Now that you’re all set to get married, we’re sure your wedding planning is in full swing. During this phase, the one question that is bound to boggle your mind is to do with the kind of wedding/ engagement ring you want to go for. And why won’t it? After all, that’s the one jewellery piece you’ll have on almost all the time from now on. So ladies, to help you out, here are 10 tips to choose your engagement ring that’ll make the job easier for you.
1. Decide your budget
Deciding a budget for your engagement ring is the first and the most important step. Plan a budget with your hubby well in advance because it’s easy to fall for designs that exceed your budget. Having a fair idea of how much you both are willing to spend on the ring will make the process a little easier.
2. What’s your lifestyle like?
Keep your lifestyle in mind when choosing the ring. Does your job require you to be on your laptop all day or take care of people or do you always end up getting your hands dirty and messy while gardening? You need to keep these things in mind when choosing the ring. Rings with a head (prong setting) are easier to clean but may not be the best option if you’re nursing people.
3. Stay true to your personal style
Do you want to go in for a design that’s delicate or something bold? We all have our preferences and it’s important to stay true to your style when choosing your engagement ring. Firstly, you don’t have to bother about what’s trending since this is something that you’ll be using for life and trends change oh-so-often. Secondly, if you like dainty designs, going for a bold ring is something you might regret later.
4. What’s your stone preference?
Diamonds are every girl’s best friend, yes. But feel free to explore other options as well. There are so many beautiful coloured gemstones to choose from! Either way, see what suits your personality best and choose the stone accordingly.
5. What should the stone be set in?
It could be a plain platinum band or something strikingly golden. Take your time to choose what you think will look best because you’re going to be wearing this ring pretty much forever, ladies!
6. Keeping the 4 Cs in mind!
Before you head out to start looking for the ‘perfect ring’, educate yourself a little about the 4 Cs of diamond quality. The 4 Cs are colour, clarity, carat weight and cut.
Colour – Diamonds come in a lot of prized colours like blue and pink. But in the case of white diamonds, the presence of a yellow tint will reduce the value of the diamond. Lesser the body colour it contains, more the price of a white diamond!
Clarity – Since diamonds are formed under extreme heat and pressure, they contain ‘birthmarks’, which are small imperfections inside the diamond. Clarity refers to the degree to which these marks are present. The clearer the diamond, more light can pass through it.
Carat Weight – Carat weight tells how much the stone weighs which also determines the price of the diamond.
Cut – Cut refers to the diamond’s symmetry and polish not the shape. The better the cut of the diamond, better the shine.
7. Research beforehand
Do your research well! With so many design inspirations on Pinterest and Instagram, you can go through a million engagement ring designs online to see what kind of a ring you want. Having a fair idea of the kind of design you like will save you from feeling confused and lost when you finally go to the jeweller.
8. Get it insured!
We don’t mean for you to be too hyper about your ring, but it is, at the end of the day, quite an investment, ladies. Make it a point to get it insured.
9. Shop for your finger shape
Though this may not be the most important factor in deciding the ring you want, but some types of rings will look prettier on your fingers than the rest. Do a little research on the types of fingers you have and the kind of rings that’ll complement them.
10. Certify the stone
Always check for the hallmark! Even if you’re getting your engagement ring made from your mom’s age old jeweller, it’s important to check for purity. Hallmark certification will make it easier for you to get returns on investment if you ever feel like getting your ring modified.
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