Ready for some ring shopping? Well, before you add to cart, there are some things you should know. Unlike swinging by the store to squeeze some avocados, the engagement game’s got steps.

We know the admin side of ring shopping is a little less than glamorous, but it doesn’t have to be a total snooze fest. Just a few quick steps, and you’ll be able to snag the ring of your dreams and save a little money while you’re at it.

First Stop, Big Rock.

Can we skip to the good part? Yes, we absolutely can. Shopping for a rock before a ring may seem like having dessert before dinner, and it kind of is. Picking out that big ole diamond is the fun part, but starting off with the centerpiece will give us a top-down POV on the whole process. Also, it’s shiny.

1. Shapely Shinies

Choosing your ideal diamond shape is a great place to start. Not only does it define the silhouette, but it also got a big hand in shaping the sparkle. So knowing what shape you’re after will help you pick the perfect diamond. Different types of diamonds have different types of shine. They also vary in price, and some stones will look larger carat for carat than others, saving you major moola.

Step one: Consider the look of the ring you’d like to have and choose your ideal diamond shape accordingly.

3.01 carat G SI1 Cushion cut Diamond

2. Sparkle City

Different diamonds have different types of sparkle. Whether you get a ring with bright flashes, glittery vibes, or more of a traditional sparkle depends largely on the shape and facet style of the stone.

Brilliant cuts have what you might think of as a classic diamond sparkle. Ideally, a brilliant stone will have a stunning mix of brilliance and fire. Their longer facets reflect back tons of light while also adding depth and movement.

Brilliant shapes include round, cushion, oval, pear, and radiants.

Crushed ice gives off a different sparkle. These stones tend to look glittery in the sun. Think crushed ice in a cooler on a hot day. They have smaller facets and lots of them. This often gives the stone a more white face-up look.

Crushed ice shapes include cushions and radiants.

Step-cut stones belong in their own category. Long facets run along the length of the stone, creating a hall of mirrors effect. These stones give off bright flashes rather than traditional sparkle.

Step-cut shapes include Emeralds, Asscher's, and baguettes.

Finding your ideal sparkle might help you narrow down your shape selection, but there’s one more shapely item to consider before you make your final selection.

Pear and Radiant Diamonds

3. Elongation Nation

Finger coverage plays a major role in how large a diamond appears. Elongated shapes like an oval, elongated cushion, radiant, emerald, and pear look larger carat for carat than round and cushion cuts. This is partly due to how deep the cut of the stone is and because their shape stretches out all that shiny sparkle. Choosing a diamond with more finger coverage can save you money because the shape of the stone has a larger visual size.

Pear and Radiant Diamonds

Sparkles Are Math

Knowing a bit about the 4Cs can be the difference between saving big on the rock of your dreams and wasting money on a dull disappointment. Jewelers use the 4Cs to decide what to charge for a stone, and the more you know, the more you can finesse the numbers to save yourself some cash. Not to mention going home with your ideal diamond.

4. Cut is Crucial

Cut (and no, we don’t mean shape) is the most important factor in buying a diamond. Seriously, we can’t stress that enough.

Round brilliant diamonds are rated by different institutions, making it easy to choose one with a great cut. Look for a diamond that has an excellent or ideal cut rating. However, the round is the only shape with a certified rating, so you’ll have to peep at the fancies for yourself.

For fancy shape diamonds, make sure there are no dark or dull spots. Also, ensure all those facets are doing the work by reflecting the light well with movement, creating sparkle. Most online stores have an HD 360 preview giving you an up-close look you might not get in-store. Take a look at a few stones, and you’ll be able to tell which are well-cut.

A well-cut stone will be bright and shiny, while a poorly-cut stone will be dark, dull, and just plain sad.

3.03 carat F-VVS2 Round Diamond

5. Color Me Clear

Unless you’re looking for a fancy color diamond, you always want to pick a stone that appears colorless. The good news is that it doesn’t mean you have to shell out some extra cash to buy a colorless stone.

