3 Essential Engagement Ring Shopping Tips: 2019 Edition

Every year in the US, there are over 2.2 million marriages.

If you’re looking to be one of these millions of people in the coming year, then you’re probably thinking about the step before marriage: the engagement.

For many people, the engagement is just as big of a deal as the wedding is. After all, the proposal is the very first time where you proclaim your lifelong commitment to your partner.

Therefore, you want to make sure you make it very special, and that you choose the right ring for the occasion.

But, with so many options out there for engagement rings, how are you supposed to know which one to choose?

Check out this guide to learn the top tips for engagement ring shopping.

1. Don’t Go Into it Blind

Just because you want the proposal to be a surprise, doesn’t mean the ring has to be.

Before shopping for an engagement ring, you should get an idea of what your partner would like.

Now, how much you ask your partner will depend upon how much of a surprise you want the proposal to be. If you’re not too set on the element of surprise, it may even be a good idea to take your partner ring shopping with you.

However, if you’d like things to be a surprise, then you may want to ask friends and family members to do some investigating for you to find out your loved one’s ring preferences.

2. Understand the 4 Cs

When shopping for a diamond engagement ring, it’s imperative that you understand the 4 Cs.

The 4 Cs are a global standard that was created by the Gemological Institute of America to assess the quality of a diamond and to compare it to others.

Here’s what each C stands for:

Color: Color is ranked on a scale of D to Z. Diamonds with less color are rarer and therefore more expensive.

Cut: Cut refers to how well the diamond releases light. The stronger the cut, the higher the quality of the diamond.

Clarity: Clarity refers to the absence of blemishes and inclusions.

Carat Weight: Carat weight refers to the apparent size of the diamond.

Once you understand the 4 Cs, you’ll be able to ask yourself, “Which C is most important to my partner?”

By prioritizing the Cs, it’ll be easier to eliminate certain diamonds from your search.

3. Consider the Metal

To choose engagement rings to match your love, you’ll also want to consider the different types of metals.

When it comes to metal, you have four options to choose from: white gold, rose gold, yellow gold, and platinum.

To choose the right metal, you’ll want to consider your partner’s style. For example, if your partner wears a lot of colors, then rose gold is usually the best option.

If your partner wears a lot of silver jewelry, then white gold is usually your best choice.

Also, we suggest white gold over platinum, as white gold is less expensive and requires less maintenance.

Are You Ready to Go Engagement Ring Shopping?

Now that you have these tips in mind, it’s time to go engagement ring shopping.

Before you know it, you’ll be walking down the aisle to marry the love of your life!

Also, if you liked this article, be sure to check back in for more engagement-related tips and tricks.