An engagement ring can be a large expense for a lot of people. You want to get your significant other a gorgeous ring that they love, but you also want to make sure that you’re not going into your new married life with debt. To help with the purchasing process, we’ve put together some small tips that you can use while ring shopping to help lower the cost. Plus, we’re giving you the secret to saving up to 30% on your engagement ring.
Play With Carat Size
A lot of women have one part of the ring that they are absolutely set on — the carat size. For many individuals, buying or receiving a 1ct diamond ring is a hopeful goal, but can end up being very costly. What few couples do know is that going just under a full carat size can help with the price of the diamond. Instead of opting for a full 1 or 2-carat diamond, go with .85-.95. The best part? You and the jeweler will be the only ones to know the difference.
Know Who You’re Working With
When you’re shopping for a diamond, always make sure you’re working with a diamond expert, not a salesman. A diamond expert, like the ones from Clean Origin, will be able to help you find the perfect ring at the price you set…not them. They’ll also be able to tell you where you can save money, like on carat (as mentioned above), color and clarity. There are different levels for all of the four C’s of diamonds, but the differences between them can sometimes be visible only to a professional. Take advantage of their experience and trust their advice.
Browse Different Settings
Your jeweler should also be able to help you find the best setting based on your criteria. However, they should also advise you on settings that will make the center stone look larger than it is. For example, the very popular halo setting encircles the center diamond with smaller stones. This tricks the eye to make the center diamond appear larger than it really is. This is a simple, yet stunning, way to really ‘wow’ your finance, without breaking the bank.
Buy Online
Let’s be honest. There’s probably very little that you actually buy in a brick and mortar store anymore. With Amazon and many stores offering home delivery, going to the mall can seem like a nightmare. And sometimes it is … especially around the holidays. Over the years, jewelers have moved online with the rest of store owners to offer an option that allows you to browse rings from the comfort of your own home…no pushy salesmen necessary. Not to mention, you won’t have to fight over limited stocked rings as you might in a store.
Now for the big secret…
Don’t Buy Mined Diamonds
You might be thinking we’re crazy right about now…but hear us out. We could talk about the unethical and damaging environmental effects of mined diamonds all day, but we’ll leave that to these guys. What we want to impress upon you is the amount of money you can save from buying a lab-grown diamond.
Before you ask the question…yes, lab-grown diamonds are the same as mined diamonds. The only difference between the two is their origin — one was grown under the earth, one was grown in a lab. You can even see the recent Federal Trade Commission decision to change the definition of ‘diamond’ to include those grown in a lab, here.
So how is it that lab-grown diamonds can be anywhere from 20-30% less expensive than mined diamonds? Supply chain. When you think about the different links in the mined diamond supply chain and you compare it to the amount in the lab-grown chain, you see that the lab-grown chain is shorter. The fewer links you have, the less you have to charge to make a profit. So now that 1ct diamond you were hoping to purchase becomes a lot more attainable.