Engagement ring shopping is a big step in a relationship—and we say this out of excitement. This milestone signifies that you’re ready to spend your life with your partner by purchasing a beautiful lab grown diamond ring. If you’re still undecided about whether you and your fiancé should be shopping for the perfect engagement ring together, we’re here to share with you the benefits of this amazing modern choice.
Should you pick an engagement ring together?
Determining if you should pick an engagement ring out together or not comes down to a few things.
For starters, you need to ask yourself, “Do I completely trust my partner to find the perfect ring that matches my style and taste?”
If you can honestly answer yes, then, by all means, leave it to your partner to make the best choice. But if the thought of your partner picking out your ring makes you worried, nervous (and a little terrified), it’s a good idea to stay involved from the beginning.
Sure, the proposal won’t be a complete surprise but shopping for an engagement ring together will be an unforgettable experience as a couple. Plus, you’ll have a stress-free engagement showing off the ring you’ve always wanted.
Is it OK to shop for engagement rings together?
Purchasing a ring with your partner isn’t at all uncommon. In fact, more couples are skipping the traditional proposal and planning a trip to the jewelry store or shopping online together. And when it comes to a big purchase like this, it’s definitely for the best. It will take the pressure off the groom since he won’t have to worry about having common “ring knowledge,” and the bride can have her dream engagement ring. If you haven’t found a design that suits your taste, you can always have a custom engagement ring and use window-shopping as an excuse to figure out which cuts and designs are your style.
Benefits of ring shopping together before the proposal
There are lots of benefits when you shop for engagement rings together, which we’ll get into below. From open communication to a stress-free shopping journey, It’s clear why more and more couples are making decisions together.
Less Engagement Ring Stress
Every woman has an image in their head of what she wants her engagement ring to look like. When you finally head out shopping, you can bring those dreams to reality instead of hoping your fiancé will get everything right the first time. After all, this ring will be on your ring finger for a lifetime, which means it has to fit correctly and the overall aesthetic must suit your taste.
Openly Discussing The Budget
By ring shopping together, you and your fiancé can openly discuss how much you two are willing to spend on an engagement ring. This way you can avoid underspending on a subpar ring or overspending and accumulating debt. Once a budget has been set, you’re free to explore all your options within your price point as you shop together. While openly discussing your budget, you may just find that it makes more sense to opt for a lab grown diamond engagement ring as it will save you a significant amount of money. That way you can use the money you save on more important things, like buying your first home together.
A Risk-Free Proposal
This period of shopping as a couple will also take the risk and uncertainty out of popping the question. How so? Well, since the proposal has been discussed beforehand, you two have a chance to make sure that you’re both committed and ready to move forward before purchasing a ring.
Benefits of picking out your own engagement ring
Picking out your own engagement ring is a once in a lifetime experience you’ll never forget, and it comes along with more helpful benefits that wouldn’t be possible without you being present.
Ensure that it fits right
In any case, your ring must fit correctly from the start. You’ll avoid resizing costs and damaging the ring. (12FIFTEEN offers one complimentary ring resizing within a year of purchase though, so don’t fret!)
No Subtle Hints
When you pick your own engagement ring, you won’t have to think about different ways to drop subtle hints to ensure that your soon-to-be fiancé can purchase the ring of your dreams. You can openly talk about the kind of ring you’re looking for, share photos and begin the search together.
Spending More Quality Time With Your Partner
You can use ring shopping as a way to have a fun and unique date night. Since it’s wedding related, you can learn more about each other and how you work together in the decision-making process.
General engagement ring shopping tips
When the first day of ring shopping finally arrives, remember these tips for a stress-free and enjoyable experience for you and your fiancé.
Learn the 4Cs
It’s important that you familiarize yourself with the 4Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight, before you make any final engagement ring decisions. If you don’t know these terms, the process can quickly become overwhelming. Take a moment to understand each of the terms since it will be a significant advantage for you.
The Cut: Arguably the most important of all the 4Cs, a diamond’s cut is determined by how well it returns light. In other words, how sparkly it is.
The Color: The lack of color in the diamond—the less color, the higher the grade. Perfect starts at D and goes all the way to Z. Most rings sold in the U.S. are H/I/J range, so they have a cast of color, which makes them imperfect (but cheaper). While diamonds that show light hints of color are not in-demand, diamonds that show obvious colors are, and their price reflects that.
The Clarity: Assessment of small, natural blemishes and inclusions. Just like mined diamonds, lab grown diamonds are rarely perfect. No two are alike, which is why each one is completely unique.
The Carat Weight: While it’s common for the average consumer to think carat weight refers to the size of a diamond, it actually refers to the total weight. The weight can vary depending on how the diamond is cut, so it’s possible for two diamonds to look the same in size but vary slightly in overall carat weight.
Insure Your Ring and Get the Warranty Too
For some extra peace of mind, you need to invest in having your ring insured and have a full warranty. You’ll be wearing this large purchase daily, so it only makes sense to have your ring covered in case it becomes damaged, lost or stolen. When you purchase from 12FIFTEEN, you can have peace of mind knowing your ring comes with a Manufacturing Defect Warranty. For the lifetime of your ring, if there is a manufacturing defect with your setting, we will repair or replace your ring free of charge.
Ask Questions and Get Advice
Now would be the perfect time to reach out to couples you know and get advice or recommendations for your engagement ring search. You can even find a jewelry expert or consultant to have them explain details for a better understanding of any problem you may have.
Other Reminders:
When picking the perfect ring, don’t just pay attention to the diamond’s size. The diamond’s cut and color also affect the price. The cut of a diamond can range from various styles like the round diamond or the emerald cut, depending on your personal style preference. As for the color, know that it can affect the diamond price as well depending on if you want a more yellow or colorless diamond. Having said that, expect colorless diamonds to be pricier due to their rarity. The color of a diamond is not to be confused with the clarity of the diamond however. Check a diamond clarity chart to determine the amount of inclusions you’re okay with. You should also consider the kind of metal the ring is made of. Do you prefer the classic yellow gold? Or the sparkly white gold? Do you want to accentuate the main diamond with smaller diamonds? All of these factors not only affect the ring design but also its overall price, and understanding the 4Cs explains why diamonds are so expensive.
Know Your Budget
When you start researching your options online, you’re bound to see that you can be paying anywhere from 35 to 75 percent less than what your nearby jeweler is asking for. Budget wise this could be an amazing avenue for you and your partner to explore. Just remember to do your research to ensure you’re getting a high-quality ring from a reputable online jewelry with a great return policy.
Financial rules of thumb—who pays? How much is too much?
Not too long ago, the answer to who had to pay for the ring would clearly be the groom. So long outdated traditions. Today, it’s much different and more common for the cost of the engagement ring to be shared by both parties. This won’t take away from the engagement in any way, in fact, it often leads to a more fulfilling and thoughtful shopping experience.
As for the price, on average a diamond engagement ring can cost about $6,000. The final price will come down to the style, cut and quality of the diamonds or stones you prefer. For example, a standard princess cut usually costs $3,500. Just remember to pick a ring that’s within your budget to start your lives off together without the stress of debt. Choosing a lab grown diamond is a great start to ensure your ring is within a reasonable price.
Finding the ring of your dreams may not be easy, but there are plenty of options out there to explore. At 12FIFTEEN, we specialize in designing unique engagement rings created with lab grown diamonds for fashion-forward brides-to-be.
Whether you are searching for a radiant cut engagement ring, princess cut engagement ring or cushion cut engagement ring, we have it all. Check out our full list of engagement rings today!