Some tips on how to select the right ring for your budget

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Don’t panic if you don’t know everything there is to know about engagement rings. Here’s the lowdown on the essentials.

When you’re in the market for an engagement ring, you can’t just rush out and buy one. Alright, you could, but you really shouldn’t. Purchasing an engagement ring takes some time and research, and we’re here with tips to help you through the process. Here’s a roundup of some useful articles on Jewelry Wise to help guide you through the process of selecting the engagement ring that’s perfect for your fiancée.

1. Establish your budget

It’s not set in stone (ha!) that you need to spend two months of your salary on an engagement ring. You can get an absolutely stunning ring no matter your price range by considering what’s most important to your fiancée and what trade-offs you’re willing to make when it comes to choices like diamond size, color, ring style and metals. Here are some tips on how to select the right ring for your budget.

How do you determine your budget in the first place? It does involve a little math, but sitting down to figure out your income versus expenses now can save you from huge headaches later. Here’s how to calculate how much you can afford to spend on an engagement ring.

2. Get smart

There are endless styles of engagement rings out there, from traditional to unconventional. While this may seem overwhelming, here are some smart ways you can begin to narrow down the field.

Decide between diamond solitaire or “other.” Other choices include multiple diamonds, color gemstones, three-stone diamond rings and more. If you go with diamonds, learn all you can about them, including cut, shape, quality, branded diamonds and diamond grading certificates.
Determine her style. Rings can range from classic to modern to vintage. What’s what? Check out this useful engagement ring style guide to help you navigate the hallmarks of different designs. If you don’t find exactly what you want, perhaps a custom design is the way to go.
If she’s non-traditional, what does that mean in terms of choices for engagement rings? Well, there are lots of options to consider, from big, bold and modern to delicate nature-inspired designs. Also, the gemstone and metal you choose play a big part in getting the look you want. Here are some tips on what to think about when looking for the perfect ring that’s not like all the others.
3. Go shopping

There are several ways to go about shopping for the perfect engagement ring. There’s no “right” way — it’s more about what’s right for you and your fiancée. Whether you want it all to be a huge surprise or you want to shop for a ring with your fiancée at your side, here are some ideas on how to make the shopping and giving process special.

4. Take care of your investment

You’ve proposed with the perfect engagement ring — the hard part is over! But wait, there’s more. Don’t forget one last step to protect your investment against wear, damage and loss in the future. Protections you may want to consider include jewelry warranties or guarantees, service plans and insurance policies. What are these and what’s involved? Read to find out!

No one said buying an engagement ring was a simple process! But an engagement ring is a symbol of your love that she’ll wear for her lifetime, so it’s worth the time and effort you put in to select the right ring for her.