Buying Diamond Engagement Rings: The Basics

Congratulations – you’ve met each other and decided to make things permanent. Now all that’s missing is the engagement ring, an enduring symbol of the permanence of the most significant relationship in your life. For most people, diamond engagement rings are the only option worth considering for such an important piece of jewellery.

It is one of the most important items of jewellery you will every buy, with the idea being that it will be worn every day for life. Sound scary? It doesn’t have to be, especially if you follow a few basic rules of thumb.

Of course, diamond engagements rings aren’t known for being the cheapest things in the world. But it’s important to have a budget and stick to it – just as you would do when buying anything else. It may be a cliché that you have to spend at least a month’s salary when buying diamond engagement rings, but that’s all it is, a cliché. Spend whatever you can afford, and no more.

Probably the single most important piece of advice is to buy the ring together. While some men like to surprise their girlfriend with a traditional, romantic proposal before whipping out a ring box, other couples wait until they can go shopping for the ring together. Diamond engagement rings are far too important to get wrong, and you have to be sure the woman who will be wearing it adores it.

If you do want to take your chances, you can always ask your girlfriend’s friends or relatives for advice, and consider the jewellery she wears already. Most diamond engagement rings are classic solitaires but even within these kinds of rings, the choice is huge. You could have white or yellow gold, a combination of both, or platinum, currently a hugely popular choice for diamond engagements rings.

Equally, there are many different ways of presenting a stone in a ring, from Tiffany-style solitaires in which prongs hold the diamond high to a basket setting, or another low-head style. This is where personal preference comes in, and is why it’s so important to buy the ring together.

Any reputable jeweller will be able to talk you through the ‘four Cs’ which are crucial to consider when buying diamond engagements rings – cut, clarity, colour and carat. But the most important thing is to buy a ‘certified’ stone, or one which an independent gemmological laboratory has independently assessed, graded and coded using a laser.

When choosing where to buy your ring, look for a solid reputation from your jeweller, and find one prepared to sell you a certified stone. Ask what warranties and guarantees will come with your ring, and be sure you can have a detailed receipt. Also, what trade associations do they belong to?

Online jeweller Marlows Certified Diamonds fits the bill on all counts. We have an extensive range of quality diamond engagement rings - choose from platinum or white gold and a huge variety of styles to suit all tastes. We really do have a ring for everyone.