In The Know: What to Know Before Engagement Ring Shopping
While it’s true that holidays may be the most popular time
to propose to your sweetheart, plenty of people decide to propose during the
warmer months of the year. In the spring or summer, the weather is beautiful,
and a beach, park, or sunset proposal can be amazing! And you don’t have to
worry about rain or a cold snap ruining your plans.
If proposing has been on your mind, there are quite a few
things to think about ahead of time. We’ve put together a sort of checklist for
you to follow when ring shopping, as well as some things to think about during
the process. This is by no means a catch-all, and if you’re still unsure of
what you’d like, or what your intended would like, after reading this blog, contact
us at Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers at 619-299-1500. Our skilled team is expertly
equipped to help you find the right ring for your budget, lifestyle and
preferences.
The Essentials
1. Find the Right Shape for You
There
are a multitude of cuts, especially for diamonds, that change the shape of the
diamond itself. The most common cut for diamonds is the round brilliant cut, or
RBC, and it is a classic and timeless round shape. Below are the other most
popular shapes, these shapes allow for a more unique look. If you’re looking
for a simpler engagement ring the solitaire style rings have been making a big
comeback, and this option really lets the shape and beauty of your diamond be
the focal point. If you’re looking for a setting for a fancy shape diamond you
may have fewer options in store but many rings can be modified or custom made
to fit any fancy cut. If you’re interested in a specialized cut or a fully
customizable ring, meeting with a ring specialist is highly recommended. All of
our highly trained salespeople are perfectly equipped to help answer any and
all questions regarding shape.
2. Pick Your Precious Metal
Once
you’ve picked a diamond, you can move on to the metals. Platinum has long been
a classic for engagement and wedding rings due to its durability to last for
decades without wearing thin. The most popular metal for engagement rings in
recent years has been white gold, although yellow gold is making a strong
comeback since 2020. If you prefer to be more unique, you may turn your eyes to
rose gold, which has more of a pink hue. Metals vary in cost, so that can
influence your decision once you see how they look while browsing in the store.
The costs for a simple solitaire semi-mount (not including the diamond) is dependent on the market price of the metals, but here is a general breakdown of the starting costs right now for a 2 carat solitaire in 14 karat gold:
– Yellow Gold: ~$695+
– White Gold: ~$695+
– Rose Gold: ~$695+
– Platinum: ~$1350+
This is by no means 100% accurate, as prices fluctuate daily, but is a good amount of base knowledge for if you’re building your own ring. Keep your budget in mind when looking at metals, and also remember that pre-built rings are the way to go if you are budget conscious. In the image below, platinum and white
gold will look very similar. The metals can all be cleaned and polished, but white
gold may need to be re-rhodium plated periodically to restore the ring to its original
luster (a simple and inexpensive process).
3. Have a Carat Size in Mind
Most engagement rings have a central stone, and are either on their own or accompanied by a variety of different shapes, styles, and types of stones. While colored gemstones are also purchased as engagement rings, for the sake of this blog we will be talking strictly diamonds.
Carat actually refers to the weight of the diamond, and not the size. Generally speaking, the more the diamond weighs, the larger it will appear. The larger the carat weight of a diamond, the more expensive. This is not to be confused with the “carat total weight” or ctw of a ring that indicates the total of the weight of all of the diamonds in the ring. A 3.00 ct diamond ring with a single diamond is going to be exponentially more expensive than a 3.00 ctw diamond ring set with multiple smaller diamonds.
If you’re interested in a larger carat diamond, but aren’t sure you want to spend that much money, consider looking into lab grown diamonds. These are real diamonds, simply made in controlled laboratory conditions rather than mined from the ground. This means that you can get a significantly bigger diamond with better color & clarity for the same price as a mined diamond. Only a gemological laboratory with $10,000 testing equipment can determine if a diamond is lab grown or mined. Your fiancée won’t know, her friends won’t know, and her jeweler won’t know either. Learn more about lab grown diamonds here.
The average diamond in an engagement ring is dependent on location, but according to The Knot, the average diamond in a solitaire engagement ring in the US is 1.50 carats. About half of all engagement diamonds are between 1.00 and 2.00 carats, and 25% of them are over 2.00
4. Pre-Shop with Your Sweetheart
Ring choice is as unique as your soulmate, and the last thing you want is to propose with a ring that they aren’t excited to wear. Year after year, we see more couples coming in to go through the shopping experience together. This can be great if that’s what works for you and your beloved, and if your intended is involved with picking the perfect ring, they get to live with the excitement of wondering when you’re going to pop the question!
If you’d rather make it a surprise, but want some guidance, try asking her best friend for advice, or see if she’s made a ring board on Pinterest! Or let our experts help you make your best selection, knowing that you can always exchange it if it isn’t what was expected!
5. Research Your Shops
There are plenty of options on where you can buy your engagement rings, but the big box stores have a limited selection of styles and settings for you to choose from. They usually carry more basic styles that you are going to see on a bunch of other people. Independent small jewelry stores like ours allow you to explore a wider variety of new, vintage, and antique rings to find one that fits your budget and style. Some rings will have diamonds already set, or you can shop loose diamonds to select the gemstone first and then look for the ideal ring to set it in. Our highly skilled salespeople can also help you to design and create the custom ring of your dreams if you long for something truly unique to your beloved.
Wherever you shop, make sure the store has a return policy. If you aren’t 100% sure about the band size, carat weight, shape, or your sweetheart’s preference, you want to be sure that you can return or exchange the ring you’ve purchased. We have an accommodating return and exchange policy and will work with you on your particular circumstances to make sure your fiancée is over the moon about their new ring!
If you’re ready to pop the question but are still overwhelmed, you are welcome to visit our showroom and take your time to browse, ask questions, and learn. Even if you’re just information gathering, our skilled and friendly salespeople are more than excited to help you along your journey. Call today at 619-299-1500, or visit our showroom at 1851 San Diego Ave, Suite 130, San Diego CA 92110.
We hope to see you soon!
