Diamonds, Diamonds everywhere, which one should I pick? This is what keeps tickling in everyone’s mind when you go diamond engagement ring shopping. Well, it’s so obvious with so many factors governing the purchase of a scintillating diamond, especially the price.
In fact, the price of diamond jewels is what makes most people skeptical about investing in these priceless gemstones. Yet you’ll hardly find anyone who doesn’t get mesmerized by these sparkling stunners.
This is because we live in a world where diamonds have always been glorified as super pricey. We agree diamonds are indeed pricier than most other natural gemstones in the world. But discovering a diamond that’s eye candy as well as cost-friendly is no longer unrealistic.
Tips on Budget-Friendly Diamond Engagement Ring Purchase
You can dream of inscribing love on your ring finger with diamond engagement rings that are spell-binding yet under budget. Want to know how? Stay tuned for tips on buying a cost-conscious diamond engagement bling.
1. Preparing Budget Manual
Do you keep track of even the most trivial purchases or just shop on your whim without minding your expenses? Whichever category you fall into, if it’s a diamond engagement ring you want to bargain, budgeting is essential. Amid heavy expenditure on wedding prep and honeymoon, it’s better to sort out every purchase for a hassle-free celebration.
2. Online or Offline Mode of Purchase
Now that you have a fair idea of your estimated investment on your diamond engagement ring, what comes next? Well, your mode of purchase will bring you one step closer to a cost-conscious diamond ring purchase. If you compare online and offline store prices, you’ll find that online stores charge less. But have you ever wondered why is that so?
Well, it’s because online sellers incur considerably lower infrastructure and maintenance costs, thereby significantly reducing a cost factor. In addition, if a seller like us procures the gemstones directly from the source eliminating intermediaries, the price goes down more. So, to enjoy a cost-friendly buying experience you must reach out to a reputable and trusted online jeweler (like GemsNY). Look out for the best prices, lifetime warranty and certified diamonds for the best deals.
3. Invest in Loose Diamonds
You must be wondering what a loose diamond has to do with a diamond ring purchase. Well, the logic is very simple yet powerful. In most cases, you’ll find preset rings are quite pricey as a whole due to several factors. These can be the intricate design of the ring, the metal used, etc.
So, what can you do to control the cost of each element in your ring? Well, let us suggest you the best option. You can buy a loose diamond and set it later in your preferred ring setting. This way you will not only save money but also create a bespoke love token for your sweetheart.
4. Choose Lab Diamonds over Mined Ones
Have you ever come across a lab-created diamond? If not, you should visit GemsNY’s nearest store in NY or NJ. We’ll show you what a lab diamond looks like and how it differs from a mined variety. Moreover, we’ll help you compare the prices of the two and then, you can make the final call.
You’ll be surprised to know that lab-grown diamond engagement rings are almost half the price of their mined equivalents, yet both are identical in terms of physical, optical and chemical composition. Additionally, you’ll find lab diamond rings socially responsible and environmentally friendly over their natural peers. So, now you can have a real diamond that’s a show stealer and not a pocket burglar.
5. Do Colorless Diamonds Have Colors?
The question above might sound a little off to those who have never explored the depths of a colorless diamond. But beyond its scintillating appearance, every white diamond has a color score or rather an alphabetical grade. You can call it a diamond color grading scale, with grades ranging from D (colorless) to Z (prominent color).
If you wish to shop for a cost-effective yet magnificent diamond ring, stick to the near-colorless (G-J) graded diamonds. Another pro tip, you can opt for a yellow or rose gold setting for your ring for an added glow. It can possibly give your diamonds a whiter appeal, and that’s what you live for, right?
6. Clarity Scale on Radar
You must be knowing that a gemstone’s clarity grade sheds light on the inclusions present in a stone. Gemological labs determine a diamond’s clarity based on a microscopic evaluation. But unless you are a diamond expert, you won’t be able to discern the minor color difference between two diamonds. So, it’s always a good idea to go with the diamond grading report.
If you are a cost conscious buyer, then we suggest that you shouldn’t splurge on a flawless diamond for your engagement ring. Rather, going for an eye-clean diamond (SI1 or SI2) can help you make a feasible purchase with promised clarity and affordability. It’s because such a diamond will make it almost impossible for anyone to trace the inclusions with their naked eyes. Don’t worry!!! Nobody is going to fetch a jeweler’s loupe or a gemologist’s microscope to peep inside your diamond.
7. Cut or Carat: What to Look for?
If you were thinking that only a large-carat diamond could give you more sparkle then you need an instant reality check. Look, a diamond’s brilliance has not much to do with its carat weight but how finely it has been faceted.
This means a poorly-cut bigger diamond will not only cost you more but will be less flashy than a finely-cut smaller diamond. If your diamond is well-faceted, it will display a brilliant fire and a superior light reflection irrespective of its size. Isn’t that how you make a promising deal?
8. Diamond Shapes to Choose From
Well, if you were using gemstone cut and shape interchangeably till now, here’s what you were missing. A gemstone cut talks about how it has been faceted while shape is the physical outline of that gemstone when viewed from top.
You just saw how a diamond’s cut can define its optical beauty. The same philosophy goes with diamond shapes. You must have seen a round brilliant-cut diamond flashing here and there. It is the priciest diamond shape today because it’s insanely popular among both men and women. So you might have to spend a few thousand dollars more to obtain a round diamond.
On the contrary, you will find oval, pear, marquise, emerald and heart-shaped diamonds are a little less popular but equally captivating and hence a little less pricey. So, now you know which one you should go for and which one you can avoid for a cost-effective purchase.
9. How about White Gold over Platinum?
It’s not just the diamond that adds up to the cost of a jewel, but metal and jewelry settings also have a say here. For instance, a platinum diamond ring costs you much more than a white gold or palladium diamond bling. These two white metals promise an almost similar white finish as platinum but with a lower price tag.
Alternatively, if you fancy a glowing amber touch, yellow gold or rose gold in 14k offers a cost-friendly way. But whatever you pick, make sure to test the metal for possible skin reactions. And don’t ever forget that a good metal choice can even elevate the charm of a low-grade diamond.
10. Mix and Match, Compare the Best
Even if only a few days are left before your engagement party, you can hurry up shopping for your dress and accessories but not your diamond engagement ring. It’s because your engagement ring is what you’ll wear for the rest of your life and not just one day.
From its price, design, metal and ease of wearing, every aspect of your engagement ring must be 10/10. So, instead of making a hasty deal, compare the designs and prices at different online and offline jewelry stores. Finally, pick the one that’s both heart stealer and pocket friendlier.
The Bottom Line
Cheer for your marital beginnings with a diamond engagement ring. And with GemsNY by your side, curating and investing in your dream diamond engagement ring will be a cakewalk. We have a legacy of providing 100% certified conflict-free natural and lab diamonds at the best price along with lifetime warranty.
Pick our April birthstone ring as your wife’s birthday present or as a Mother’s Day treat. We also offer aesthetic diamond eternity rings as wedding emblems and for anniversary celebrations. And here’s a not-so-secret tip. If you subscribe to our newsletter then you’ll get instant updates on our seasonal and festival sales, promotional events and discount offers. Quite a handful for a cost-conscious engagement ring purchase, right?