Engagement Rings
Buying an engagement ring can be a rather daunting task. In fact, many of us rarely (if ever) visit a jewelry store until this occasion is upon us. As such a little education can go a long way in taking away some of the intimidation these initial trips shopping for engagement rings can cause.
Diamonds
- Shape - This is probably the first thing you're gonna have to decide.
- Cut - The cut of the diamond can greatly affect the price. You'll find many jewelers may have their version of the ideal cut diamond. Some the ideal cuts include Eight Star, Hearts and Arrows, or even the Blue Nile Signature collection.
- Color - The color of the diamond. Color on white diamonds ranges from D-Z.
- Clarity - A measure of how imperfections or inclusions found within the diamond. Clarity is generally graded from FL-I3.
- Carat - The size of the diamond.
Setting
Just cause you've picked out a diamond doesn't mean the game is over. You're still gonna have to put that diamond in a setting. Often times, if you prefer you can get your stone set in a simple solitaire setting and pick out the "real" setting later. One thing to keep in mind while budgeting is the setting. Often times there are two rings involved, the engagement ring and then a wedding band.
Online Information
The good news is that there is plenty of information online to help with this sort of thing. Checkout out this Engagement Ring Guide for example. Online is also a great resource to start getting a gauge on pricing, here is a place to get an idea of what you might be getting yourself into: Wedding and Engagement Rings at Blue Nile
