Purchasing an engagement ring is both an emotional and rational decision, which can make it a difficult one. The two biggest considerations to keep in mind are your partner's expectations and your own financial situation.
Your love and commitment are symbolized by the engagement ring you purchase. It shows your investment in the relationship and your knowledge of your partner's style, expectations, and dreams. This important piece of jewelry will be worn daily and shown off to friends and family, so naturally, you want to find the perfect ring. There's no doubt about it, picking out the right ring is really important. Your fiance is sure to appreciate your time, effort, and financial situation with whatever ring you choose.
There is an outdated tradition that recommends spending two months' salary on an engagement ring, but this only takes into account your yearly gross income. Reality is more complicated than that, so other considerations to factor into your engagement ring budget include expenses, debt, savings, future income or debt, and even your merged finances after marriage. Consider your entire financial situation and don't feel pressured to buy a ring you can't afford. Ideally, you want to avoid incurring debt, but if you finance, choose an amount you can easily pay off in a couple of months.
The great news is that no matter your budget, the perfect ring is out there. With thousands of combinations to choose from, the options can feel overwhelming. Hopefully, you have an idea of your fiance's preferred style and can start with metal preference, setting, or stone type. If not, you might consider the growing trend of ring shopping together with your fiance. You can still keep an element of surprise by looking at several options together then choosing the final design on your own.
Once you've determined your budget and your partner's favorite styles, let the shopping begin! The following styles are both classics and popular trends that can be adjusted to fit almost any budget. These styles can range from a couple of hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on how you choose to customize the ring. The band metal will make a difference in price: for example, tungsten and titanium are cheaper than 18-carat gold or 950 platinum. However, the biggest budgetary factor will of course be the size, quality, and number of diamonds or gemstones in the setting.
Let's explore some of the best engagement rings for every style and budget.
Solitaire Engagement Rings
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A classic solitaire engagement ring is an excellent choice that will never go out of style. Solitaire engagement rings tend to be the most affordable since they are the simplest style of ring with one center stone and a plain band. This timeless engagement ring still has the opportunity for customization with four or six prongs, different metal types, various band styles, and your choice of the center stone. For a more trendy solitaire ring, instead of the classic plain band, look for a band where the shank is twisted or doubled.
Side Stone Engagement Rings
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Engagement rings with smaller diamonds or gemstones alongside the main center stone offer a look that's both vintage and modern. The side stones add to the unique beauty of the ring and give it an eye-catching appeal. The size, shape, and color of the side stones provide thousands of different combinations for customization to your fiance's personal style.
Consider gemstones that match your fiance's birth month, favorite color, or your wedding month. Side stones can be delicate and feminine or add a big pop of pizzazz. Either way, this style of ring is equal parts classic and modern.
Halo Engagement Rings
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A small circle (or two) of diamonds surrounding the center stone is called a halo (or double halo) ring. The halo can be made of diamonds or other gemstones and draws attention to the center stone by making it appear brighter and larger. A timeless and elegant look that won't ever go out of style, the halo engagement ring will definitely attract many compliments. Any shape center stone can be put into a halo setting for a stunning sunburst effect.
Tension Engagement Rings
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This style of engagement ring is very modern and sleek. The diamond or gemstone is held together by the tension between the edges of the band, without any prongs. This contemporary style offers something that is a little bit different. With this style ring there is just one center stone and no side stones, although sometimes smaller stones can be set in the band.
Tension settings have the advantage of easily accommodating any cut of stone, and because they don't use prongs, they allow more light to enter the stone and make it shine.
Pave, Channel, and Eternity Engagement Rings
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These types of rings feature diamonds or gemstones that are set in the band of the engagement ring. Pave rings have one or more rows of small mounted stones on the band. Channel rings feature small stones set in a channel along the band, which help protect them a little more since there are no prongs. Eternity rings can have either pave or channel stones set in the band, and they extend the full length of the band instead of only down the side of the band. All of these band styles accent the center stone for a stunning setting.
Remember that money doesn't equate to love. Showing your partner how much you care doesn't mean you have to go broke buying the ring. Open discussion with your fiance about expectations and finances will keep you both on the same page and prepare you to successfully share your life together. Take your time, stick to your budget, know your fiance's style, and contact Martin Busch Jewelers to find the perfect ring that will bring joy to your future spouse.