Education and Information
Engagement Ring and Wedding Ring Buying Guide

 

The decision to purchase an engagement ring typically represents a turning point in many people’s lives. It should be a very exciting time and needn’t be stressful. We try to make the process as simple as possible. Our salespeople have extensive experience and knowledge and can help you understand all aspects of selecting a diamond and setting for an engagement ring.

An engagement ring is both symbolic and beautiful. We are happy to educate you about all aspects of diamonds and we will spend as much time as you need to make sure your decision is the perfect representation of your relationship.

Step 1. Determine your budget.

As with most major purchases, it can be helpful to know your budget before you start shopping. We can help you focus your selection on diamonds and settings in your price range. Even if you don’t have a budget in mind, we are happy to show you different options. In this way, we can help you understand what it will cost for the size and type of engagement ring that is perfect for you. Whether you want to spend $200 or $20,000 for a diamond engagement ring, we will be delighted you have chosen us to do business with us and we will provide you with great service. We strive to build a lasting relationship with all our customers.

Diamond marketing groups typically suggest spending an amount equal to two months salary on a diamond. We suggest that you spend what you are comfortable with spending. We pride ourselves on giving customers much more than they expect for their money. If you have a specific price in mind, we can in many cases provide a much higher quality diamond for the same price as a diamond you would find at a competing store. We buy many of our diamonds direct from the cutter and with the volume of diamonds that we sell, we pass the savings on to you. Don’t feel like you must spend an arbitrary amount of money on a diamond. Buy a diamond you will cherish and appreciate forever.

 

Step 2. Choose a setting and engagement ring

Rings and mountings can come in numerous metal types. The most common are white gold, yellow gold and platinum. Platinum rings are generally more expensive than white or yellow gold. This is largely because the cost of platinum is more than gold and the purity is higher. Wedding rings today are also available in steel, tungsten and titanium metals.

Although you can purchase a diamond ring already mounted, we love to show customers loose diamonds and let them select the setting and diamonds separately. In this way, you can essentially custom make your own diamond engagement ring. Our specialty is loose diamonds and we carry one of the largest selections of loose diamonds in the country. By seeing loose diamonds outside the mounting, you can examine the diamond more easily and see any inclusions or flaws in the diamond. These inclusions can sometimes be hidden by mountings or prongs. Buying a pre-mounted diamond can limit your ability to see what you are purchasing.

We have expert jewelers on-site so we can mount most diamonds while you wait. We try to take all the difficulty and complication out of purchasing a diamond or engagement ring.

Also you will need to determine whether you want your engagement ring to be a solitaire ring (a single diamond in a mounting), a three stone ring, or a cluster of diamonds, typically with one large diamond and several smaller diamonds.

In addition to the engagement ring, many brides choose to have a wedding band. For those who choose to have a wedding band, it doesn’t necessarily need to match the engagement ring.

Step 3. Choose a stone

Choosing the right stone is very important since the stone is often the centerpiece of the ring. By far the most common choice for an engagement ring stone is a diamond – although some people do select other stones such as rubies or sapphires.

Among diamonds, the round brilliant, or round, diamond is the number one choice for brides. Other possible, but less popular, shape choices are marquise, heart shaped, oval, princess, cushion, radiant, flanders, trillion, and European cut. See our guide to diamonds for more information about diamond shapes.

We recommended that you obtain an independent certification (commonly called a “cert”) of the diamond you select. A certification serves as written documentation that the diamond is as described to you, so you can be confident that you are getting exactly what you are paying for. One of the most widely used and respected certifications is Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Other grading certification labs include International Gemological Institute (IGI), American Gem Society (AGS) and European Gemological Laboratory (EGL). Keep in mind that some grading laboratories may have more strict or consistent grading criteria than others, so a VS1 clarity grading from one grading laboratory may not necessarily be the same as a VS1 grading from another grading laboratory. We can show you the difference in grading methods and what to look for when comparing diamonds.

 

Step 4. Choosing a Gents band.

While you are shopping for engagement rings and diamonds, you may also want to consider a gent’s wedding band, commonly worn by grooms. Gent’s bands are available in 10 karat (10k), 14 karat (14k), 18 karat (18k), titanium, tungsten, or steel. Some people choose to mix titanium, tungsten or steel with gold or platinum for a unique look.

Step 5. Enjoy your selection.

We hope your marriage, just like your diamond, will last forever.

When wearing a ring everyday, over time it is easy to not pay attention to every little scratch or each time you hit the ring on something. Be sure to periodically examine your prongs and the general appearance of your ring, especially if you have hit it hard on something. If a prong is loose, bent or broken, you should bring it in to be checked immediately. You are also always welcome to bring your ring into our store if it was purchased here as we do not charge for cleaning or checking over the integrity of your ring. This can help prevent the diamond from falling out and being lost. We can also clean your diamond ring using our special equipment to make it sparkle like new.

Regardless of the condition of your ring, we suggest you return to our jewelry store every so often to have your diamond checked and cleaned by our professional staff.

MEIEROTTO is a trademark of Meierotto Midwest Jewelers, L.P. All products, services and names used may be trademarks of their respective owners.