We get asked often: “what is the best way to stretch my engagement ring budget?” In the simplest terms what is going to get you the most bang for your buck 😉 There are several ways to go about this but at the same time be cautious about not cutting corners on certain points that will end up lowering the aesthetics of your ring or cause you to end up with an unhappy fiancée. Here we will break it down and give you some tips and tricks that can save you some money while not effecting the beauty of your engagement ring
1. Buying an Elongated Diamond: A great way to get a big look without going over budget is by picking an elongated cut diamond within your preferred diamond shape. This won’t work if you are after a round brilliant cut or princess cut since that is going to be a more symmetrical look however, this works well for every other fancy diamond shape. For example, a shorter ratio 2 carat oval might be 9x7mm whereas one with a more elongated look at the same carat weight can be 9.8mm. Or, a 1.8 carat square cushion might be 6.9mm x 6.9mm whereas something more elongated can be 7.5mm in length alone. These subtle differences in shape make the diamond appear larger once mounted in a setting and put on the hand. Essentially you won’t be paying for extra size, but it will definitely appear as if you did! Check out this video showing radiant cut diamonds and how the more elongated shape appears larger or This is another sample video showing ovals and how the more elongated cuts appear bigger
2. Buy a “Spready” Round Diamond: The previous tip works perfectly well for fancy shape diamonds while this one will maximize the surface area of a round cut diamond. A one carat diamond that is cut too deep, (even excellent cuts are guilty of this!) will have a smaller top surface measurement. On the flip side a slightly shallower diamond (within reason, not TOO shallow) will really maximize surface area. We see many Very Good and Excellent cut diamonds with great face up measurements giving a very spread look. Think, some 2 carat rounds will be 7.8mm whereas other can be way over 8mm giving a bigger appearance. This stretches the budget because you can purchase a slightly smaller diamond, but give yourself the look of something larger. Check out this video showing what a spread round cut diamond can look like vs. something technically heavier in weight Note: this isn’t to say a very shallow diamond is good because then it won’t sparkle correctly- as long it has an appropriate cut grade, and you see that it still shines, then it is great!
3. Buy Shy: Buying shy means buying a carat weight that is slightly below the “normal” carat weight markers. Think, instead of a 1 carat, buying a 0.9 or instead, 1.3-1.4 carat instead of 1.5, 2.8 instead of 3 carat etc. This works because within a particular budget you can get a 0.9 carat with superior cut, color, clarity than a 1 carat just because it is slightly smaller. Now in most cases over 1 carat and 2 carats there needs to be about at least 0.10-0.20 carats to actually notice a price difference. You aren’t going to see a huge difference from 1.99 to 2 carats because a 1.99 carat diamond is rare. In a budget this all allows you to ultimately achieve the look of the carat weight you are after instead of the technical carat weight you want. You will also likely be able to up the quality as well. See this video showing a 1.9 carat vs 2 carat diamonds and how close in size they actually look. The 2 carat was more expensive by a few hundred dollars
4. Go with White Gold Instead of Platinum: In an engagement ring you will save a few hundred dollars by getting a white gold ring instead of platinum. The wear is slightly different over time however white gold does hold up very nicely and if you are on a tight budget this makes an excellent choice. We do recommend platinum for most of our delicate pave designs due to the malleability of this metal but they come just as beautiful in white gold. This is a custom engagement ring made in white gold which will look identical to any photo of a platinum ring.
5. Test Quality Boundaries: Not everyone needs a D flawless diamond! Within each budget category you are going to have options and we recommend testing the boundaries to see where you feel most comfortable vs. what people say you should be comfortable with. For example, someone might come in and say they want nothing lower than an E color VS1. While this is rare, special, and extremely beautiful, someone on a tight budget will need to reconsider this particular aspect if they want a diamond that is larger in carat size or need to allot money for the setting toward the budget. It is important to see visuals of what you are most comfortable with and get a side by side look to determine what gives you the optimal value. Even if you set your limit at not going lower than SI1, we may be able to find you a completely eye clean SI2 that looks amazing face up, and bigger size or better color than the SI1 option. This all varies on a case by case basis, but by not setting hard limits and being open minded is what will get you the best possible end result.
6. Add a Halo: To stretch your budget, add a halo or 2! This step is a fool proof way to add bulk and size to your ring in a tighter budget without paying for extra center diamond carat weight. Halos add the look of about 1 extra carat to a ring, if not more! For example a 1 carat diamond in a halo, can give the complete surface area measurements of a 2 carat cushion cut. For a simpler and more delicate look, a thin pave band looks great and we are definitely known for this style. If you want to give the illusion of a bigger stone, adding a halo around it gives the look of a bigger diamond and really tricks the eye into thinking your main diamond is larger. If you really want to add more size, going for a double halo will make the diamond look 3 or 4 times larger in terms of surface area. See this video here which comparies a solitaire to single halo and double halo Getting this side by side visual really makes a difference!
7. Diamond Alternatives: Want a big carat size but don’t want to drop tens of thousands? Opt for a moissanite, color gemstone, or CZ. These diamond alternatives face up white and appear similar to a diamond. A 2 carat round diamond might be $17,000 whereas a moissanite ring will be a fraction of that price. We guarantee a gorgeous end result if set into one of our custom handmade settings. Check out some of our custom moissanite rings here which we can and be sure to watch the videos for each one.
These tips should give you an idea how to maximize your spending on a diamond engagement ring. Have questions? Want to know more information specifically tailored to your budget and the ring you have in mind? Email us today to set up a consultation and we can work with any budget you lay out for us. Till next time!