As we all know, an engagement ring is not only an important purchase, but it is also a very expensive purchase. Often, an engagement ring amounts to months of saving your hard-earned income or potentially wracking up your credit card bill. The thought of this is considerably daunting, yet exciting at the same time.
When it comes to getting engaged, we don’t want the cost of a ring to overshadowed the pure joy of asking the person you love to spend the rest of your lives together. Therefore, it’s important to first go over ways that you can reduce the cost of an engagement ring. This article will be highlighting appropriate ways to save money throughout the purchasing process.
Determine Your Budget For The Engagement Ring
First and foremost, it’s important to set a limit on the price you’re willing or able to pay for an engagement ring. This is a crucial step and should not be taken lightly. Even if you choose to decide on a ballpark figure (for example, $3000-$5000 total), then you will have set a standard for yourself.
We do this so that we’re able to shop appropriately – not extravagantly. This is also excellent information to provide a professional jeweler or even a jewelry store clerk, as they will be able to select rings for you to look at, within your price range. Visit a jewelry store that offers wholesale engagement rings like a Diamond Exchange versus trying to shop at big name brand store. There is truly no purpose in shopping (even window shopping) for a ring that you cannot possibly afford. This will only set you up for failure and potentially tarnish your view of lesser-priced rings.
By setting a limit, you will also automatically exclude any outlandishly priced rings if searching online. This also allows you to determine the size of stone you’re able to purchase, the type of material the band will be made out of, etc. Depending on your affordability, certain carats of diamonds, class of diamond (for example D-F graded diamond), or styles of metal (like platinum) may be out of your price point. It’s important to be aware of this in advance, as that way there is no necessary disappointment or guilt when shopping around or comparing rings.
Know the Proper Return Policies, Interest Charges, etc.
As previously mentioned, many folks opt to purchase an engagement ring through the means of credit or financing options. While this seemingly appears to be a great idea, it’s often that people can become overwhelmed by the payments and interest charges. This is especially true in terms of folks who do not set a price limit, or who buy a very expensive ring that they normally could not afford – merely because it was an available option through credit.
This is why it is important to do thorough research and read the fine print of any contract, before purchasing a ring. If purchasing through credit is a necessity, that is perfectly normal, it is just recommended that folks are fully aware of interest rates, payment schedules, etc., in advance. This way, there shouldn’t be any issues making your payments on time and if you remain in your price range, you should still be able to save for your upcoming wedding.
Similarly, folks purchasing engagement rings must be aware of the return policies. Unfortunately, some proposals do not work out and there are times when the person receiving the ring may not enjoy it aesthetically. In this case, folks will generally require an exchange or to return the ring entirely. If a store or company does not accept returns, only gives a percentage of the cost back, etc., purchasers could find themselves out of a lot of money. This is why it’s a necessity to ensure that there are proper return policies in place, in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Consider a Lab Grown Diamonds as Opposed to a Natural Diamond
As most people know, diamonds can be an incredibly expensive stone. Depending on the unique cut, clarity, carat and accompanying band, the price of a diamond engagement ring can steadily increase. Often, folks would prefer a larger stone on their engagement band, which can end up costing a pretty penny. If you’d like to have a stone that’s 1 carat or larger, but can’t afford the cost of the diamond, try looking into gemstones.
Because lab grown diamonds cost less per carat than a diamond, it’s common that people can afford a bigger stone. This is without mentioning the uniqueness and brilliant color that a lab grown diamonds can offer an engagement ring. As folks often appreciate a ring that is individualistic to them, lab grown diamonds are an excellent option. The choice of utilizing a lab grown diamonds creates an immaculately appealing and affordable option.
Opt For Gold Over Platinum
While platinum is a stunning choice for an engagement ring, especially when paired with a beautifully clear diamond, it is very expensive. In terms of white gold, platinum can occasionally equate to double the price. This is because platinum is considered to be rarer and is naturally white, while white gold is created from a mixture of alloys.
Considering white gold is a mixture (often with palladium), it is coated and therefore can lose its sheen if not cared for accordingly. At the same time, if white gold is of a lower quality, it can appear yellow in hue over time. Platinum, on the other hand, will never turn and retains its white metallic color over time. However, platinum is a far denser metal, making more required in order to create an engagement band.
While this tends to make a white gold sound like a lesser quality option, this is not the case. White gold is immaculately beautiful and if kept clean and proper, will maintain its appearance. White gold is also much more appropriate for everyday wear, as it is more durable than malleable platinum. All of these benefits come at a significantly lesser price, making it a phenomenal option for a purchaser with a specific budget.
This can all be said for 14k and 18k white gold – both making excellent choices for any engagement band. In terms of the amount of gold used per band, 18 karats white gold will consist of approximately 75% gold, while 14 karats will have approximately 58%.
All in All
Hopefully this article has given you great insight on some ideas on how to get great deals when buying an engagement ring. We hope your proposal and wedding go amazing. Take care!!