure out how much to spend on an engagement ring. This is just a short guide and you should always take your soon to be wives feelings and opinions on this matter very seriously. After all she is the one that will be wearing it for the rest of her life.

Basically, engagement rings have three parts:

The band is the part of the ring that goes around the finger. Bands are made of silver, platinum or gold.

The setting is the part of the ring holding the stone. On some rings, the setting is pronged, while other settings are more “invisible.”

For many, the stone is the most important part of engagement rings. The size and the shape of the stone is usually a matter of budget. The bigger the stone, the more expensive it’s likely to be. When one generally speaks or hears of engagement rings, it’s usually assumed that the stone on the ring is a diamond. This isn’t always the case, and doesn’t even have to be the case, but it’s a good assumption. Diamonds are the stones most often associated with engagement rings. Choosing the type of stone is easy, choosing the size (or carat) and shape of the stone is a whole other story.

The different cuts of diamonds for engagement rings are as follows:

Round — The most popular style for rings. Round goes with just about any setting and is supposed to be the best shape to show off the stone’s brilliance.

Princess — A square diamond which looks bigger than differently shaped diamonds of the same weight.

Emerald Cut — This rectangular diamond is considered the most sophisticated of all the shapes.

Marquis — Although it’s also round, it looks longer than a round or oval cut diamond because it’s pointed at two ends.

Pear — The pear shape is almost rounded at the top but pointed at the bottom. The pear doesn’t look very good as a single stone set into a ring. This shape is recommended for other types of jewelry, such as necklaces or earrings.

Oval — This cut is similar to the round cut, but looks bigger because of its shape. This shape works best with larger stones.

It’s okay not to know what type of ring to purchase. Doing some research beforehand helps. If you have any questions or aren’t sure which diamond is right for you, don’t be afraid to ask the jeweler. If he’s reputable, he’ll be more than happy to share his expertise with you.

A little knowledge can go a long way in purchasing the ideal engagement ring at the best possible price. See, you’ve finally decided: you’re going to pop the question. You’re going to buy that engagement ring, make reservations for that dream dinner, buy flowers, get on one knee and propose. But wait a second – have you thought this out? Have you done your research? The first step is often the most crucial one, and in this case, you should definitely pay attention to the words of the more knowledgeable.

Many engagement rings are made of diamond. What kind of diamond do you think you can afford? All the engagement ring buying tips online say that a diamond is forever, but even with a limited budget, forever need not be beyond your reach! Shop around for good bargains, don’t settle with the first shop that catches your eye.

When buying diamonds, you should first and foremost be aware of the 4 c’s: carat, clarity, color and cut. Any gemstone expert worth his or her salt can tell you more about these c’s. It doesn’t follow that the largest diamond is the best or the most expensive: the cost of a diamond depends on its value, which in turn depends on how well the requirements of the 4 c’s are fulfilled.

The most popular choice for engagement ring style is the solitaire diamond in white gold, and depending on the cut, small solitaire diamonds could look rather classy. Avoid the standard, often cheaper yellow gold metal base – it doesn’t speak of “class” at all! First-time gem buyers often find themselves lost in all the strange gemstone-related terminologies; should this happen, consider securing the assistance of a person with a trained eye for selecting gemstones.

You also need to think about the kind of metal that will be used for the ring. Of course it’s not just the jewel that needs attention. Does she prefer white gold or platinum? Pay close attention to the kind of jewelry she is already wearing. The ring you will buy, as all the engagement ring buying tips will tell you, need to be made of a metal that will look good on your bride-to-be and at the same time not be bad for her sensitive skin.

But above all, consider buying a loose diamond to show her when you propose. Then you and your bride-to-be can shop around for the right ring shape together. This might well be the wisest decision you’ll ever make in this matter.

The Internet is there to guide you and be your friend throughout this fussy selection process. Don’t just go with your gut: look up those engagement ring buying tips! The big night is not the right time to throw caution to the wind!