How to get the diamond engagement ring without spending your life savings
1. How to Get the Diamond Engagement Ring without Spending Your
Life Savings
The diamond engagement ring has been, for over a century, the defining symbol of a
couple’s relationship. A glance at a woman’s ring finger told you everything you needed to
know about the couple’s relationship status and financial situation. In the days before
Facebook, the diamond engagement ring was the ultimate status update.
But along with the financial crisis of 2008 came a troubling new trend. As young couples
struggled to find jobs and make rent, the idea of buying that perfect diamond
engagement ring was pushed to a back burner. Unfortunately, this led to a steep decline
in the number of couples tying the knot in 2009 and 2010. If they couldn’t afford the
multi-carat dazzling sparkler of their dreams, these couples decided, they just wouldn’t
get engaged at all.
Thankfully, this troubling trend has been turning around, and engagements are set to
rebound in 2011. But even as the international markets recover and unemployment slows,
there are still millions of young people around the world who aren’t in the financial
position to afford the dazzling, giant diamond engagement rings they really want. Luckily
for them, you can get a gorgeous diamond ring without going into debt, just by following
these ten simple suggestions. After all, love shouldn’t wait for you to win the lottery.
1. The most important tip to remember when you buy rings, for weddings or
engagements, is: size doesn’t matter. That is, of course you want a huge multi-
carat diamond on your finger, but in the long term, you will be a lot happier if you
choose a stone of a higher quality and a slightly smaller size for the same price.
There are many reasons for this. First, the sparkle and brilliance of a well-cut
stone, even a small one, will make it more eye-catching and glamorous than a
larger stone that looks ostentatious and showy without the true quality to make it
sparkle. Second, you can always reset a smaller stone into a decorative,
embellished setting later on in your life, when your financial situation improves.
You’ll feel silly doing that with a cheap, dull stone full of visible flaws.
2. 2. Speaking of re-setting the stone, when you plan your diamond engagement ring
budget, plan to spend proportionately more on the center stone itself than on the
setting. A simple, but high-quality setting will show off your stone elegantly, and
you’ll always have the option later on to re-set your stone in something more
opulent and elaborate if that’s what you want. The real budget secret is
the tiffany-style setting—a simple prong setting that’s been showing off diamonds
with understated distinction for over a hundred years.
3. It’s true for everything from books to groceries, but shopping online for diamond
engagement rings can be a great way to save a few dollars on top-quality
diamonds and settings. Some consumers are hesitant to buy such a big-ticket item
without seeing it first, but the truth is that when it comes to buying diamonds,
the real determination lies in the various diamond ranking criteria like cut and
color, not in what you can see with your untrained eyes. Of course, before you buy
3. any diamond jewelry online, make sure the site is reputable and safe, and never
buy uncertified diamonds, no matter how budget-friendly!
4. Knowledge is power—money-saving power, in this case. The more you know about
how diamonds are graded and ranked, the better you will be able to tell which
factors are very important to you and which are less significant. For example, you
might think that only a diamond graded (VS) for clarity is going to look good, but
the truth is that any AGS or GIA diamond that is certified VS2 or above will look
exactly the same to the naked eye as internally flawless diamond. It’s best not
mix up visual clarity with sparkle. Clarity has nothing to do with the fire, brilliance
and sparkle that come from a diamond. It’s a personal decision, in the end, so
doing your own research will help prevent you from shelling out for features or
grades that don’t make a difference from a visual standpoint.
5. When you see a sweet, romantic commercial for a national jewelry chain, its
tempting to think that you will find the ring of your dreams at your local mall. The
truth is, though, that all that commercial airtime has to be paid for somehow, and
so national chains tend to offer mediocre diamonds in less-than-perfect settings for
top prices. While it’s certainly fun to browse a mall jewelry store for inspiration,
resist the hard sales pitch that will have you overpay for an inferior product.
With a little planning, a little research, and perhaps a little luck, you can find the diamond
engagement ring of your dreams—without a shocking credit card bill! Happy Shopping!
