For most couples, buying an engagement ring is usually the first (and most expensive) joint purchase you will make. And SOOO many people go in blind, choosing the element of surprise over planning—wild, right? But we’re all for a little romance. Whether you’re planning on shopping together or surprising your special someone, there are a few things you can do to make sure you’re making the right decision. Here’s what you need to know…
1. Before you fall in love with a ring, think about your lifestyle.
An engagement ring isn’t just for the proposal photos; it’s a piece of jewelry that you’re going to be wearing through everyday life. Think about your daily routine. Do you work with your hands? Do you obsessively clean? Are you always at the gym? All of these lifestyle factors should go into choosing the right design. If you have a particularly active lifestyle, you may want to stay away from delicate pavé settings that may require more maintenance.
2. The 4Cs only matter as much as they matter to you.
If you’re ring shopping, then you’ve heard of the 4Cs—cut, color, clarity, and carat weight—are the standard criteria used to evaluate diamond quality, but that doesn’t mean you need to prioritize all four equally. Choose what matters most to you. Are you all about the sparkle? Prioritize cut. Or, maybe you don’t just want a diamond; you want a ROCK, so go all in on the carats. Lab grown diamonds are a great way to get more bang for your buck, especially where carats are concerned. Color and clarity are often hard to distinguish with the naked eye, so, unless you’re a diamond expert, it’s probably ok to leave a little wiggle room there to invest more in cut and carat. The takeaway: don’t get caught up chasing perfect grades on paper. If you can’t see the difference or simply don’t care about it, why pay more? And sometimes, in the case of mined diamonds, their differences and “imperfections” are what make them unique. The best diamond isn’t necessarily the one with the highest grades. It’s the one that prioritizes what matters most to you.
3. Think about your wedding band [and future stack] before you choose your engagement ring.
This may come as a surprise, but not every engagement ring sits flush against a wedding band. Some raised or uniquely shaped settings may require a curved or contoured band for that seamless look. If you decide that you would like a matching set, a contrasting band, or eventually a stacked look.
4. Ask what happens after you buy the ring.
This is especially important if you’re going for the big surprise. What if they say no? What if they prefer a different style? What if it’s too big or too small? There are a lot of what-ifs! Always review return, exchange, resizing, and maintenance policies before purchasing. Our go-to, Fred Meyer Jewelers offers 60-day returns and a Lifetime Jewelry Care Plan covering eligible services such as resizing, prong repairs, polishing, and stone tightening. But keep in mind that jewelry care plans and guarantees aren’t substitutes for insurance covering theft or other losses, so you’ll want to look into that too and factor it into your overall budget.
We partnered with Fred Meyer Jewelers to bring you these hot tips on ring shopping just in time for engagement season. As always, thanks for supporting our sponsors!
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