Stressed About Picking Out an Engagement Ring? You’re Not Alone

Diamond Accented Oval Shape Engagement Ring 14k White Gold by Allurez.

There’s a lot of pressure to pick an engagement ring that your partner will love and adore and if you’re feeling stressed out, just know that you’re not alone.

Former Bachelorette contestant Tyler Cameron was totally honest with the anxiety he faced in the first video on his new YouTube channel. In the clip, titled “Ten Minutes with Tyler Cameron,” the general contractor answered questions and when asked what is “the most terrifying thing” he has ever done, he replied: “Picked out an engagement ring.” On season 15 of The Bachelorette, which aired during the summer of 2019, Hannah Brown, 25, picked Jed Wyatt over Cameron during the finale.

If you’re looking for some guidance and direction when it comes to picking engagement rings, check out Allurez’s engagement ring buying guide.

Brides.com also published an article on engagement ring shopping tips, which include narrowing down what diamond shape you want, having a carat size in mind, buying a certified stone, getting measured correctly and keeping in mind what your engagement ring will look like with your wedding band.

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Regarding carat size, jewelry store owner Jaclyne Kirkorian from the diamond district of New York said, “The spouse-to-be should definitely have an idea of her (or his) stone size. As much as people say size isn’t important, it’s always the kicking off point, because color and clarity can always be tweaked to find something within your budget.”

If size matters to you or your partner, then keep an ideal carat size in mind when shopping and be flexible on other parts of the ring so that it can still fit into your budget. You can also save some money if you choose a less common carat size. Brides.com explained that “Diamond prices increase significantly when they weigh the most desired weights: think half and whole carat weights (.50, 1, 1.5, etc.).”

“Buy a diamond that is just shy of these common weights, and you’ll save money and no one will be able to tell it’s a .92 carat instead of a 1 carat,” said Emily Duke of Finesse Diamonds Corp.

Diamond Halo Swirl Bridal Engagement Ring Set14k White Gold 0.43ct by Allurez.

Another tip is not to get caught up on trends and to buy from a wholesaler for better prices and to avoid unnecessary markups. Monil Kothari, the founder of a NYC fine jewelry start-up, said, “A wholesaler or a private retailer like myself is able to work with customers on a one-on-one basis to create a ring specifically for them. Moreover, because we don’t have the overhead traditional retailers do, we can save them more than 30 percent, giving them the best bang for their buck.”

Also don’t wait too long to even talk about engagement ring shopping, whether you want to go together or the bride wants to be surprised. Every couple is different. Some brides-to-be want to be totally involved in the ring-picking process, some drop hints by sharing pictures of what they live, and others don’t want to see the ring until the proposal because shopping for it together could kill the element of surprise.

If you’re not going shopping together as a couple, at least get a little help from your friends. Ask people who’ve gotten engaged for jeweler recommendations. Get the opinion of someone who knows you and your partner, and whose taste you admire and respects. Most of the time the person you’re buying the ring for has an idea of what he or she wants and they’ve told a friend or family member.

Cushion Diamond Halo Bridal Set 14k Yellow Gold by Allurez.