You might have been planning to propose to you significant other for months, maybe even years, but when it comes time to buy the most important part of the proposal, the engagement ring, you left it till the last minute.
There’s no judgement here, just some advice on how to make sure you pull this moment off with aplomb. Who hasn’t waited till the last minute to turn in a term paper or complete some other task by a deadline? Don’t worry: you can still make it the most amazing experience ever, and we here at The Engagement Ring Checklist want to help you do just that!
Here’s some top advice from jewelers on how to buy an engagement ring at the last minute and avoid making some costly mistakes… both personal and financial!
- Aim For Simplicity: If you’re shopping for an engagement ring at the last minute one of the worst things you can do is create additional headaches for yourself by over complicating the ring design. If in doubt, select a solitaire ring. Put your budget toward the diamond and choose the simplest setting possible. This not only ensures your partner can change the setting if and when they choose to do but ensures you don’t lose precious time or waste precious budget on things you don’t know they’ll even like! Which brings us to…
- Stick To Your Budget: If you have a number in mind, keep to it. Don’t let emotions or sales pressure overcome your desire to “get it right”. Don’t have a budget? Here’s a simple exercise you can do to get to a number you’re comfortable spending. Pick a number in your head that you think is too much to spend on a ring. Reduce it by 10%. Still too much? Reduce by another 10% until you arrive at a number that you feel comfortable with. Remember, an engagement ring is a symbol of your unity together and you don’t want to start your marriage resenting the amount you spent on a ring. It’s a bad way to begin the rest of your life!
- Do Your Homework: If you’ve developed a budget then you must have, at some level, familiarized yourself with what diamonds and gemstones cost. At the very least, do a cursory search on some of the larger engagement ring sales websites to understand what is and isn’t in line with your expectations. If you know your significant other values size over cost, consider a lab grown diamond, as you’ll get more carat weight than you will with a natural stone. However, if you know they want a natural diamond, familiarize yourself with the Four C’s and know that moving up or down in color or clarity can be a 15 – 20% difference in price each way. Try to pick what you think they’ll value more: color, clarity, or carat weight. But never EVER skimp on cut. Cut is the ONE C of the Four C’s of Diamonds you should never sacrifice.
- Check the Resize Policy: most jewelers understand that engagement rings are meant to be a surprise and that you might not have all of the information needed to make the ring a perfect fit when you purchase it. If you’re not sure about size, see if the jeweler offers a 30 or 60 day resize policy that will allow you to resize the ring. As an added tip: most women in the USA fall between sizes 6-8 unless they are very petite, which means you’ll need to size smaller. A rule of thumb: better to get the size too big versus too small so the ring will fit!
- Ask their friends: if you’re coming up short on inspiration as to what to get, use a lifeline and phone a friend! That’s what they’re there for and not only will you proceed with confidence, it will make an amazing addition to the engagement story when you share it with friends and family.
There’s no right or wrong way to purchase an engagement ring and we’re here to help you do it with confidence and flair! For more information be sure to check out our section on “buying an engagement ring”.
