What are some ways you can save money on an engagement ring?

With savvy shopping, it's possible to design the engagement ring of your dreams without breaking the bank. From choosing the right setting to knowing exactly what to look for in diamond color, you can ensure you're allocating your budget wisely and ultimately getting the most sparkle.

1. Avoid round-cut engagement rings

Although they are the most popular diamond shape, rounds cost 25% more than all other diamond shapes. They are the most in-demand, making them more expensive, but they lose a lot of the rough diamond during the cutting process, resulting in an increased finished price per carat.

2. Avoid popular shapes

Just as you can save money by avoiding rounds, you can save up to 10% by avoiding other popular shapes of the moment. Ovals are one of our most requested shapes of the moment, in part because of all the celebs recently seen wearing them (Blake Lively, Julianne Hough, Hailey Baldwin). This causes higher demand, lower inventory, and an increase in prices. 

3. Limit micropavé

Micropavé-set diamonds are a very popular design, but they're labor-intensive and costly. Limiting the amount of micropavé in your setting brings the price down significantly. Our micropavé settings start at $2,500 but can increase to $7,000 for more complicated designs. Consider opting for something without micropavé, like our Whisper Thin™ setting (above). Its simplicity shows off the diamond, and it costs $600 less than the same setting with micropavé on the band.

4. Go for G color

Many clients want the look of a colorless diamond (D-F on the GIA color scale) while still maximizing their budget. Staying right under the colorless range and purchasing a G-color diamond is the perfect solution. A G-color diamond side by side with an F color has an almost imperceptible visible difference and costs about 8% less! 

5. Don't fear the fluorescence

Fluorescence is a naturally occurring property in about 30% of diamonds and refers to a diamond's tendency to emit a blue glow when subjected to ultraviolet light. GIA grades the level of fluorescence each diamond contains (none, faint, medium, strong, very strong). Diamonds containing Medium or Strong can be discounted up to 15% simply because consumers have a negative misconception about them. However, in lower-color diamonds (I-K color), the blue in the fluorescence counters any yellow and actually makes the diamond appear a grade whiter!

6. Buy shy of the carat

There's a large price per carat jump when you hit each full carat mark. For example, a 2.99 G SI1 Round costs $33,600, and a 3ct G SI1 costs $45,900. You can save as much as 25% by staying right under the full-carat mark.

7. Avoid three-stone rings

While three-stone engagement rings make a classic statement, adding side stones—like trapezoids or half moons—increases the price of the setting by $2,000–5,000.

8. Make the most of the measurements

Carat is a weight and doesn't necessarily reflect how large a diamond appears from the top. Always look at the length and width in millimeters indicated on the GIA report, in addition to the carat weight. You can often find diamonds that measure a half-carat larger than their actual weight, which can save you up to 20%.

9. Know your diamond Cut grades

Rounds are the only shape that comes with GIA-determined cut grades. The cut grade indicates how well-proportioned the diamond is and how well it reflects light. Excellent-cut rounds will emit more brilliance and sparkle than lower-cut grades. In addition, they appear two color grades whiter and hide inclusions extremely well. If you're purchasing a round, an excellent cut allows you to go lower in color and clarity and allocate more of the budget towards carat weight.

Thinking about shopping for the ring together? 

Surprise proposals are certainly romantic, but when it comes to such a monumental purchase as an engagement ring, it’s not uncommon for both partners to be a part of the decision-making process. For women who want to be involved in the design and leave nothing to chance, shopping for engagement rings together can be a great experience.

1. It's the modern move

Shopping with your partner has become the modern standard for engagement ring design. This ensures that the bride-to-be is getting exactly what they love without any worry.

2. There are plenty of ways to collaborate

Collaborating can range from providing input on preferences and creating buying guidelines to actively working to design every element together.

3. You can still keep some mystery

At Ring Concierge, we make it possible to keep all of the engagement ring design preferences and ring size on file while still ensuring that everything else is a surprise. Once your partner has chosen a setting and stone, we move forward with you to finalize all details and discuss how to get the finished piece directly to you. This way, your partner never knows when to expect it—though you know they will love it.

