Seven Things You Need to Know Before Purchasing an Engagement Ring 1 Set a Budget and Timeline Before your start shopping for the perfect engagement ring, you need to figure out exactly what it is you are willing to spend and what your partner’s expectations are for this ring. Let’s get real, spending three months salary on an engagement ring isn’t the right choice for everyone. When considering a budget for an engagement ring, think about what you want to get out of the ring, rather than how much you’re “supposed” to spend. Then figure out if you want to finance some or all of the ring (here’s why we think it’s worth considering). You can apply for our financing here. Unless you plan on going into a store and purchasing an engagement ring on the spot, a ring can take up to six weeks to arrive, potentially longer if you are planning on designing a custom ring from scratch with a local jeweler. 2 Consider Their Style Is your partner all about bling and sparkle? Or are they more of a “less-is-more” kind of person? Do the love the brilliance of white diamonds or would they prefer to mix it up with Cluster Art Deco Organic some colorful gemstones? Knowing what your partner wants and expects out of this ring will make it easier to narrow down your options and choose the perfect ring for their tastes and lifestyle. If you have no idea where to begin, try Delicate Vintage Inspired Bohemian looking through their closet, their existing jewelry, and Pinterest boards to get a sense of their style. Also, listen carefully. Chances are your partner has been dropping hints about the ring, and if you pay attention they may tell you exactly what they want. To get you started, here are some examples Nature Inspired Alternative Twist of popular engagement ring styles or head to Abbysparks.com to see the variety of custom engagement rings. 3 Choose a Durable Metal To ensure that your engagement ring will last a lifetime, you want to choose a metal that is durable and strong. Matte Finish Matte Durable engagement ring metals include platinum, palladium, 14k & 18k yellow, rose, and white gold. Avoid using any gold higher than 18k as its too malleable for everyday wear. Avoid soft metals like sterling silver, because even Shiny Finish Shiny though you may think you’re saving money, sterling 14k yellow18k gold yellow22k gold yellow14k gold rose gold18k rose gold14k white 18kgold white goldPlatinum Palladium silver is too soft to hold tough stones. They will work their way out of that sterling silver setting and you’ll be left paying more money in the long run to replace your engagement ring. ABBY SPARKS JEWELRY 1320 27th Street, Suite G. Denver, Colorado | 303-957-6502 © ABBYSPARKS.COM | All rights reserved. 4 Learn About Diamonds Carat Carat measures the weight of the diamond. Generally speaking, the higher the carat weight, the bigger the diamond, and the bigger the price tag. Though 1 carat is the standard size for a diamond engagement ring, it can certainly vary based on preferences and budget. 4.1mm 5.1mm 5.8mm 6.4mm 7.25mm 8.1mm 9.3mm 10.2mm 1/4 carat 1/2 carat 3/4 carat 1 carat 1.5 carat 2 carat 3 carat 4 carat Cut As one of the most visible elements, cut describes both shape and the reflective proportions of a diamond. How precisely a diamond is cut indicates its fire: the higher the cut grade, the more the diamond sparkles. ASSCHER ROSECUT ROUND TRILLION PRINCESS HEART MINE/ EUROPEAN PEAR MARQUISE OVAL EMERALD Clarity Virtually every diamond has microscopic inclusions or blemishes inside its facets. Fewer inclusions mean a brighter shine, or clarity, within a diamond. Though many find these “birthmarks” to be endearing and add personality to the stone, too many flaws can cause a diamond to look dull. FL , IF Flawless: No internal or external flaws Diamonds Internally flawless: No internal flaws FL VVS1 VVSI, VVS2 Very, very slightly included: Very difficult to Diamonds see inclustions under 10x magnification VVS2 VS1 VS1, VS2 Very slightly included: Inclusions are not Diamonds typically visable to the unaided eye VS2 Slightly included: Inclusions are visable SI1 SI1, SI2 under 10X magnification and may be Diamonds visable to the unaided eye SI2 I1 I1, I2, I3 Included: Inclusions are visable to the I2 Diamonds unaided eye I3 Color Diamonds are graded on the diamond color chart, from the most sought after: nearly white and colorless to slight tints of light yellow. D is techincally the most colorless diamond, but many people choose an E or F because the difference can’t be detected by an untrained eye. Staying above H is typically a safe bet if you’re trying to achieve the classic colorless white diamond. Those who want to go all out with bold and striking colors will be happy to know that diamonds are available in nearly all hues. D E F G H I J M-K N-Z COLORLESS NEAR COLORLESS NOTICEABLE ABBY SPARKS JEWELRY 1320 27th Street, Suite G. Denver, Colorado | 303-957-6502 © ABBYSPARKS.COM | All rights reserved. 5 Consider Gemstones Not everyone wants a colorless diamond engagement ring, many people love the pop of color and unique touch a vibrant Pink gemstone brings to an engagement ring. However, you need to Morganite Pink Ruby Red Ruby Sapphire consider durability. Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on Earth, and so durability is a given. Gemstones, on the other hand, have a wide variance of hardness - which directly Montana Padparadscha Peach Yellow Emerald relates to how suitable they are for a lifetime of wear. To help Sapphire Sapphire Sapphire Sapphire you determine which gemstones are durable enough for an engagement ring, there’s a universally accepted scale called the Mohs Hardness Scale. This scale rates gemstones and minerals based on their hardness. When you’re shopping for engagement Ceylon Blue Sapphire Purple Alexandrite Moissanite Sapphire Sapphire rings, if the gemstone you are considering isn’t at least a 7, 8, 9, or 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, we strongly encourage you to reconsider. Chances are it will break, crack, or chip within a few years and you will have to get that stone replaced. HARDEST RELATIVE HARDNESS RELATIVE SOFTEST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 TALC AMBER PEARL FLUORITE TURQUOISE MOONSTONE QUARTZ TOPAZ SAPPHIRE DIAMOND MOHS RANKING Get the Size Use Paper: All you need is a piece of 6 paper, a pen, and a ring they already own. Once you’ve got the ring, lay it flat on a piece of paper and outline the inner and outer circles to achieve an accurate representation of its circumference. A jeweler should be able to decipher ring size from this measurement. Try a Bar of Soap: Again, you’ll need your partner’s ring and a bar of soap (make sure it’s warmed slightly so that it’s malleable). Push the ring firmly into the bar of soap and voilá! You now have an etch of their ring. Just remember to clean the ring afterwards to get rid of any soap residue. We don’t want to raise any red/soapy flags. Borrow a Ring: You can also borrow a ring from your partner and bring the actual ring into a jeweler for sizing. However, only use this method if you’re sure that your partner won’t notice it’s missing! Insure the Ring 7 Whatever type of engagement ring you end up buying, it’s going to be an investment. To ensure that you are covered from mishaps like getting dropped down the sink (this really happens!), dropped outside, theft, etc. make sure to insure the ring as soon as possible. If you are taking any kind of plane, train, or bus to get to your holiday destination, do NOT keep the engagement ring in your carry-on or checked bag. Make sure to have it on your person and carefully zippered away in a pocket at all times. If you are still nervous, consider proposing with a placeholder ring, and then gifting the real engagement ring once you return home. Want more info? We’re sharing our best jewelry advice and tips on our blog and youtube channel. ABBY SPARKS JEWELRY 1320 27th Street, Suite G. Denver, Colorado | 303-957-6502 © ABBYSPARKS.COM | All rights reserved..