diamonds

If you are thinking about proposing, it can be very intimidating to start shopping for an engagement ring. If you don’t know the first thing about jewelry and diamonds- don’t worry! If you have time to visit us at Silver City, we will always be able to help guide you toward buying the ring that’s right for you. If you don’t, or want to start thinking about it from home, here is a beginning guide on how to start your search.

#1- How much should you spend?

Tradition suggests that three months salary is the “correct” amount to spend on an engagement ring, but everyone has their own unique financial situation. Whatever the number you choose is, you will want to know your budget ahead of time.

#2- Styles of engagement rings

Engagement rings come in many styles and each have their own expression. Your goal is to pick the style that your soon-to-be fiancé wants most and expresses her personal style. A solitaire setting (which is a plain-ish ring with a single diamond) is a classic choice for the lady who likes tradition. A halo setting (which is a ring in which a larger stone is encircled by smaller stones) is a trendy choice for the socially-conscious lady who is always on Pinterest and Facebook and keeps up with the latest fashions. Those are the two most popular styles right now; however, there are many other styles of engagement rings, from bezel set to three stone. If you don’t know which one she wants, then go shopping and look at the styles in jewelry stores. Or ask her friends or relatives if they know what she likes. If they don’t know, check out what kind of rings her married friends have.

#3-  The Diamond

The center stone in an engagement ring is where most of the cost is. The first question you should try to answer is, what shape would my soon-to-be fiancé like the most. The second thing you need to do is learn a little about the characteristics of diamonds and decide which are most important to you. Color, cut, and clarity make a diamond look nice, size makes it stand out. You will have to figure out where your priority is, but it’s advisable to keep the clarity and color at reasonable level. After considering these questions, go look at diamonds in person! Diamonds can not be accurately captured with a camera, you must see them in person to be able to truly know how nice they are. Look at diamonds and then ask what their grade is, take note of what qualities the diamonds have that you find nicest. Keep in mind that even diamonds graded exactly the same do not look exactly alike.

#4- Where to buy your engagement ring

Jewelry stores are not all created equal- many will give you a good deal on the right piece and many more will sell you a bad product for as much money as possible. First, choose a store that has experienced and educated staff who will work with you to find the ring that’s right for you. Second, keep in mind that some jewelry stores have much higher markups on their pieces than others, charging as much as double or triple for the same diamond. Make sure you compare prices. Third, don’t forget that your ring may need service and repair over the years, and choose a store that will be there if your ring needs to be sized, re-pronged, or fixed in any way. At Silver City, we do all these things and more. We are a great place to begin your search for the most important ring you will ever purchase.