How to Find the Perfect Engagement Ring?
Buying an engagement ring is a big moment, both for the purchaser and the receiver. It's obviously a significant financial investment and it is something meant to be worn every day for the rest of one's life. So you want to get this right! Here are few tips that might help you hit it out of the park when buying an engagement ring in San Francisco, buying an engagement ring online, or anywhere else for that matter:
TALK ABOUT IT AS A TEAM AND HAVE A SOLID GAMEPLAN: Like everything else about marriage, you want to approach a significant decision like buying an engagement ring as a team. Set realistic expectations as far as budget right off the bat and make sure everybody is on the same page as far as the style the recipient is hoping for. If someone is hoping for a vintage inspired engagement ring or an antique engagement ring, and they open the box to find a modern engagement ring or designer engagement ring, it could take little away from the moment when one is down on one's knee popping the question. So make sure the purchaser sets a realistic budget, and make sure the soon-to-be recipient clearly explains what he/she is hoping to get. Even if you don't deliver exactly what one has in mind, the perfect engagement ring more often than not will at least have the same look and feel as what one might have been imagining they'd get on the big day.
DO SOME RESEARCH: There is a ton of useful information available on the internet where you can give yourself fairly solid Diamonds 101 education. Learn about the 4 C's. Look at various jewelers websites to compare styles and prices. Compare what you get at a high end retailer vs a local jeweler vs an online seller. Talk to your friends about their experiences and read Yelp reviews to see what clients have to say about the jewelers you are considering. Don't go into the engagement ring buying process blind, or it can be very intimidating. Give yourself a solid foundation of information so you can go into this process feeling confident as to what you're looking for and what that might be worth.
DON'T APPROACH IT AS A SCIENCE EXPERIMENT! Far too often (mostly when dealing with engineers, to be honest) we have had clients come into our boutique shopping for engagement rings in San Francisco who say something like "I want a 1.25 carat G/VVS2 round diamond with a 59% table and Very Good cut". These people have often done TOO MUCH research and have convinced themselves that they know exactly what the perfect diamond will look like based simply off some formula they found online. We will often ask these people "What if I can show you a 1.22 carat H/VS1 that spreads almost as large as a 1.25 and has an Excellent cut grade and saves you some significant money?" The smart consumer will obviously want to see this diamond, but more times than you'd think we have had people say "Nope! I want a diamond that matches the exact specs I said or I don't want anything." A bit of inside scoop: all diamond dealers carry a certain amount of inventory and if they can sell you a diamond that they already own you are going to get a MUCH better deal than if they have to go find you a diamond from another dealer. So if you're looking for a G/VVS2 and somebody says they have an H/VS1...MAKE SURE TO AT LEAST TAKE A LOOK AT IT! The only place you'll really notice a difference is most likely in your wallet.
HAVE FUN! Remember that buying an engagement ring, whether it's a diamond engagement ring, a sapphire engagement ring, or whatever type of engagement ring you have your heart set on...the process should be FUN! As soon as it starts to feel stressful, go get a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine!), remind yourself that you should be enjoying the process, take a deep breath to eliminate any stress build up, and then dive back in. You're shopping for something very special when buying an engagement ring, and you never want to lose sight of that.
Whether you're buying an engagement ring in San Francisco or buying an engagement ring online, 66mint would love to help you with your search. One of the most important facets of this process is FINDING A JEWELER THAT YOU TRUST! At 66mint we have been earning our clients' trust for over 100 years and would be honored to assist you in the process of finding the perfect engagement ring. If you are shopping for engagement rings online, you can view our collection of antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings, vintage inspired engagement rings and designer engagement rings. We also have a large loose stone inventory that you can browse, and once you find the perfect stone we can help you create the perfect custom engagement ring. If you happen to be located in the Bay Area, come do your San Francisco engagement ring shopping in person at our private boutique where you can make an appointment to have one of our GIA trained expert walk you through the process.
Remember these tips when buying an engagement ring, and hopefully they will help make the experience that much more enjoyable for everyone involved.
66mint Fine Estate Jewelry
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