Since the recent world financial crisis, the cost of purchasing gold and precious stones has steeply risen. This means that the cost of jewelry items has skyrocketed. This is hard on the men out there who have been waiting to propose to their girlfriends. But guys, don’t let it cause you to put off your engagement. There are ways to save money on stunning engagement rings that will make your soon to be fiancee a very happy woman.

Brand – There are brand name diamonds just like there’s brand name clothing or shoes. And just like brand name clothing or shoes, you will pay more for some brands than for others or for clothing or shoes of unknown brand. Buying a no brand diamond will almost always save you lots of money. And like any brand, the brand of a diamond may not be so popular in the future. Then you’ll be kicking yourself if you paid a whole lot more for a brand name diamond than for its twin that didn’t carry a brand name.

Negotiation – Plan to haggle a little after you’ve made your decision about which stone or ring you plan to purchase. Retailers normally mark jewelry up 200% or more. There is no shame in “discussing” the price with the salesperson. In fact, you’d be silly not to have a price discussion. It’s the same as making any other large purchase. You wouldn’t buy a car off a lot without discussing price. Do the same before you purchase a diamond.

Shape – Some shapes cost more than others. Look for an oval or pear shaped diamond. Diamonds that are cut into oval or pear shapes appear to be larger than they actually are, or than diamond cuts of equal carat weight. This is also a less popular diamond cut so that the price of these is naturally a little lower.

Band – People immediately notice the diamond in the center of an engagement ring. The band is secondary. It makes lots of sense to choose a simple band and put that saved money into the centre stone. Your fiancee will be blown away by the beautiful centre diamond and that’s what everyone else will notice too.

Stone – One common mistake people make when they are looking to customize their engagement rings is to purchase the stone from a retailer and have the same retailer set the stone. This can costs huge amounts and can be avoided of you find the stone you want elsewhere and take it to another retailer you want to set it at.

Tags