A Couple’s Guide To Shopping For The Right Diamond Wedding Ring

One of the essential pre-wedding activities couples need to do together is shopping for their wedding ring. Unlike engagement rings that get plenty of attention to detail, some couples tend to treat wedding ring shopping as a last-minute activity. As a result, they have less time to choose their wedding rings and are more likely to settle for less than they desire. Remember, your wedding rings are probably the only jewelry piece both of you will wear for life.   

Wedding rings symbolize the lasting love and commitment you’ve promised to each other. And among the many wedding ring collections available, one of the most popular choices is the diamond wedding ring. Diamond wedding rings are closely similar to wedding bands. The only difference is that diamond wedding rings are incorporated with diamond stones, whereas wedding bands are made of plain metal. 

Although wedding ring shopping can be a fun and exciting experience, it can also be a confusing task, especially if you’re unsure about where to start. Thankfully, this quick guide will help engaged couples like you with how to shop for the right diamond wedding ring and pick the best jewelry piece to symbolize your union and marriage.   

• Set a clear budget

Before anything else, it’s essential to discuss with your partner and set a clear budget first. Walking into a jewelry store without any planned budget will only lead you to disappointment once you find out some of the rings you like are out of your price range. Worse, some of you may resort to debt, which is a bad financial move, especially if you’re about to start your life together.  

With a clear budget, you can narrow down your ring options and focus on checking the ones within your price range. Couples with a limited budget may also consider having a custom-made diamond wedding ring so you can play around with the metals, styles, and diamonds. For instance, since a platinum wedding ring is costlier, you may consider white gold instead since it looks closely similar to platinum but at a more affordable price.  

• Start your shopping early

Some couples tend to leave their wedding ring shopping a few weeks away from the wedding date. But the truth is, wedding ring shopping should be done as early as possible, just like the other pre-wedding activities. Preferably, you can start your shopping at least 6 to 7 months away from your wedding date. This way, you’ll have more time to check on different jewelry stores, visit their websites, and read reviews from their past clients. Reading reviews will help you determine their product quality, brand credibility, and customer satisfaction rating, which can influence your buying decision. 

Early shopping and time allowance are even more critical if you plan to have customized wedding rings. Generally, finishing a custom-made diamond wedding ring may take around eight weeks. Thus, ensure you have enough time to search for a reputable jewelry store and have your rings customized.

• Determine the style of your diamond wedding rings

Now comes the exciting part, which is deciding the style of your wedding rings. Unlike wedding bands that only comprise of metal with basic styling, diamond wedding rings are much more delicate and luxurious. The diamonds are often placed on the top half of the ring band to add more glamour and sparkle to your wedding rings.  

However, not all diamond wedding rings are made the same, as the value of diamonds is rated differently based on the Four Cs: carat, clarity, cut, and color. Thus, it’s a good idea to educate yourself first about the diamond’s four Cs to help you decide the style of your diamond wedding rings.

• Carat

Carat describes the weight of the diamond. The bigger the diamond’s carat weight is, the more valuable and expensive it gets since larger diamonds are harder and rarer to find. 

• Clarity

Clarity refers to the translucent appearance of the diamond with no signs of blemishes and other undesirable imperfections that may affect its shape and value. Clarity follows a grading scale that will help you determine the value of the diamond.  

• Flawless (FL) – the purest and most flawless diamond
• Very, very slightly included (VVS)
• Slightly included (SL)
• Included (I)
• Cut

This refers to how the diamond’s symmetry, proportion, and shape will interact and sparkle when hit by the light. This factor is also considered the most difficult to determine since you can’t always judge it through the naked eye. Thus, you’re recommended to consult a professional jeweler to help determine the best cut for your diamond wedding ring. 

• Color

The more colorless and purer the diamond is, the higher and rarer the stone is. Like clarity, color also follows a grading system to rate the stone’s value. The diamond’s color grading system starts from D to Z, wherein D is the most colorless and has the highest value in terms of price and value. As you go down the alphabet of the color grading system (N, S, Z), the more yellowish the diamond appears.  

• Consider your lifestyle

Some couples make the mistake of not considering their lifestyles when shopping for their wedding rings. Remember that you’ll be wearing your wedding ring every day for a lifetime, which means whatever you do or whatever job you take, this piece of jewelry shall always be on your finger.  

For example, if you both have an active lifestyle or do plenty of hands-on activities, you may opt for tungsten or titanium in your ring metal as they’re durable and don’t scratch or bend easily. For the setting, you may consider a channel set of diamonds so the stones are securely placed side-by-side and can endure your active lifestyle. 

• Personalize your wedding rings

Although this isn’t required, personalizing your wedding rings can add more sentimental value and meaning to your lifetime jewelry pieces. For instance, you may engrave each other’s initials, anniversary dates, or write a short quote that means a lot to both of you.  

Key Takeaway 

This guide can help make your wedding ring shopping a fun and pleasant experience. After all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Take note of the important things to consider mentioned above and you will get the right wedding rings for you and your partner.