Diamond Engagement Rings Congratulations on your upcoming engagement! We have created a diamond selection guide to give you information about diamonds and engagement rings and to help you choose the perfect unique diamond engagement ring. Set a Budget ... And Stick To It! Conventional wisdom (as well as television commercials of a well-known diamond manufacturer) insists that one must spend 2 month's salary on an engagement ring. We disagree. Choose a budget you are comfortable with. Taking out a second mortgage to buy an engagement ring is generally not recommended. Stock or Custom Engagement Ring? You can always go to the local fine jewelry store and purchase a stock diamond engagement ring. However, the selection of sizes, cuts, and ring settings is usually limited, which makes it difficult to choose the diamond that is right for your fiancee. It is also difficult to stay within your budget, since you can't select a slightly smaller diamond or one with slighly more noticeable inclusions. We offer a much better alternative: create your own unique diamond engagement ring! We offer a huge number of diamonds of various shapes and sizes, as well as a large selection of settings. Choose a diamond, select a setting and presto! — you've created your own engagement ring. Find Out What She Wants Before you start shopping, find out what kind of metal, diamond cut, and setting style your fiancee prefers. This will save you from exchanging the ring later on. We leave the question of exactly how you go about this without her suspecting anything as an exercise for the reader. Understanding Diamonds To begin shopping for a diamond, you need to understand the four Cs of diamond evaluation: Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut. By understanding these qualities you can determine which traits are most important to you, and you can find a balance between them that best suits your needs All 4C's are important — a diamond's value is determined by more than just it's carat weight. It is possible that a 1 carat diamond is more expensive than a 1.5 carat diamond because of the way it is cut (or because it has fewer internal inclusions). Experienced diamond appraisers will be able to see the tiniest of inclusions or the slightest tint after examining a diamond in detail. However, neither you nor a casual observer will be able to tell the difference between a flawless diamond and a slightly less perfect one. To stay within your budget, you can always choose a diamond that is slighly tinted or one that has some internal inclusions (which are only visible under high magnifications). The best part is that nobody will be able to tell the difference! Learn more about about the 4C's Understanding Metals for Settings Settings are usually made from three precious metals: Yellow Gold Engagement Rings. This is the traditional metal for engagement ring settings. Many women prefer yellow gold. White Gold Engagement Rings White gold is more understated then yellow gold, and at the same time has a very classic look. White gold works well with different gemstone accents. Platinum Engagement Rings Platinum looks like white gold, but is more expensive. Unlike white gold, though, it is used in virtually pure form and is more durable than white gold. Find out which metal is right for her: while white gold and platinum look the same, yellow gold looks completely different. If she opts for either white gold or platinum, you'll have to get a white gold or platinum engagement band to match hers. Understanding Setting Styles Traditional Solitaire Ring Settings Our most popular engament ring setting. Contains one beautiful diamond. Diamond Accent Setting Beautiful diamond ring settings with channel-set diamonds. Gemstone Accent Engagement Ring Settings. Beautiful settings with sapphires or other gemstones. Three Stone Ring Settings and Three Stone Diamond Rings Elegant three stone rings representing the past, present and future of your relationship. Now that you equipped with tips for engagement ring shopping success, select a category on the right and start shopping!

Choose by Metal Yellow Gold Engagement Rings White Gold Engagement Rings Platinum Engagement Rings Choose by Style Traditional Solitaire Ring Settings Diamond Accent Setting Gemstone Accent Engagement Ring Settings Three Stone Ring Settings Three Stone Diamond Rings Engagement Rings Under $500 Choose Loose Diamonds Emerald Cut Diamonds Heart Shaped Diamonds Marquise Cut Diamonds Oval Cut Diamonds Pear Shaped Diamonds Princess Cut Diamonds Radiant Cut Diamonds Round Cut Diamonds Design your Own Ring