Avoid Top 3 Costly Mistakes

1. Comparing Price Not Quality

Shopping for engagement rings is a detailed process. The odds are you will visit a number of jewellery stores in hopes of finding the ring your loved one desires. Have you ever noticed the considerable price difference between to seemingly comparable rings? Why is one store so much more expensive than the other?

There is a lot more to the price of an engagement ring then the carat weight of diamonds.

You have to consider the 4 C's of diamonds:

• Carat
• Clarity
• Colour
• Cut

You should also consider:

• Getting a ring made in10k, 14k or 19k gold, or platinum will also have an impact on the price of your engagement ring.
• Some diamond shapes vary in price
• Brand names have premium pricing because of limited availability

Make sure you have considered the above factors when comparing price.

2. Not Knowing How Carat Affects Value

Another common mistake people often make is not understanding the term "total carat weight". When a jeweller tells you that a ring is a "1 carat ring", always ask if he is referring to the total carat weight or just the center diamond.

Let's say an engagement ring has a total of 11 diamonds. It consists of one center stone, two side stones and four small diamonds running up each side of the band.

Let's say the Total Carat Weight is 1 carat. Here's an example of what the sizes of each of the stones could be:

Center Stone - 0.4 carat

Two Side Stones - 0.2 X 2 = 0.4 carat

Eight small stones - 0.025 X 8 = 0.2 carat

If you compare this example with a 1 carat solitaire diamond ring (1 larger diamond) the solitaire would cost more. Why? Larger diamonds are more rare than smaller diamonds.

3. Not knowing what you CAN get

So you're shopping around and you find the "almost perfect ring." It's exactly what you had in mind, except that you wish the band was just a little bit thinner, and ideally, you'd like to see a few more small diamonds on the side of the band.

You tell the sales person about the things you'd like to see in the ring. They say, "Well we have this other ring and it's got a thinner band with more small diamonds."

You look at the ring with disgust because the diamond is a different shape and size, plus you don't like the setting. You tell the sales person that you really like the initial ring, but really want the band thinner and with more small diamonds.

"Sorry, this is all we have to offer" is the likely response you will receive.

Most people don't realize the alterations that are possible. This may be because some jewelers do not have the ability or resources to make alterations to rings in their showcase. However, many jewellers can make the alterations you desire. The trick is to find a jeweler that can do it

Examples of adjustments that can be made:

• You can make the band thicker or thinner.
• You can change the metal to white gold, yellow gold, or platinum.
• If you like the setting on one ring but not on another, you can use the setting you like.
• You can keep a band style that you like.
• You can change the diamond size.
• You can change the diamond shape.
• You can change the size (to scale) of the ring. Sometimes a ring might look too big for someone's hand, so we can take that ring and scale it down to match the look you're after.

Don't hold back any questions you have! Remember, we're not on commission and we genuinely have your best interests in mind. You'll be surprised how we can meet your engagement ring needs.