Posts Tagged ‘build your own’

The traditional engagement ring setting is a round cut, white diamond solitaire set in yellow gold or platinum with platinum prongs to make sure the gemstone does not fall out.  And although the quality and size of the diamond differed from one engagement ring to the next, they were all essentially the same.  But not anymore!

These days when you buy an engagement ring, you can pretty much choose whatever you like.  So make sure you buy an engagement ring that suits the personalities of you both. 

For example, if you like the idea of a diamond solitaire but think that a round diamond is a bit too “safe”, why not choose a princess cut, marquise or a heart shaped diamond instead? 

Or if you want a cluster ring, why not mix and match the diamond cuts within it?  You could for example surround a marquise cut with smaller marquises, or flank a princess cut with baguettes.  And remember too that you can also choose to have a trilogy ring or a more traditional channel set diamond anniversary band as an engagement ring,

And why not add a splash of color too?  You could choose and amethyst ring set with diamonds.  Although traditionally reserved for the 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries, it would make a perfect choice for anyone with a February birthday.  And diamond opal rings look great on anyone as do peridot diamond rings, even if your birthday is not in October. 

You might choose other gemstone engagement rings, but if you want something a little bit different whilst staying within the traditional, why not go for a pearl and diamond engagement ring?  Or why choose a colored diamond engagement ring?  If you want something really unique, why not build your own?

Whatever you decide, remember it could last several lifetimes so make sure you choose wisely!

Saving up for and engagement ring can take a long time because you still have to pay for all your living, travel and housing expenses etc, each month.  So when the time comes to buy a diamond engagement ring, here are five top tips to make your budget stretch a bit further! 

1 Buy in a Sale
Most jewelers offer deep discounts when sales are slow or when they are making room for new inventory.  Your budget will go further if you buy your engagement ring in a sale.  Look for special offer codes on this site.

2 Buy White Gold Instead of Platinum
Although most of the cost of an engagement ring is in the price of the diamond, choosing a white gold engagement ring over a the very expensive platinum one will make a noticeable difference to the price of the engagement ring.

3 Add Baguettes
If you choose to build your own engagement ring, why not add tiny baguettes to accent a smaller good quality diamond?  This will add a significant amount of extra sparkle for not much extra cost. This is a much better option than simply choosing a poorer quality, but bigger carat diamond, which will have less sparkle and look dull by comparison.

4 Do Not Buy Top Quality
If you cannot appreciate the subtleties between top graded diamonds and those that are next tier down, why pay top dollar for the best?  To the untrained eye, G,H or I color white diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from the very expensive D, E, F grades, making them cost effective choices. 

In the same way, choosing a “good” or “very good” cut diamond, rather than the top priced “ideal” cut, will make your budget go further since the differences in sparkle are only apparent when the various cut qualities are compared alongside each other.

5 Buy Online
Many jewelers use online stores to showcase old stock and are able to offer special discounts because of their lower overheads.  So your budget will go further and you will find the best bargains when you buy your engagement ring online.