Although the thought of shopping for an engagement ring can feel as overwhelming as popping the question, finding the perfect ring doesn't have to be an overly stressful event.
Before embarking on your quest to find the perfect ring, here are some engagement ring shopping tips to keep in mind.
Don't worry if you're not sure about which diamond and setting you're looking for.
Having a set look in mind for the engagement ring isn't nearly as important as you'd think.
In fact, Alicia Davis, Shane Co's VP of merchandise, suggests keeping an open mind and trying a lot of options.
"Be open to trying a lot of options to find your forever ring. The number one thing to avoid is shopping with a set grade in mind for the diamond you're looking for," Davis told INSIDER. "Instead, compare side by side among a few options and then decide which you think is the most beautiful. You'll know which one catches your eye the most."
Remember, the size of the diamond isn't everything.
When it comes to buying engagement rings, Davis encourages shoppers to think about variables other than size.
"One of the most important things when shopping for engagement rings is to not be discouraged by the size of diamonds you see on celebrities and in social media — carat size is only one of the four factors in determining a diamond's beauty," Davis said. "Two diamonds can be graded the same, but they will never look the same.
You might want to consider stones that aren't diamonds.
Diamonds aren't the only option when it comes to choosing an engagement ring.
"Natural color sapphires and gemstones in almost every shade in the rainbow are becoming increasingly popular in engagement rings," said Davis. "They are a great way to personalize your engagement ring to be truly one-of-a-kind."
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