9 Tips Before Buying Engagement Ring

Buying an engagement ring for your loved one can seem rather confusing these days, especially with all the choice and technical details that come with such a purchase. With all this to consider Jewellery Monthly decided to try and make this a little more simple for you. We have even linked through to other articles dotted around our site if you decided you want more information to make sure your final engagement ring purchase is perfect.

Engagement Rings Tips to consider

1.      Decide your budget – Two months salary is normally what the average person is willing to pay. The key is to make sure you are comfortable with what you can afford.

2.    Metal type – Check your partners existing jewellery, they might like Yellow Gold, Rose Gold or prefer a whiter metal, such as White Gold, Platinum, Palladium or Silver. The Cost will vary depending on the type of metal you choose. Platinum is the most expensive followed by Gold, Palladium and finally Silver.

3.    Stone shape – The stone shape is very important from the wearers perspective. You have quite a few options to choose from. Think about what will suit your partner.

4.    What’s affordable? – Ok so you have decided on a metal color and design and now your thinking about affordability. We have selected a few good retailers to help you get going on your search for the perfect engagement ring.

5.   What technical details do I need to know? Well you could do with knowing about the diamond color and diamond clarity. When it comes to diamond color grade D is the most expensive, as it is graded exceptional white. The diamond color J is slightly tinted yellow. This grade will be less expensive. Anything below the grade of J for diamond color should not really be considered.
Diamond Clarity should also be considered. The grade of FL means flawless, this will be a very expensive diamond. The scale continues down to IF – VVS1 – VVS2 – VS1 VVS2 – VS1 – VS2 – S11 – S12 – and S12.

The further you go down the scale the more inclusions your diamond will have and this will effect the overall cost. Inclusions are tiny lines or black dots inside the diamond. These can’t be seen by the human eye but can be seen under a magnifying glass. For some alternative info you can check out these:

 6.   Popular engagement rings – So what is currently popular when thinking about buying your engagement ring? Its important to get the design of the ring right. Think about your partners style, are they classic, trendy, original or designer? We have selected a few fine examples for you in the following article. 

7.   I’m looking for something completely different, You don’t want to follow the crowd? High street Jewellery is popular due to it’s cost, but it doesn’t suit everyone. There are some very creative styles that stand apart from standard engagement rings. If you want designer then check out some bespoke design collections by companies such as Tiffany or designers such as Shaun Leane, alternatively you can look at the more creative trends such as:

§  The Lego engagement ring

§  The Frog Prince

§  Bubble rings filled with gems

8.   Buying online could save you a small fortune. You can buy a really nice engagement ring online and save a small fortune these days. The main reason for this is your not paying for overheads of a shop front. If you do decided to buy online then look out for the following.

§  Established company.

§  30 – 40 days return policy.

§  Your ring comes with certified certificates.

§  Live customer reviews.

§  Customer service line.

§  Read the terms and conditions.

§  Please make sure they are a reputable jewellery company.

 

9.  You might want to consider getting it insured. You should be able to do this on your existing home insurance policy. You should not need to get separate insurance.

Source: Jewellery Monthly

The 5 C’s of White Gold vs. Platinum

Color & Care

In order to get the silvery white color of white gold, yellow gold must be mixed, or alloyed, with some white metal(s) such as silver, nickel, manganese and/or palladium. Therefore there is really no such thing as “pure white gold.” Often it is also coated in rhodium to give it a whiter, shinier finish. Every few years it should be re-dipped to retain its white color and shine and replace its rhodium plating; otherwise it will revert back to the color of its main ingredient: yellow gold. While this may seem like a hassle, in truth the process is relatively inexpensive, and many jewelers actually offer this service for free.

Platinum, on the other hand, has a natural grayish white color. In order for it to be sold, it must have at least 90-95 percent platinum; if less, it would be called a platinum alloy. Over time, platinum’s color will not fade to yellow like white gold, but its shiny finish will dull to a natural patina, which some people actually like because it makes the diamond appear even more sparkly by contrast. Platinum can also be shined professionally to restore its original luster, a process which is comparable in cost to caring for white gold.

