I recently proposed to my girlfriend and I am happy to say she is now my fiance. However, a lot of thought went into the proposal and even more thought and preparation went into purchasing her engagement ring (which she was very happy with). Here are some guidelines to follow when it comes to finding and buying her ring.
If you are looking at rings you have probably discussed marriage with your girlfriend and there are a few things that you need to ask. The first of which is what role will she play in purchasing the ring. The classic mentality is the man going out and purchasing a ring on his own to propose with. However your girl may want to take a greater part which ranges from going with you to stores to giving you pointers on the ring. Whatever the situation may be, make sure to ask her before you begin looking.
If you are looking for a diamond beautiful to the naked eye (doubtful that your girlfriend will whip out a scope to inspect it) you should look for a diamond D-H. Colorless diamonds (D,E,F) are very high quality but also come with a very large price tag. G and H graded diamonds contain so little color that is barely noticeable to the naked eye. I and J graded diamonds have a slight amount of color that is noticeable to the naked eye. Anything beyond J should probably be avoided as there will be noticeable color especially in smaller diamonds.
This one is more personal and there really is no rule here other than pleasing your girlfriend. It used to be said that two months' salary was the right amount but ignore folklore and look at your finances. It probably is not worth going into debt just to begin a marriage but it is up to you. Knowing your spending limit will help you when making decisions later.
There are six grades or categories that a diamond may fall under. Flawless (FL) means there are no inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification (these diamonds can be very pricey). Internally Flawless (IF) means that there are no inclusions visible under 10x magnification although there may be blemishes. Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) means that there are inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10X magnification. Very Slight Included (VS1 and VS2) are observed with effort under 10X magnification, but are minor. Slight Included (Sl1 and Sl2) have inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification. Finally, Included (I1, I2, I3) have inclusions obvious under 10x magnification.
When people buy a boat, they often feel like the only real cost is the cost of purchasing the boat. But to be financially certain, there are many other costs that you need to take into account in order to understand the true burden a boat may be on your finances. Balancing these costs with the desire for a boat will help you to decide if a boat is right for you.
Also check into financing options for the ring. If you are planning on taking out a loan this is vital to ask if you have the money consider it anyway. Luxury goods like rings can boost your credit rating. Even though I had the cash I took out a loan that I can pay back interest free over six months to help boost my credit score.
Don't make any promises but show interest in the rings. Remember not to let the sale rep waste your time since you have a lot of stores to check with. Repeat this same process with all of the stores, collecting information, and then head home.
I have listed no prices in each of the 4C's because of variability. Your diamond price will change depending on the grades you select for each of the 4 C's. Determine what is most important to you and make sacrifices accordingly. If you want a beautiful diamond you may end up choosing something small. If size matters remember the diamond may not shine as you hoped. The diamond does represent a large investment so look into insuring the diamond at the jeweler or including it as part of your home insurance, good hunting!
If you are looking at rings you have probably discussed marriage with your girlfriend and there are a few things that you need to ask. The first of which is what role will she play in purchasing the ring. The classic mentality is the man going out and purchasing a ring on his own to propose with. However your girl may want to take a greater part which ranges from going with you to stores to giving you pointers on the ring. Whatever the situation may be, make sure to ask her before you begin looking.
If you are looking for a diamond beautiful to the naked eye (doubtful that your girlfriend will whip out a scope to inspect it) you should look for a diamond D-H. Colorless diamonds (D,E,F) are very high quality but also come with a very large price tag. G and H graded diamonds contain so little color that is barely noticeable to the naked eye. I and J graded diamonds have a slight amount of color that is noticeable to the naked eye. Anything beyond J should probably be avoided as there will be noticeable color especially in smaller diamonds.
This one is more personal and there really is no rule here other than pleasing your girlfriend. It used to be said that two months' salary was the right amount but ignore folklore and look at your finances. It probably is not worth going into debt just to begin a marriage but it is up to you. Knowing your spending limit will help you when making decisions later.
There are six grades or categories that a diamond may fall under. Flawless (FL) means there are no inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification (these diamonds can be very pricey). Internally Flawless (IF) means that there are no inclusions visible under 10x magnification although there may be blemishes. Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) means that there are inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10X magnification. Very Slight Included (VS1 and VS2) are observed with effort under 10X magnification, but are minor. Slight Included (Sl1 and Sl2) have inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification. Finally, Included (I1, I2, I3) have inclusions obvious under 10x magnification.
When people buy a boat, they often feel like the only real cost is the cost of purchasing the boat. But to be financially certain, there are many other costs that you need to take into account in order to understand the true burden a boat may be on your finances. Balancing these costs with the desire for a boat will help you to decide if a boat is right for you.
Also check into financing options for the ring. If you are planning on taking out a loan this is vital to ask if you have the money consider it anyway. Luxury goods like rings can boost your credit rating. Even though I had the cash I took out a loan that I can pay back interest free over six months to help boost my credit score.
Don't make any promises but show interest in the rings. Remember not to let the sale rep waste your time since you have a lot of stores to check with. Repeat this same process with all of the stores, collecting information, and then head home.
I have listed no prices in each of the 4C's because of variability. Your diamond price will change depending on the grades you select for each of the 4 C's. Determine what is most important to you and make sacrifices accordingly. If you want a beautiful diamond you may end up choosing something small. If size matters remember the diamond may not shine as you hoped. The diamond does represent a large investment so look into insuring the diamond at the jeweler or including it as part of your home insurance, good hunting!
About the Author:
Neighbors Plus Insurance Services has been independently owned and locally operated, to ensure that the needs of the community are being met. We work hard to ensure that our clients in Lakewood, Long Beach and Southern California are able to have the most affordable and reliable insurance choices available.
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