Round diamonds are great at hiding color, so you can get away with a lot–especially if you’re setting it in yellow gold. On the other hand, deeper stones like radiants and Emeralds hold onto more color, so you should be a bit more cautious. In most cases, a G-H color stone will cost less and appear colorless.

6. Just to Clarify

Clarity refers to the imperfections and blemishes in a stone. While we’d all like to snag a flawless stone, they’re almost like unicorns, impossible to find. You could snag an internally flawless (IF) diamond, but they are unnecessarily expensive. The real tea is that there is no reason to ever go above a VS diamond. It will look perfectly eye-clean, as in no blemishes you can see with the naked eye. And that’s really all you need. If you’re shopping for a natural diamond and you want to save some cash, take the time to look for an eye-clean SI1 diamond. This trick also works for lab diamonds, but the price difference is a little less drastic.

Brilliant cuts, especially round ones, hide a lot behind all those sparkles making it easier to find an eye-clean diamond with a lower clarity grade.

Step cuts like Emeralds are a bit like glass windows showing off every imperfection, making it extra important to go eye-clean.

VS diamonds are always eye-clean, meaning you never have to spend more for a higher clarity grade.

7. The Size-Up

Carat refers to the weight of a gemstone, and it’s an incredibly precise. But contrary to popular belief, carat weight does not equal size. A diamond's shape, along with its cut depth and other small factors, can change its visual size. So a 1ct diamond isn’t so much a size as a starting point, giving you a general idea of how big a stone will be.

Searching for a stone that is just under your ideal carat weight can save you quite a bit of cash. These stones often have the same visual size but cost less than one that hits a magic number–1, 1.5, 2, etc.

Oval cut diamonds

Setting The Stage

Your diamond might be the star of the show, but the setting you choose can change the entire vibe. Some settings are more classic and subtle, others majorly shiny, some perfect for stacking, while others are meant to be alone. A setting can also switch up your silhouette and even make your stone look larger.

8. Don’t Mess With Perfection

Solitaires are simple and subtle but they’re the classic for a reason. They’re absolutely gorge, remember, simple doesn’t have to be boring. Solitaires can have tons of texture, high and low silhouettes, and even a little hidden halo action.

Solitaires make for an ideal engagement ring because they go with everything. You can mix, match, and stack it down the line or keep it clean and simple.

9. Sprinkle on the Sparkle

If you’re not into the simple look, diamonds on a band can do a lot. Pavé bands create an endless line of sparkles.

Bands with a few stones along the shank add tons of sparkle and movement while guiding your eye to the center stone.

Bands with side and shoulder stones can switch up the entire silhouette and stretch the shape of your stone.

One thing they all have in common is they all make your center stone look larger. Many also have matching wedding bands, stretching your sparkle and sometimes squeezing together like perfect puzzle pieces.

To Halo or Not to Halo?

Halos are an entire mood. Traditional halos surround your diamond in diamonds, and what’s not to love about that? They can also be combined with a pavé creating major sparkle and contributing to the overall size.

Hidden halos can elevate your center stone, making it look larger. The higher setting also makes for perfect stacking and adds interest and sparkle from every angle.

A major bonus halo settings can make your center stone appear up to a full carat larger.

10. The B Word

Let’s talk budget. Deciding on your budget affects the whole diamond-buying process. Once you’ve settled on a budget you can get an idea of what size stone to start looking at. Since the center stone is the main event, start there. Then you can see what type of setting fits best with the stone and if a more simple or elaborate band fits the budget.

Diamond rings can be expensive, but keep in mind this is a forever purchase, so expect to spend accordingly. If spending a bit of a stack is out of the question, you can also go with a payment plan so you can get the ring you really want and pay as you go.

Finessing the 4Cs can save you a little cash. Choosing to go with a lab-grown diamond can save you up to half leaving more room to spend on size.

Ready to Find Your Dream Ring?

Choosing the perfect engagement ring can feel a little overwhelming. So why not take it step by step till you get to stunning? In the end, size, shape, and sparkle all come together to make something spectacular. If you need a little inspo, you can always take a little peek at some settings and switch out stones to your heart's content.

10 Tips For Choosing The Perfect Diamond Engagement Ring

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