While the colors of white gold and platinum are certainly similar, they are not exactly the same, as you can see for yourself when trying on a ring of each type on the same hand. White gold is more silvery whereas platinum is more gray. Both complement white diamonds beautifully, but they should not be mixed in a bridal set. In other words, if your engagement ring is platinum, don’t get a white gold wedding band. Stay consistent with the metal you choose if you plan to wear the rings on the same hand. 

Cost

The biggest advantage of white gold over platinum is certainly the cost. Platinum is more expensive because it is rarer and mined much less than gold. Only 160 tons of platinum are mined annually, as opposed to 1,500 tons of gold. Also, platinum is more dense than gold, so the same ring will weigh significantly more in platinum than in gold (and precious metals are priced by weight). Therefore, it’s easy to understand why a white gold setting costs approximately half as much as a comparable setting in platinum. For more or less the same color, then, you can save quite a bit of money going with white gold — savings that you can then apply to upgrading the quality of the ring’s center stone. 

Composition

Most white gold engagement rings are offered in 14K or 18K versions. The former is 58.3 percent pure gold, and the latter is 75 percent pure gold. The higher the karat amount, the purer the gold content, but the less durable the metal. Gold at its purest form is 24K but in that state it is too soft to use for mounting jewelry. It must be alloyed with other metals in order to harden it. 

Platinum is a very durable metal, and as I previously mentioned, is stronger and heavier than gold. This affects more than just price; one must consider whether they want to wear a lighter or heavier ring. Platinum does take the cake when it comes to being the densest precious metal. Whether or not you like your ring to be heavy or light is a matter of personal taste. I suggest you try on both and see what you like.

If the bride-to-be has an allergy to nickel, then platinum is the way to go. Nickel is often one of the white metals alloyed with yellow gold to produce white gold. Platinum, on the other hand, is purer and is considered hypoallergenic. (It may be possible, however, to find nickel-free white gold. Check with your jeweler.)

Culture

Gold symbolizes wealth, wisdom, and divinity, as in the Bible’s “golden rule” and Aristotle’s “golden mean.” “The golden age” and “golden years” signify good times, and the 50th wedding anniversary is said to be the golden anniversary. Gold is also considered by most to be the traditional metal of wedding and engagement bands. Since gold does not tarnish over time, it helps to symbolize the couple’s eternal vows to each other, and has often been incorporated in the nuptial jewelry in many cultures, e.g., the gold adorning Indian brides.

Though gold often implies the top prize — such as the gold medal in the Olympics — platinum seems to be the new symbol of wealth and prestige. Think of the “platinum credit card,” which often has better benefits and privileges than the “gold credit card.” Add Hollywood’s obsession with platinum on the red carpet, and you’ll see how, for some, platinum has become the new gold. 

Whether you go with white gold or platinum, being informed about the pros and cons of each will help you make the most informed decision. And that will give you the peace of mind to pull the trigger on what may be your biggest jewelry purchase to date.

Source: Huffingtonpost

Handmade Engagement Ring

Are you looking for a handmade engagement ring for your girlfriend?

  Are you planning to propose to your girlfriend anytime soon? 

 If you are, then you should be prepared for this, because events like these come rarely in a person's life. You won't meet someone you want to spend the rest of your life on a daily basis.

Diamond ring is the first thing that comes into the mind when thinking of engagement ring. Shopping for a unique engagement ring is a completely different than shopping for a normal diamond ring. Elegant Jewelers has provided customers with a trusted, helpful and diversified shopping experience. We offer a broad selection of classic and contemporary styles in diamond, gemstone, yellow and white gold and platinum, as well as customization to meet your every desire.

Elegant Jewelers knows that offering fine jewelry at a great price is only part of the story. We are fully committed to providing a superior shopping experience - Our expert sales staff is empowered with over 100 years of knowledge to assist each customer while also providing our customers with an excellent education to make the right choices.

We maintain an extensive selection of diamonds including Ideal Cut, Hearts & Arrows, in a variety of shapes and sizes.

All of our diamonds and gemstones are closely scrutinized for rarity and beauty, and we will not sell them if they do not meet our high standards. This attention to detail creates lasting memories and lifelong customers that value our professionalism, attention to detail and valued pricing.