Bradley Gough Diamonds has all the answers to the most commring shopping questions
An engagement ring is one of the most important purchases you will ever make. With a whole world of engagement ring styles to explore, you’re probably excited to start shopping! You also probably have some questions. After all, you want to make sure you have all the information you need to help you choose the right ring for your special someone.
Thankfully, trusted jewelry experts like the staff at Bradley Gough Diamonds are here to help. To jumpstart your ring shopping experience, we’ve prepared some answers to a few of the most common questions we get from engagement ring shoppers.
The Top 5 Most Common Ring Shopping Questions
Are There Any “Engagement Ring Rules” I Should Know About?
Many jewelry shoppers want to know the ‘rules’ of engagement ring shopping. In particular, they’re often looking for guidelines on how much they should spend. In our opinion, there are no hard-and-fast rules for your engagement ring budget.
While some consider it to be an old fashioned notion, other engagement ring shopping guides still cite the ‘three month rule’ as a way to make sure your ring is appropriately extravagant. The idea is that three months' salary should be your baseline budget for ring shopping. In our view, this is a rather arbitrary timeline. Your budget is unique to your financial situation, and it should be something you carefully consider.
Many of our customers have some concern about what to spend on their engagement rings, and we remind them that the price tag is not the most important factor. We always encourage building a solid budget that works within your income, but what matters is finding a ring that’s special to you and your loved one. At the end of the day, it’s about selecting a ring that your partner will be thrilled to wear forever.
Can Couples Shop for Engagement Rings Together?
Of course couples can shop together! There’s a lot of pressure to get it ‘right’ when it comes to ring shopping. It might seem romantic to pick out the ring for your partner at first, but it can also be a bit of a nightmare if you’re prone to decision-making anxiety, or if you have no clue what your partner wants. So, why not make sure that the person wearing the ring is involved in the decision making process? It’s a natural conclusion that can make for a more rewarding ring shopping experience.
After all, your engagement ring is a symbol of your relationship, and a relationship is all about collaborative decision making. At the end of the day, it’s the only way to truly guarantee that whoever wears the ring is going to like it.
How Important Is Diamond Quality?
When it comes to judging diamond quality, it’s important to understand four scales, called the "4 Cs" - color, cut, clarity, and carat size. Paying attention to all of them is key when you're buying a diamond. Carat weight is easy enough to understand: it’s the measurement unit for diamond weight, with each carat equal to 200 milligrams. Let’s dig into the other three "Cs" and how they affect a diamond’s appearance.
The term ‘color’ refers to the diamond’s tint. The best diamonds are totally colorless. Diamond color is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) on a letter scale. "D" is the highest possible score, given to colorless diamonds, while "Z" is given to diamonds with noticeable color.
Diamond clarity looks at any "inclusions" or flaws in the diamond. Inclusions are any other materials that got stuck inside of the diamond during its formation, like tiny mineral particles. While color and clarity matter for a diamond's appearance, they don't affect its perceived size.
When it comes to perceived size, then aside from carat weight, diamond cut is the most important of the four Cs. Cut refers to the symmetry and proportions of the diamond, especially the flat faces (which are called facets). Well-cut facets reflect lots of light and give the diamond a stunning sparkle.
An "excellent" or "ideal" cut diamond appears bigger simply because it shines so brightly. So, if you want to maximize the impact for the carat size, think about going for a smaller diamond with a fantastic cut instead of a bigger one with a so-so cut.
How Do I Find My Partner’s Ring Size Without Her Knowing?
This one is a bit tricky. Even for those who already have the perfect ring picked out for their partner, there’s one detail that can be difficult to get without spoiling the surprise: how to find a woman's ring size. Asking outright could be a huge tip-off that you’re planning to pop the question. Thankfully, we’ve got a few tips that can help you get the information you need without giving away the surprise.
For this first method, you’ll need access to their jewelry box. Borrow a ring that they regularly wear. You can trace the outline of the ring on a piece of paper and use that as a reference against a ring size chart. Or, if you get a chance, you can bring her ring into a jeweler for an exact size. You can even get it cleaned while you’re there.
Friends and family of hers are likely going to be a great resource too, as they can find out without tipping her off right away. They may be able to ask for her size under the guise of buying her a gift, then discreetly pass that information on to you.
Ultimately, though it’s certainly best to find out her ring size before getting down on one knee, picking the wrong size is not the end of the world. A ring can always be resized by your trusted local jeweler.
How do I Choose the Right Ring?
The best piece of advice we can give when it comes to selecting the right ring is to keep your partner and her desires in mind. Marriage is a huge commitment and the engagement ring, as the symbol that most represents the commitment, is a big investment. You can start keeping a closer eye on her personal style choices, and listening in for any hints she drops.
You can also always have a conversation with her about the ring of her dreams. Though you may be concerned about ruining the surprise, this conversation doesn’t have to go into extreme detail. If you can get a general outline of the styles she likes, you can narrow down your search without giving away precisely what you’re buying. Besides, there’s still plenty of room to surprise her when it comes to the proposal itself.
Our next best piece of advice is to make sure you work with a trusted local jeweler, like Bradley Gough Diamonds in Fort Wayne, Indiana. You need someone who can work with you to achieve your specifications, answer all of your questions, and deliver a quality engagement ring–even if that means custom making it.
Find the Answer to Your Engagement Ring Questions at Bradley Gough Diamonds in Fort Wayne
If your question was on our list, we hope you found the answer insightful. If it wasn’t, or if you’d like to talk more, we invite you to come speak with our jewelry experts in store. The best place to get an engagement ring is with a local jeweler you can trust.
There’s no better way to learn more about the craft and beauty of fine jewelry than by talking to someone who is passionate and knowledgeable, like our staff! We look forward to helping you find the perfect ring for your special day.