Anna GionetYou’ve decided you found the one – the peanut butter to your jelly, the milk to your cookies, your one and only, your true love. And that means it’s time to plan the proposal. But wait! Before you ask your partner the big question, it’s time to pick out the perfect engagement ring. Luckily, the experts at Shane Co. have put together this engagement ring guide to help you make the right choice.
1. Find their style
An engagement ring is entirely personal. After all, it’s one of the only pieces of jewelry your partner is likely to wear everyday (and forever). So you want to make sure that you’re choosing an engagement ring they really want, rather than just whatever is popular or “in style” at the time of your proposal. Tools like Shane Co.’s engagement ring quiz can help you to figure out what they may want in a ring. But, the best way to discover their style is take hints from your sweetie themselves.
- What kind of jewelry do they wear?
- Is their style classic, modern or eclectic?
- Have they brought up engagement rings before?
To gather more information, asking their family and friends is always a good option. Just make sure they know to keep it quiet if you’re looking to make the proposal a surprise.
2. How much should you spend on an engagement ring?
First, figure out how much you can afford to spend on the engagement ring before you begin your shopping journey. That way, you won’t be presented with rings that are out of your budget so you can more accurately compare styles and stones. Remember that there’s no “rule” to how much you should spend – it relies entirely on your personal finances, priorities and wants. One thing to think about is that an engagement almost always precedes a wedding, so if you want to start saving for an extravagant wedding party, it might make sense to structure your budget accordingly. At Shane Co., you can always upgrade their ring later down the line. With our comprehensive upgrade program, you’ll get the full value of your first engagement ring purchase.
3. How much should I save for an engagement ring?
If you haven’t already begun to save up for a ring, now is the time to start. You can do this by setting a timeline for yourself, putting aside a certain amount per week/month, deciding on a particular amount and simply saving until you reach it, or taking advantage of programs like layaway or credit cards. We recommend, however, having at least half the cost of the engagement ring available at the time of purchase, even if you are able to do monthly payments in the future.
4. Do your research
One of the most important steps in making any big decision is doing your research. Unless you’re already a diamond and jewelry expert (which most of us aren’t), you probably have some questions regarding how to buy a diamond engagement ring, what the 4 C’s mean, what a semi-mount is, and what are the differences between yellow, white and rose gold – and those are just the first questions that come to mind.
The Four C’s
The four C’s are well-known elements of choosing a diamond. They include the stone’s cut, clarity, color, and carat. Deciding which of the four C’s matter the most to you can help make the process of buying a diamond a lot simpler!
Semi-mounts
A semi-mount refers to a separate engagement ring setting and center stone, that are then put into place by a jeweler. At Shane Co., we sell both preset engagement rings (with the stone already “set” in the ring), and design-your-own semi-mounts.
Diamond shapes
The main diamond shapes include round, cushion, princess, emerald, marquise, heart, oval, pear, and radiant.
Metal types
At Shane Co., we offer engagement rings in a variety of different metals, using high-quality 14k white, yellow, and rose gold as well as durable platinum.
If this seems like a lot of ground to cover, you can just head to a Shane Co. store to speak with one of our jewelry experts. Our staff is noncommission and no-pressure, so even if you’re not ready to buy, it can help to speak with a member of our sales team to learn more about the engagement ring shopping process. You can even conduct subjectivity tests (how do you conduct subjectivity kits?) in-store and compare our diamonds with other jewelers’ to see the Shane Co. difference.
Start with a setting and design your own engagement ring!
5. Where to buy an engagement ring
With the popularity of online shopping rising more than ever, Shane Co. is excited to be able to offer a variety of ways to shop for an engagement ring. You’re always welcome to visit a Shane Co. store near you, but you also have the ability to Browse all of our engagement rings at ShaneCo.com! You can even make a virtual or in-store appointment to get help from one of our expert jewelry consultants. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to create the perfect engagement ring and proposal…because that’s what a friend would do.
6. Buy that ring!
Now that you know how to buy an engagement ring and where to get one,, it’s time to visit a jeweler and make your purchase. You may want to compare a few rings first to see which ones best match the engagement ring you’ve imagined, so it can help to bring in photos if you have a specific idea in mind. Finally, ask your salesperson about any payment plans, re-sizing and purchase timelines before you get ready to pop the question. It will usually take a little time for your engagement ring to be totally ready to go – you’ll probably be informed of this, but now’s the time to ask any questions you still have before taking the jump.
7. Take advantage of exclusive perks at Shane Co.
After purchasing the ring, a lot of scary scenarios may run through your mind:
- What is my partner doesn’t like it?
- What if we want to get a different ring in the future?
- What if it gets damaged or the diamond falls out?
At Shane Co., we offer all our customers a 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee, upgrade program, and Free Lifetime Warranty that even includes your center stone. That way, you can feel confident knowing that your engagement ring is safe. Just bring it in every six months or so for cleaning and inspection, so it can remain as perfect and sparkly as the day you bought it.
Want to start shopping today? You can see all our unique engagement ring settings online, visit us in-store, or shop all pre-set rings for an easy, enjoyable experience.
Anna Gionet
