Tips for Buying an Engagement Ring

As a fellow guy, I know how it feels like when you want to bring your relationship to the next level. At this stage, we only have one thing in our mind. That is, to create a personal and memorable proposal for your girlfriend. And we want to bring a smile whenever we reminisce it in the future. One of the first things we have to do is to look for some tips for buying an engagement ring for our significant other! And of course, shopping for the engagement ring is only one piece of the puzzle.

If you are a more traditional person like me, perhaps the most difficult task is to get the permission from her parents. Despite having a good relationship with them, it is still not easy to ask. Once that is off the checklist, next comes the proposal idea and the location. Check out The Wedding Vows for creative proposal ideas based in Singapore. And back to the cornerstone of the proposal, the engagement ring.

Tips for Buying an Engagement Ring

So, how do we pick the right engagement ring for our significant other? Our friends and customers share their stories with us, some are happy while some are painful. We have deconstructed and compiled them into a list of tips for buying an engagement ring.

She Will Drop Hints

Throughout your time with her, pay close attention to the style of accessories she wears. Pay close attention to the details, her favourite style, her favourite colour. Listen attentively to what she talks about. Look at what she is looking at when walking past jewellery stores. Sometimes, she may unknowingly drop hints to her friends and family. Ask her sisters or BFFs if they know her preference.

Find out What Matters Most

Guys always wonder, “does size matters?” And most ladies say it does. Yes, the size of the diamond definitely matters. But is it the most important aspect? I am sure she would not want you to be in debt in order to get a large diamond for the engagement ring. For some, the design of the ring matters more than the quality of the diamond. Another group of ladies prefers it uniquely customized to be one-of-a-kind.

Another aspect to think about is what happens to the ring after the engagement. Is it meant for everyday wear? Is it suitable for her to wear to work? For example, if she is a makeup artist, the engagement ring should not have a large diamond protruding out. This will hinder her work as the ring might come in contact with her customers’ faces.

Set a Budget

Once you catch all her hints and find out what matters most to her, it is time to decide on a budget. If size does matters and you are planning to get a 1carat diamond engagement ring, be prepared with a larger budget.

Not sure how much to spend on an engagement ring? We did a survey with over 300 respondents and published the findings in one of our articles. You can check it out here. The results may surprise you!

How to Find Her Ring Size Without Getting Caught

There are many ways to find her ring size. First, you can sneak out one of her rings and bring it to a jeweller. But before that, observe which finger and hand she wears it on. Second, recruit the help of her close friends or family. Perhaps they went shopping together and found that they have the same ring size. Third, accompany her to shop for costume jewelleries. There is a chance she will try on some rings. Look for the one that fits and find out the ring size from the shop owner. Fourth, compare the size of your fingers with hers. Well, there is a high margin of error, but it is the easiest method.

The final method is to just ask directly. Yes, I know, this method will let the cat out of the bag. But it doesn’t mean that you can keep the actual proposal a secret. You can subtly ask this question when you are discussing the engagement with her.

Do Your Research

So now we know what she likes, we know what matters the most to her, and we also have a budget to work with. The next step is to research both online and offline sources. There are many aspects to research on. You can create a mood board for the ideal engagement ring design that suits her hand. Write down a list of jewellers that you may want to visit or talk to. Have a chat with your friends who have bought engagement rings before and learn from their experiences.

Sometimes, you might not find the engagement ring that you want from jewellery stores. In that case, you can create your own bespoke or customized engagement ring. With technology, customizing an engagement ring is no longer a test of your imagination from ink and paper. You can see and touch it from any perspective that you want before crafting the actual ring. Draco Diamonds recently launched the OnDemand 3D-CAD customization service, you can read more about it here.

Learn the 4Cs of a Diamond

An engagement ring has 3 main components, the ring shank (or otherwise known as the band), featured stone, and side stones. The major bulk of your budget will go to the featured stone, usually a diamond. Which is why you need to learn the 4Cs of a Diamond well. You can find out more about the Diamond Cut, Clarity, Colour, and Carat Weight from our previous articles. Here, you need to take into account what matters most to her. Is it the size, or the brilliance? Consult an experienced jeweller and they will share with you some tips in choosing a diamond that maximizes your budget.

Don’t Settle for the First

This statement holds true when buying anything, more so for something with an expensive price tag. Don’t buy it just because the diamond is shining brightly in the shop. Compare a few diamonds and their price tags. A tip is to go for diamonds certified by a well-known and reputable institute like the GIA. Watch out for consistency when comparing diamonds from different certification institutes. The diamonds may look different even if they are given the same grade by different institutes.

Check the Diamond in Different Lighting

After you have shortlisted a few diamonds, it is time to check the diamond in different lightings. Noticed how brilliantly the diamonds shine when you are in a jewellery store? The truth is, the showcases are carefully designed to maximize the brilliance of the jewelleries. If possible, check the diamond outside the store, under normal lighting. It will be even better if you can bring it outdoor, under sunlight. The key idea here is to simulate how the engagement ring will look like when she wears it every day, everywhere.

Choose THE Style

After you have applied all the tips for buying an engagement ring, it is time to make the decision. Add the finishing touches by personalizing the engagement ring with her name of your couple name, if you all have one. Also, learn how to take care and maintain the brilliance of the ring from the jeweller. If you need more tips on how to clean your diamond ring, you can check out this article.

Go Ahead and Make Her Cry

Remember that the engagement ring is only part of the entire proposal. Make it a memorable one for both you and her. And go ahead and make her cry, it’s the only time where you can make her cry and not apologize afterward.

More tips for buying an engagement ring

If you are currently researching about engagement rings and feel that our tips for buying an engagement ring are useful, feel free to book an appointment with us. Here at Draco Diamonds, we can some tea together while we look through the wide collection of GIA certified diamonds and designs.