Congratulations, you’re ready to pop the question! If you don’t have the standard two months’ salary saved up to purchase the ideal engagement ring, you may need to shop with a specific budget in mind. Here’s how you can get started.
What to Prioritize and Where to Compromise
When searching for a diamond engagement ring, be mindful of the 4Cs. Premium quality across all four attributes can drive up the price. However, inclusions often cannot be seen by the naked eye.
To help decrease what you spend, you’re advised to focus on diamond cut and shape. These factors affect the appearance, brilliance and luminosity most significantly. Smaller flaws rarely render when the cut and shape are just right. Of all shapes, round has the greatest ability to camouflage inclusions.
If brilliance is a priority, then you can treat the following attributes as secondary:
- Color: Avoid aiming strictly for “D” or completely colorless stones. Going down a few levels to “I” or almost colorless can decrease your cost significantly.
- Clarity: Striving for an inclusion-free diamond will also cost you. A flawless “VVS1” stone can appear nearly identical to an “SI1” – for modest inclusions – without magnification.
- Polish: Like cut and shape, polish or a smooth exterior that’s classified as “good” helps bring down costs compared to “excellent”.
- Size: When looking at carats, a not quite “round” number tends to have a lower price tag. For instance, 0.46 carats instead of 0.50.
Beyond the diamond, also think about the metal. White gold creates a similar shimmery sheen as platinum, but also costs far less. While it may need to be re-plated at some point, the alloy lets the diamond take center stage and is slower to show wear.
Considering Alternatives
Outside the traditional combination of a diamond and gold band, you can stay within budget with:
- Lab-Grown Diamonds: These tend to cost less due to the lack of labor involved, yet maintain the same attributes as those created through natural means.
- Cubic Zirconia and Moissanite: Unless you’re willing to perform certain tests for clarity and fire, cubic zirconia and moissanite stones appear nearly identical to a diamond yet are far more affordable.
- Explore Other Stones: Diamonds have started to wane in popularity. For a more individualistic ring, look at other precious stones like sapphires and emeralds, which vary in color and price, to the broad spectrum of semi-precious options.
- No Stone: Keep it simple. Explore the growing spectrum of detailed bands made with silver, gold or tungsten.
- A Starter Ring: If you don’t want to delay getting married, begin with a starter ring made of gold or silver with a small stone and upgrade as you save more money.
Begin your search for an engagement ring at Hannoush Jewelers. Browse online, then visit one of our Connecticut stores to learn more.
