How to Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring

It used to be that the man, otherwise known as “the soon-to-be-fiancee”, had the dreaded job of going to the jewelry store and picking out an engagement ring for his intended. Along with this job came the pressure and fears of finding the “right” ring. “Right” as in, will she like it? Can I afford it? Will she hate it, break up with me, and never want to see me again?

Fortunately, nowadays, it’s not considered strange for a man to take his girlfriend to the jewelry store so she can pick out her own engagement ring. That way, she won’t be disappointed. Because, she can choose exactly what she wants. The only problem the man might have is paying for the rock, especially if she has a “champagne taste” and he has a “beer pocket book.”

Either way, no matter who chooses the engagement ring, there are two main factors to consider:

1. The Metal Band

Ring bands are available in popular metals such as gold, white gold, silver, et cetera. The color of her band will depend on two things. One, if the bride-to-be is allergic to a certain metal, then that choice is out. And two, what metal she likes the best and prefers to wear.

Of course, metal bands come in different widths too. The bride-to-be may choose a petite, thin band. Or, she may like a wide, thick band instead.

2. The Diamond

There are many shapes of diamonds to choose from: Emerald, Heart, Marquise, Oval, Pear, Princess, and Radiant, just to give some examples. There are also many sizes of diamonds to choose from. You can choose a very small .33 of a carat, which measures 4.4 millimeters across, or, you can choose an engagement ring that boasts one carat or more in brilliant rocks. Of course, the bigger the diamond, the more expensive the ring will be.

Another factor that will affect the price of the diamond stone will be its “cut.” If a diamond is rated to have an “Ideal” cut, that means it’s top rate. When it’s held up to the light, this type of diamond brilliantly reflects light rays.

An “excellent” cut diamond reflects light, but not nearly as well. And, the lowest priced diamond has a “Very Good” cut. This stone doesn’t have the fire and the luminescence of the better cuts. But, it passes the light test and it’s generally more affordable.

Whenever you think of a diamond, you probably think of a clear stone. These are commonly called, “White” diamonds in the jewelry world. White diamonds are the most common type of diamonds in the world.

Diamonds also come in champagne, pink, pink champagne, yellow, blue, and green colors as well. These colored stones command a higher price than the more common white diamonds. You may not want to pay the higher price, but, these stones are still an option available to you.

If a man’s finances are stressed, he can always opt for an engagement ring that has simulated diamonds mounted in it. Cubic Zirconia is the most popular of the “fake” stones. They can either be clear or they can be colored.

There is also Synthetic Moissanite. Just like Cubic Zirconia, it can pass for a real diamond in many ways, including looks.

Naturally, an engagement ring that has at least one genuine diamond mounted in its setting costs more than a ring containing fake stones. But, diamonds are a good investment because they never, ever depreciate. Instead, their value always appreciates over time as long as they are kept in “like new” condition. It takes a lot to chip a diamond stone, but they can break if they are handled roughly.

This is why an engagement ring should be removed and placed in a safe location before the bride-to-be is going to perform dirty tasks or work outside.