Ring Buying Essentials: Ten Things to Know Before Buying an Engagement Ring

Getting ready to shop for an engagement ring, and don’t know where to start? We’ve distilled our expertise into 10 simple topics to help you understand the big picture. Read on — you’ll be shopping like a pro in no time.

What to Know About Shopping For the Diamond

#1 Diamond Shape

Explore the 10 most popular diamond shapes. Each is uniquely brilliant, evoking emotion and reflecting the personality of its owner.

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The 4 Cs are the standard way to measure the beauty, craftsmanship, and value of a diamond. Learn More

#2 Diamond Cut

This is the most important factor in a diamond’s quality and brilliance. There are four basic diamond cut grades: Ideal, Very Good, Good and Poor. The better the cut grade, the bigger the sparkle.

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#3 Diamond Clarity

Clarity refers to a diamond’s natural inclusions, or lack thereof. While small marks within a diamond are natural, their appearance can leave something to be desired if they are visible to the unaided eye.

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The clearer a diamond, the more brilliant it is. Learn More

#4 Diamond Color

The diamond color grading scale begins with “D” and ranges down to “Z”. A diamond assigned a grade of “D” has absolutely no color -- it looks pure white, even to a gemologist inspecting it carefully under 10X magnification.

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#5 Diamond Carat

Carat is the measure of how much a diamond weighs. Carat is also related to size (how big a diamond looks), although it’s not the only factor that determines size.

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#6 Diamond Certification

When looking for a diamond, you should choose one that has been graded by a reputable laboratory.

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What to Know About Shopping For the Ring

#7 Ring Styles

Ritani provides five ring styles, organized into collections. You can pair any shape of diamond with any style of engagement ring: Solitaire, Halo, Three-stone, Sidestone and Vintage.

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The ring setting secures the center diamond to the ring band. Ring settings range from very simple to quite intricate. Learn More

#8 Ring Metals

Ritani offers four types of metal to design your engagement ring with. Platinum ($$$$, extremely durable, extremely hypoallergenic) Gold ($$$, moderately durable, moderately hypoallergenic) White Gold ($$$, moderately durable, moderately hypoallergenic) Rose Gold ($$$, moderately durable) 

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#9 Custom Designed

If a pre-designed ring is not what you are looking for, you can design your own ring with Ritani’s ring consultants.

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How to Set an Engagement Ring Budget

#10 Ring Pricing

The price of an engagement ring is influenced by many factors. One of the most important factors is the size and quality of the center diamond. Know your starting point, and set a budget before you begin shopping.

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