Common Mistakes People Make When Buying Diamond Engagement Rings

Posted in: Engagement

Purchasing a diamond engagement ring can be a high-stress process. You may be planning for a surprise proposal or simply have no idea what the entire ring purchasing process involves. 

Because of the intensity of the situation, many people make a few common mistakes, such as these below. Fortunately, all of them are fixable with the help of experts and by doing your homework. 

Not Shopping with Reputable Jewellers

To start shopping for the perfect diamond ring, you might simply search for diamond engagement rings online in NZ. While this can undoubtedly produce a myriad of different search engine options, that doesn’t mean all those ring suppliers that pop up are safe and reputable. 

Take the time to look for identifying signs that the jeweller’s website you’re looking at is legitimate and safe. There can often be many telling signs, such as warranties on purchases, terms and conditions information, ethical diamond policies, clear contact information, and online reviews and testimonials. 

Sometimes, testimonials will be present on the website itself, although you can also look on a search engine. If you see plenty of glowing reviews about both the diamonds and service, you can rest assured that you’ve chosen a jeweller with a glowing reputation. 

Not Considering the Four Cs

If you have never purchased wedding rings or engagement rings before, you may not be aware of what to consider before making your purchase. The ‘four Cs’ can mean a lot about the quality of a diamond. 

The four Cs refer to cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. The cut can mean two things: the shape and style of a polished diamond and the proportions and finish quality. Regarding colour, this refers to the unique colour grading each diamond gets, from D to F, G to J, K to M, and N to Z. All diamonds from reputable jewellers are graded with Gemological Institute of America nomenclature. 

When you start looking at clarity, you can determine the clarity by whether it is graded as Fl, IF, VVS1 and VVS2, VS1 and VS2, SI1 and SI2, and I1, I2, and I3. The most flawless diamonds have an Fl grading, which means flawless. 

Also worth considering out of the four Cs is the carat weight. This is how much the diamond or another gemstone weighs, often down to three decimal placings for accuracy. 

Not Setting a Budget

Even though the price tag of a diamond engagement ring is not the only thing you should consider, it can be one of them. It allows you to narrow down your options so that you can factor in the other important parts of the ring shopping process, like those four Cs. 

With a budget in mind, you can also speed up the shopping process and reduce the risk of becoming overwhelmed.

Guessing the Ring Size

If you are planning a surprise engagement, you can’t outright ask your spouse what their ring size is. You have to be a little stealthier. Although, some people simply guess the size and hope for the best. While many rings can be resized, there’s no harm in putting in the effort before purchasing to ensure the ring is as close to a perfect fit as possible. 

To do so, you may like to borrow another of their rings to measure the size or have your significant other’s friends try and establish the ring size. 

Not Asking for Expert Help

Many people who start ring shopping have never done anything like it before. There can be so much to consider, and you likely have a lot of questions. Rather than wing it and hope for the best, it may be in your best interests to choose a jeweller with experts on hand to answer any questions you may have. 

Not Considering the Diamond’s Origins

The unfortunate reality is that not all diamonds you find for sale are from ethical sources. This can be an important consideration in the ring purchasing process. When you find a jeweller’s website, look for mention of their stance towards conflict diamonds. 

It may also help to look out for information about the Kimberley Process, which is described as an international process for tracking and certifying diamonds from mines to confirm best practices. 

Not Deciding on Natural vs. Lab-Grown

In recent years, lab-grown diamonds have hit the market in earnest. This is yet another thing you may like to consider before making your purchase. 

Synthetic diamonds have the same optical, physical, and chemical properties as natural diamonds. However, it’s worth considering their greenhouse gas footprint, which is considerably higher than natural diamonds. 

Shop with the Experts

You can enjoy peace of mind and avoid making many of these mistakes above by shopping with reputable jewellers. Diamonds.co.nz will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have while helping you choose the perfect diamond engagement ring.