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The selection of a budget friendly engagement ring can be a daunting task especially if you’re on a budget. Luckily, there are ways to get more bang for your buck without compromising on the quality of the ring. The key is knowing where to look and this blog will show you some of the best places to find affordable diamond engagement rings.
Determine The Budget That You Can Spend
The first thing to consider when buying diamond engagement rings is your budget. There is no point in buying engagement rings that will put you in debt for the rest of your life. So, you should consider what you can afford, not just what you want to spend on a diamond ring.
You may have heard the industry standard of spending three months’ salary on your engagement rings. We suggest you not use this industry guideline because every individual has a different financial situation and needs.
Choose Recycled Or Custom Settings For The Engagement Ring
If you’re like most people, the diamond engagement ring is your dream ring. However, if you cannot afford the price of a brand new one or a pre-made diamond ring setting, then do something different.
For instance, buy an interesting recycled ring or create your unique style using a custom-made setting. Custom-made rings are great as you can select the stones and metals of your choice and design them yourself.
Recycled rings are eco-friendly and quite reasonable. On the other hand, custom settings are also economical and you can find a wide range of options at Lozano’s Diamond Jewelry.
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Choose The Perfect Metal For The Setting
Selecting the metal of your custom engagement ring will be one of the most important decisions. Assess her preference and style to ensure you create a custom ring that she’ll admire for many years to come!
Does she love colorful jewelry? Consider rose gold which can be seen as being romantic and feminine depending on the specific hue.
You can choose white gold if she tends to wear silver jewelry. White gold is more affordable and goes with just about every skin tone out there!
You can choose Platinum if she’s planning to wear the ring daily because Platinum is durable but expensive. However, experts recommend using white gold over platinum as white gold needs less maintenance than Platinum.
Next, you have to determine the karat of your setting. Usually, gold is mixed with other elements to make them sturdy and durable for long-term wear. So, 14K gold is 58.3% gold and 18K gold is 75% gold.
14k is a gold metal used to construct ring settings because it is sturdy, malleable, and inexpensive. However, the specific size that you want will depend on your personal preferences.
Choose The Right Diamond Ring Setting Style
The choice of diamond ring setting will depend on your budget and personal taste. However, experts say that some of the best ideas for budget friendly engagement rings are halo or pave settings.
The halo setting is trending right now in the market. The halo surrounds the center stone with diamonds on all sides and creates an illusion of a larger center stone. This style has been popular with women recently.
The pave setting has been popular since the 1900s and makes even smaller center stones look flashy and attractive.
Decide The Shape Of The Diamond
The shape of the diamond is a major factor in determining the overall appearance and cost of the diamond. The shape can make a diamond appear larger or smaller, more or less brilliant, and more or less expensive.
Round shapes are perfect for those who want to create a classy look. They will never go out of style and can blend well with most people’s tastes.
Princess cut diamonds have become increasingly popular in recent years and many believe that they are the perfect choice for a bride-to-be. They are elegant and beautiful and can make your diamond stand out from all the rest.
Marquise cuts offer a more modern look than traditional designs. They provide an elongated look that is both elegant and stylish. The elongated lines of this shape can make any woman feel more confident about her appearance.
Consider Lab-Grown Diamonds Instead Of Mined Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are now incredibly desirable since the technology to create them has improved dramatically over the years, making them cheaper and more plentiful.
So, Lab-grown diamonds can be a definite perk if you’re looking for a budget friendly engagement ring.
Learn And Understand The Basic 4Cs Of Diamond
The 4Cs are the four main characteristics that determine the quality and price of diamonds. So, buyers need to know about the 4Cs before making a purchase.
The first C is cut, which refers to how well a diamond is handcrafted, or how well its facets align to reflect light. The second C is the carat, which refers to the weight of a diamond where 1 carat equals 200 milligrams.
The third C is color, which refers to whether or not a diamond has any color. The D-Z color-grading scale is a standardized way of grading the presence or absence of color in a diamond. It ranges from D, which is completely colorless, to Z, which has noticeable yellow tinting.
The fourth C is clarity, which refers to the absence of flaws under 10x magnification. A diamond with no inclusions is called flawless making the diamond rarest. Diamonds with very few inclusions are graded as “SI” meaning slightly flawed and are good options to buy.
When assessing the 4Cs, it’s important to remember that cut and carat counts most, not color and clarity.
Shop Around And Compare The Rings Before Investing
If you are planning to propose soon and are looking for the right engagement ring, then it is best to do your research two to three months in advance. This way you will have a better chance of finding the perfect ring for your partner.
If you’re not sure what to look for when shopping around, here is a short guide on how to get started:
- Know your partner’s style and taste: Find out what kind of jewelry they like and what colors they prefer. Also, find out if they wear any rings or necklaces that might help determine their taste.
- Put together a list of preferred stores: This can be done by going through their social media accounts or by asking friends or family directly. There are many websites with reviews and offers for different rings It is also possible to find a store near your home or work so you can go there in person and try on some rings before you buy them online.
Buy GIA or AGS Certified Diamonds
Diamonds are notoriously difficult to grade. There is a lot of room for error, and there are many cases where a diamond was graded incorrectly. This can lead to a customer being sold an overpriced stone, or even worse, being sold something that is not what they were expecting.
GIA and AGS are two of the most popular labs in the world. They both have decades of experience in grading diamonds and have been trusted by jewelers for years. The GIA is considered to be more stringent, while AGS is considered to be more lenient.
A diamond certified by a reliable lab like GIA or AGS provides you with peace of mind that your purchase will be worth it. It will give you the information you need to know before making a purchase decision on diamonds.
Add Sentimental Value to the Engagement Ring
The ring is a symbol of love, so it should have sentimental value attached to it. The ring should be something that the partner will cherish and keep for the rest of their lives. The ring should be something that they can wear with pride.
You can find your grandmother’s ring or mother’s ring and use it as a gift for your engagement. You can resize or reset the ring for her and it will be one of the best decisions you ever made.
You can also select a gemstone with her birthstone or first initial on the band of the ring. This way, you can honor her as she wears your special gift on her finger every day.
Conclusion
Choosing the right engagement ring is an important step in the proposal process. It can be nerve-wracking trying to find the right ring at the right price, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
By following our tips, you are sure to find the engagement ring you are looking for without breaking the bank! If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us with your concerns.
Thank you for reading!