For most engagement ring shoppers, buying an engagement ring is a first-time experience. It’s a luxury item that we don’t often encounter on a regular day-to-day basis. With an expensive purchase like an engagement ring, you’ll want to guarantee that your decision is the right one before spending money.
Are you unsure about what questions to ask before buying an engagement ring? Do you want to know what information is important to learn before deciding on a diamond ring?
Here’s everything you need to ask, provided by our experts at Brillianteers.
Do the 4 C’s Matter?
In every article about buying an engagement ring, the 4 C’s are highlighted as your essential guide on the price range of a diamond. The big question is, does this hold as much importance as what everyone says?
The answer is both yes and no. The 4 C’s of diamonds are definitely something you should know a lot about, but it shouldn’t dictate your decision of buying a diamond. Let us explain further.
The 4 C’s Affect the Price of an Engagement Ring
- Carat – Carat is the weight of a diamond. The heavier a diamond is, the more expensive it is.
- Cut – The cut of a diamond is the way it is shaped. The round cut is most commonly the most expensive cut, but the price differs according to the way a diamond is cut. The cut determines how well a diamond can reflect light, and therefore, shine.
- Color – The most expensive diamonds are colorless diamonds. The more color a diamond has, the more affordable its price is.
- Clarity – Clarity of a diamond refers to the presence of natural flaws or inclusions in a diamond. The more flawless a diamond is, the more expensive its value is.
Why Consider the 4 C’s When Buying an Engagement Ring
It’s important to consider the 4 C’s of a diamond as this will determine the price of a ring. It’s important to have a good understanding of the 4 C’s, to guarantee that the price you are paying for is the right value for a diamond.
For example, here’s a chart showing the price difference of 1 Carat diamond with identical cut quality and clarity, when comparing different color grades.
| CARAT | COLOR | CLARITY | CUT | PRICE |
| 1 | J | VS2 | EXCELLENT | $4,300 |
| 1 | I | VS2 | EXCELLENT | $5,000 |
| 1 | H | VS2 | EXCELLENT | $5,800 |
| 1 | G | VS2 | EXCELLENT | $6,200 |
| 1 | F | VS2 | EXCELLENT | $6,500 |
| 1 | E | VS2 | EXCELLENT | $6,700 |
| 1 | D | VS2 | EXCELLENT | $7,200 |
Before buying an engagement ring, you need to guarantee that you are paying for the right diamond. You should not be spending $7,200 on a diamond with a color grade of D.
You Don’t Need the Perfect 4 C’s for an Engagement Ring
On the contrary, to consider the 4 C’s when buying an engagement ring, it’s also important to realize that you should not always seek the perfect diamond. Diamonds with the perfect cut, color, and clarity, are the rarest, and therefore, the most expensive diamonds in the market. If you are hoping for an affordable approach to buying an engagement ring, you should avoid the perfect 4 C’s.
An affordable diamond that has a few flaws will look just as beautiful as an expensive and perfect diamond. It’s all about what you see with your naked eye. The term ‘eye clean’ refers to a diamond that looks flawless, colorless, and therefore, expensive with the naked eye.
For example, a VVS1 diamond (Very very slight inclusions) may look identical to a VS2 diamond (very slight inclusions). The VS2 diamond is the more affordable choice between the two. But because the inclusions or flaws of both diamonds are only visible under a microscope, and can not actually be seen with the naked eye, it’s easy to compare both diamonds and deem them identical to the untrained eye.
In most cases, when you’re shopping for an engagement ring, what’s important is the way it looks to you, rather than how perfect its 4 C’s are on paper.
Don’t let the 4 C’s of diamonds overshadow your decision to shop for a diamond ring. You can actually buy a 1 Carat diamond ring for $2,000, with inclusions that you simply cannot see with the naked eye. Or would you prefer buying a 1 Carat diamond with the perfect cut, color, and clarity, but for $6,000?
What Design Do I Want?
In the world of engagement rings, there could be hundreds of different designs to choose from. The big question to ask before buying an engagement ring is what design do you want? It’s easy to get lost in the world of diamond rings and all of the possible designs to choose from.
Design Aspects to Consider Before Buying an Engagement Ring
- The Cut of the Diamond – Round, Princess, Cushion, Oval, or Pear Shape
- The Ring Metal – White Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, or Platinum
- The Engagement Ring Style – Halo, Solitaire, With Accents, or 3-Stone
- The Ring Settings – Cathedral, Halo, Pave, Bezel, etc.
