January. Filled with slightly longer evenings (slightly!), pretty sad looking bank accounts, new diets (new year, new you!) and of course engagements.
No January would be complete without hearing of at least a few friends who have gotten engaged. And for those who are about to pop the question (or who already have), shopping for an engagement ring can be one of the most stressful parts, financially at least.
Or at least that was the case. With myths of a rock needing to cost 2 month’s of your wages finally being debunked, we’re now wising up to what is considered acceptable. And with more experts like Michael Wall doing it on their own, less and less are feeling the need to head to a jeweler’s for their sparkler.
One question that seems to crop up time and time again is shopping for that engagement ring online. While we love the idea of better choice and price, we sometimes can’t even persuade ourselves that buying shoes online is a good idea. What if it doesn’t fit or meet up to our expectations? Well, if your fear is the same as ours, check out these tips to buying an engagement ring online.
Returns
Before even looking through rings on an online store, read the return policy carefully. Especially when it comes to clarity, a diamond isn’t always easy to judge from a photo. If returns are a limited, it’s best to judge from photos that have a high definition. Some websites even offer a service where rings can be sent to a local jeweler for you to see in person yourself. Other high-end online shops like Ocappi, will send you replicas of the rings you are considering buying for free (you do get charged for them if they’re not returned).
Certified Diamonds
If you’re buying a diamond, it should come with paper work (like the Gemological Institute of America) who will analyze the diamonds based on the four Cs (carat, colour, clarity and cut).
Getting Value for Your Diamond
If you’re looking to get value for your diamond, one trick is to buy it smaller but don’t skimp on the cut. Cut is valued as the most important of the four C’s. The cut determines how much the stone sparkles when hit by light.
Image via Red Cap Cards
