Getting The Most From Your Diamond Engagement Ring Budget

A diamond engagement ring should cost the man approximately two month's salary. A diamond engagement ring should be expensive enough to show that the man will be able to adequately provide for the woman financially once they are married. A diamond engagement ring should also be given with a herd of cattle and three horses to show the woman's family appreciation for permission to marry their daughter. There are so many faded traditions and myths surrounding what makes the perfect diamond engagement ring that it is often difficult to determine just how small or large, and how cheap or expensive the diamond engagement ring should be. There are, however, several tips and tricks to use when shopping for the perfect diamond engagement ring that will help you get the most for your money.

One of the easiest ways to make sure you're getting the most out of your diamond engagement ring money is by choosing your precious metals carefully. If you prefer a yellow gold diamond engagement ring, you're all set as there is no real alternative that comes close to yellow gold in price and quality. If you're seeking a white toned diamond engagement ring, on the other hand, you may have a few options to pick from.

Platinum, of course, is all the rage when it comes to high end bridal jewellery. Unfortunately, it has the price tag to prove it. If you would prefer to sacrifice other factors in the diamond engagement ring, such as carat weight or band detailing, then, by all means, feel free to choose platinum. If you are looking to cut costs, on the other hand, there's two ways to do so.

White gold has long been the affordable platinum alternative, offering a similar silver toned finish that is also durable as well. A white gold diamond engagement ring is durable and designed for everyday wear. Aside from the slight colour difference and minor maintenance tips, a white gold diamond engagement ring can provide all the beauty of platinum at a fraction of the cost.

For a happy medium, many couples are currently looking into buying a diamond engagement ring made from palladium. Palladium, a platinum like material, offers the added durability of platinum at a lower cost. Up until a few years ago, palladium prices were much higher than platinum's, making it an unlikely choice for a diamond engagement ring. As platinum grew in popularity, the price of palladium began to drop as platinum continued to increase, leading to the increased demand for palladium on the diamond engagement ring market.

The next best way to help choose an affordable diamond engagement ring is by taking a closer look at the cut of the diamonds being used. More complicated cuts, such as a brilliant cut diamond engagement ring, require more faceting and, therefore, more labour hours to complete. While this does produce a beautiful diamond engagement ring, it can also drive the price up on the stone. For a lower priced diamond, consider simpler cuts with less facets, such as an emerald cut diamond engagement ring or a princess cut diamond engagement ring. The technique used to cut stones in this shape for a diamond engagement ring also creates less waste during the cutting process, allowing the jewellers to get larger carat stones from the raw diamonds than they would be able to with more complex cuts. These cuts can be just as beautiful in your diamond engagement ring while also saving a sometimes significant amount of money when it comes to the total cost of the diamond engagement ring.

Carat weight is another key factor when trying to buy the most affordable diamond engagement ring with the highest quality possible. One of the largest contributing factors to a diamond's cost is the size of the stone itself. Larger stones are much harder to come by naturally and, therefore, command a higher price per carat than smaller stones. For a budget friendly diamond engagement ring, consider selecting a ring with several smaller stones, as opposed to a larger solitaire style diamond engagement ring. A cluster style diamond engagement ring, for example, relies on a small to medium size centre stone, but surrounds it with much smaller accent stones to give the illusion of size at a fraction of the cost. A three stone diamond engagement ring is also a popular choice. If you are looking for a one carat diamond engagement ring, you can either choose to spend a large amount on a solitaire style diamond engagement ring, or choose a three stone diamond engagement ring with a ½ carat centre stone and two ¼ carat shoulder stones. The three stone diamond engagement ring design not only gives you a larger area of sparkle and shine, it will also cost much less as it features smaller stones.