Here’s a helpful guide on engagement ring styles and designs to help you navigate through your options, and hopefully, find the engagement ring style you want before buying an engagement ring.
You can choose a simple solitaire ring design (this is the most affordable choice) with a traditional engagement ring silhouette. One diamond sitting on a plain ring band. Or you can choose an engagement ring with accent diamonds on the ring band. This is a popular choice for obvious reasons!
There’s also the choice of an engagement ring versus a bridal set. The great thing about bridal sets is that you can buy two rings for the price of one. AND, comfort is a factor that makes bridal sets such a popular choice for new brides-to-be. The two rings are designed specifically to feel comfortable when worn together. Shop our full collection of Bridal Sets Here >
EXPERT’S TIP: Do a little window shopping online before you decide on a design. Look at how different rings look when worn, compare prices, and read reviews. The more you know about ring designs, the easier the choice will be.
What’s my Engagement Ring Budget?
The variety of engagement rings available at different price points is exactly why it is very important that you know how much you want to spend before buying an engagement ring. Diamond Engagement Rings can vary in price from $1,000 to $30,000. The average price of a diamond ring ranges around $5,000.
To help you narrow down your search for the perfect diamond ring, your designated budget should be established before you shop for an engagement ring. Your budget will affect the type of ring design you can buy. For example, the bigger the diamond is, the more expensive it is. Here’s a breakdown of diamond carat sizes and their price:
| Diamond Carat Weight | Average Cost |
| 1.00 Carat | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| 2.00 Carat | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| 3.00 Carat | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| 4.00 Carat | $20,000 – $30,000 |
Your engagement ring budget will also affect where you can buy your diamond ring. For example, here at Brillianteers, you can shop for diamond engagement rings under $2,000 or $4,000. On the other hand, the bigger names in diamond jewelry (such as Cartier & Tiffany & Co.) sell engagement rings around the price range of $5,000 to $,30,000.
As soon as you know what amount of money you can spend, you’ll have a better idea of where you can shop for an engagement ring.
Helpful Tip if Your Budget is Limited: If you want to be able to buy a beautiful ring, but your budget doesn’t fit your choice, you can always choose a jewelry shop that offers financing plans to help lighten the load of the overall price of a diamond ring. We offer 3 different financing and layaway options that you can choose from.
Can I Pay for an Engagement Ring with Instalments?
The cost of an engagement ring is not ideal for someone working on a budget. In most cases, you might hesitate on spending a large sum of money on a ring when you have a wedding to worry about in the near future. The problem is, you want to be able to give the love of your life the dream ring they always wanted. This is where payment plans can help.
Do you have a credit card you can use? Do you not have an available credit card? Do you want to pay without a time limit? These are all possible with the Brillianteers Payment Options. Click HERE to learn more about the different options you have to pay for an engagement ring.
Don’t limit yourself to a diamond ring that you are not happy with. In fact, it’s important to understand what payment options you have, to give yourself the opportunity to buy the ring you and your partner really want, and not settle for anything that’s less than a dream come true.
Do I Need My Ring Insured?
Are you going back and forth on the decision to have your ring insured? You might feel the pressure of the decision as you shop. It may feel like an additional cost to have your ring insured on top of the price of the diamond ring. On the other hand, you’d rather be safe than sorry.
What we recommend is to have your ring insured, regardless of whether or not it’s a cheaper option. A ring is a valuable piece of property. And because of its size, it is also quite easy to lose. We’ve all seen the movie film scenes where people lose their rings down the sinkhole. Well, this is a very common scenario. You are right, it’s far better to be safe, rather than sorry, in the future.
Add this to your existing insurance plan – It’s possible to add this to your current home insurance. It’s quite easy to do too. Just call your insurance company and have them sort this out. Engagement Ring insurance is common and it’s likely that your insurance provider will have this sorted for you with little problem.
Conclusion – Take Your Time Buying an Engagement Ring
Buying an engagement ring is a big decision. And it’s a decision that shouldn’t come lightly. You need to give yourself the time to ask all the right questions and to thoroughly consider all the factors that will affect your purchase.
Do you have any further questions you want to be answered by an expert? Chat with us here at www.Brillianteers.com. Find our chat window on the right side of the window. Our diamond experts are available 24hrs a day, any day of the week!