Summer Engangement

Whether it’s the start of summer or just the beginning of wedding season, something about June makes it one of the top months for purchasing an engagement ring. If you are part of this group, looking for the perfect diamond engagement ring for your bride-to-be, here are some great tips to keep in mind as your do your ring research.

1. The Diamond Vs. The Ring 

While it’s easy to get caught up in the endless styles of engagement rings, such as halo’s, solitaire’s and pavé designs, the important thing to keep in mind is that the ring’s purpose is to hold the diamond. After all, the diamond is what you are truly proposing with and that represents your commitment to your partner. The more you spend on the engagement ring, the less you can put towards the diamond. While there is no guideline or general rule, it is a good idea to set separate budgets for both the diamond and the engagement ring to ensure that you don’t sacrifice in either area.

2. Have A Budget 

You cannot make an informed purchase decision without a budget. Would you buy a car without a budget? Probably not. Your budget does not magically change all the prices, having a budget allows the salesperson to help you maximize your investment in the best possible diamond and engagement ring. For instance, if you decided that you would like to spend $5,000 on a diamond, your salesperson can provide all the options across sizes, instead of randomly showing you different specs and price points. Your time is valuable, know your budget and let the salesperson do the work in making it fit your needs. You will be surprised by their eagerness to make you happy.

3. The 4 C’s, What Matters Most

Purchasing a diamond starts with understanding the 4 C’s, the grading system by which all diamonds are valued and therefore priced.

Although the Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight all factor into a diamonds’ value, the ‘Cut’ alone represents up to 50% of the price.

Here is a simple question which will reveal why this ‘C’ is so important. What is the one thing a diamond is supposed to do? Sparkle! That beautiful display of fireworks and color is why you are buying this rock. Now for the second question, would you buy a diamond that doesn’t sparkle? Nobody would answer yes to that however, lots of people end up doing that because they don’t understand that the Cut is a measurement of how much a diamond will sparkle. The higher the Cut grade, the better the proportions and the less light it will leak light. When more light returns to the eye, a diamond sparkles more. The lesson here is don’t sacrifice the Cut grade unless you want to sacrifice the sparkle.

This is not an all-inclusive engagement ring guide but should serve as a great compliment to the research that you perform. To recap, the most important component of an engagement ring is the diamond, so consider separate budgets for the diamond and ring to ensure both meet your needs. The second recommendation is a continuation of the first in that having a budget will help you quickly narrow down your options and often provide you with greater value. The last lesson is to understand that the ‘Cut’ grade is the largest share of a diamonds value because it determines how much a diamond will sparkle. Don’t sacrifice the Cut grade unless you are willing to sacrifice the sparkle.

Davidson & Licht has been the Bay Area’s bridal destination for over 100 years. Come visit us and meet with one of our bridal specialists to discuss your custom engagement ring design.