Four mistakes guys make when buying an engagement ring

Buying an engagement ring is a big deal, and for most men it’s their first time making this kind of purchase. Unfortunately, this means there’s a high risk of making a mistake. Here are some pointers to avoid this fate.

Common engagement ring buying mistakes

Shopping for a diamond engagement ring is an emotional experience. On the one hand, there’s excitement and anticipation as one thinks ahead to the future. On the other hand, there’s a lot of stress and pressure to get things right. There’s even an element of uncertainty surrounding what to look for in a ring.

While emotions aren’t bad, they can make buyers vulnerable to making mistakes in the process. This is why it’s worth doing some proper research ahead of time. The more one knows about diamonds (and the ring buying process), the more objective the approach will be. 

With this in mind, here are several ways to avoid common engagement ring buying mistakes.

• Rushing to make a purchase

Once the decision is made to propose and get married, it can feel like a mad rush to make it happen. People spend most of their lives looking for the perfect person – someone to spend the rest of their life with – and now that they’ve been found, it’s not the moment to leave anything else up to chance. It’s not uncommon to feel this way, and it’s best not to rush the process of buying a ring. 

Time is one of the most important ingredients in a smart diamond engagement ring purchase. When one has time on their side, it’s possible to research the decision, shop at multiple jewellers, compare different options and save up for exactly the right thing. Rushing, on the other hand, forces buyers into a box where it’s easy to buy the first thing that stands out (even if it’s not the perfect ring or it’s outside of budget).

As clichéd as it sounds, patience is a virtue when ring shopping. Not only does it give an opportunity to look around and do the research, but it also allows jewellers to help find the perfect diamond. (Most jewellers will keep an eye out for prospective buyers, given the right information.)

• Failing to gather ideas

Lovers shouldn’t make the mistake of buying a ring in a vacuum. They might have a pretty good feel for what their future fiancée wants, but it’s always a good idea to consult her close friends and family members. They may have some insights that weren’t previously obvious.

Most women have spent years thinking about the kind of engagement ring they want. While it might not be viable to find something that checks off every single box on her wish list, it’s certainly important to make sure she’s happy with the ring. Gathering ideas allows an opportunity to go into the search process with a little more clarity.

• Ignoring lab-grown diamonds

Historically, there have been very few options when it comes to sourcing diamonds. If one wanted a real diamond, it was necessary to purchase a naturally grown (mined) diamond. Unfortunately, this meant (intentionally or not) supporting the blood diamond trade. Not only that, but often people overpaid for diamonds. Fast forward and there are many more options today. One of these options is something known as a lab-grown diamond.

Lab-grown diamonds are a fairly new option, but they’re quickly becoming one of the more popular choices on the market. As the name indicates, these diamonds are grown in a lab. However, they’re not fake diamonds. They’re 100% authentic with the exact same elemental structure, chemical properties and optical appearance. The only difference is that they’re not mined and cut from the earth.

Anyone who is ignoring lab grown diamond engagement rings just because they don’t know much about them is making a big error in judgement. Not only are these diamonds more affordable, but there are options to fit any style or budget.

• Too much focus on carat

Everyone wants to talk about how big a diamond is, but too much emphasis on a diamond’s karat weight may cause buyers to compromise on other important elements. Carat weight is just one of the four Cs of buying diamonds. One also has to think about cut, clarity and colour. 

It’s possible to have a big diamond, but if it has a lot of defects that are visible to the naked eye, or doesn’t have a very brilliant cut, it’s not going to sparkle and shine like it should. All of these factors must be taken into account to ensure buying a diamond she’ll love.

Buy with confidence

Uncertainty is a dangerous feeling when making a purchase of this magnitude. With full certainty about one’s soon-to-be fiancée, now it’s time to be sure about the ring. 

Having confidence when entering the ring buying process will avoid making a rash decision. Now’s the time to lean in, do that research and become an informed buyer!

The editorial unit