How to Buy an Engagement Ring
How to Buy an Engagement Ring
Before you can plan a wedding, or book a reception at Ritz Celebration you need to ask the question. You know, the one question that starts with “Will you?” and ends with “Marry me?” One of the key elements to popping the is picking the perfect (or near perfect) engagement ring.
Here are some helpful tips on how to buy the perfect engagement ring.
- Start Planning and Talk it Out Ahead of Time
Good relationships are built on a foundation of good communication. While a proposal can (and arguably should) come as a complete surprise, you should spend a couple months talking and planning your engagement and wedding beforehand.
Questions like, “When do you want to get engaged? When do you want to get married? How big a wedding do you want? What can we spend on a wedding? And What kind of ring would you like?” establish a base of communication that will serve you well going forward into marriage.
You will also need a financial plan. Buying an engagement ring is a lot like taking out a student loan. It is a decision that you will be paying for for a very long time. You will want to save up around 4 to 6 weeks of salary for a ring. If you are in a fairly high income bracket you should use 3 to 4 months salary as your benchmark.
Alternately, inquire about financing. Most major jewelry retailers offer special engagement ring financing. You will need a fairly high credit score to qualify, however, so make sure you pull your credit report ahead of time.
- Make Sure Your Jeweler has a Liberal Return and Fitting Policy
There is always a chance that something may go wrong. Your fiancée could pick out what she thinks is the perfect ring only to discover that the setting is too heavy, or the diamond is too small. Or you could select the perfect ring and discover that it is one size too small or too big.
Make sure that your jeweler has a liberal return policy. Get it in writing along with any warranties that may accompany your purchase. Also make sure you can get an engagement ring refitted if it is too big or too small.
- This Is Your Ring Too
Eventually, you will be wearing a matching wedding band, so make sure that your taste line up to your fiancée tastes. For instance, if you hate yellow gold rings, you will probably want to opt for a white gold setting for an engagement ring.
Remember, an engagement ring is forever, so put the effort into doing it right.