4. It's a personal decision between you and your partner

How do you determine if the co-designing route is right for you? Engagement ring shopping together with your partner is a preference and something that should be agreed upon, keeping in mind that the most important thing is that the person wearing the ring loves it. If you decide to shop together, keep in mind that everyone is different, and be sure to practice patience during your experience. 

5. It won't ruin the moment

You can rest assured that just because you've shopped for the engagement ring together, the moment won't be any less magical when it's revealed during the proposal. 

How can I get my partner's ring size without spoiling the secret?

So you're ready to pop the question, and now all you need is an engagement ring to deliver the perfect proposal. In addition to knowing your partner's preferences, one major piece of information that's pertinent to have is her ring size. If you intend on popping the question as a surprise, here are a few tips to help you determine her ring size without her suspecting anything.

• Borrow one of her rings
• Trace it
• Phone a friend
• Put a string on it
• Use a ring sizing gauge
• Use some guesswork
• Err on the larger side

How do I snap the perfect engagement ring selfie? 

You’ve said yes; now it's time to share with your family and friends! Nail that perfect shot with these tips:

1. Find your light

It's important to consider lighting whenever you're taking a photo, but especially when capturing the beauty of your engagement ring. Rings look best in daylight, so we recommend shooting outside during the day to fully capture your diamond's sparkle.

2. Remember, good skin is in

When taking an engagement ring selfie, you want your skin to look its best and not detract from the bling. The key to good skin is moisturizing. We recommend L’Occitane Lavande Hand Cream ($24), our go-to, especially in colder months when the weather takes a toll on our skin.

3. Nail it

Just as you want your skin to look perfect, make sure your nails are freshly manicured before snapping your engagement ring selfie. An Essie manicure is perfect for anyone and everyone.

4. Style it

While you certainly want your engagement ring to take center stage in your selfie, don't be afraid to play around with some complementary bling. We love to surround our engagement ring photos with an on-trend ring stack.

5. Set the scene

We love an interesting backdrop for our ring selfies. Capture a breathtaking shot of where the proposal took place, the city where you live, or anywhere the light and landscape are in your favor. Whether you’re at the beach or sitting with a super cute pup, whip out your phone and snap away.

6. Show some sleeve

Last but not least, a pretty sleeve cuff is always welcome in a ring selfie. Let a little bit of your outfit work its way into the shot—it helps frame the photo and shows off even more of your personal style.

How do you resize your engagement ring?

Proposals can be nerve-wracking; resizing shouldn't be. There’s always a risk when surprising her with a proposal; luckily, it's perfectly normal and not painstakingly difficult to resize a ring post-proposal. 

1. It's okay to not know

First and foremost, not knowing her ring size isn't the end of the world. If you're unsure about accurately sizing the ring for your partner but still want to keep the proposal a surprise, there are a handful of ways you can get your partner's ring size without asking.

2. When in doubt, size up

If you do end up guessing, it's better to size up to ensure your partner can fit the ring on after the proposal. 

3. Resizing is common (and easy)

Even if you knew her ring size, it's very common to need even a small resize after the proposal. If you’re in New York City, you can arrange to drop off our Ring Concierge ring directly with your consultant during our office hours. We ask for one business week to resize your ring, so if you drop it on a Monday, you can pick it up on a Friday. There is no production over the weekend, so if it’s dropped on a Thursday, it will be in production for two extra days.

Hot Tip

If you’re in New York City, you can arrange to drop off your Ring Concierge ring to be resized directly with your consultant during our office hours.

Chances are, you can and should be cleaning your engagement ring more often than you think.

Every other week: If you wear your engagement ring daily, a quick, gentle cleaning every other week is enough maintenance to restore its sparkle and keep bacteria at bay.

Once a month: it’s worth spending some extra time on a more thorough cleaning.

Twice a year: Every six months, it’s recommended to take your ring in for a professional cleaning and inspection.