My name is Julie Abelstedt, and I am the founder of Abelstedt. I have been in the jewelry industry for over 7 years, guiding and designing engagement rings for more than 100 couples – from the low to the high price range.

If you want to propose to your significant other, you should read this ultimate guide, which I have written in its entirety. I believe it's important that you learn a bit about engagement rings before you go out to buy one, as otherwise, you might end up with an expensive and regrettable experience if you either buy one that’s too pricey, get the wrong quality, or feel that the design was the wrong choice in the long run. I myself recently got married, so I will try to share my personal opinion on what to consider before buying an engagement ring. In this guide, I explain the different metals you should know about and which gemstones you can choose if a diamond is too expensive. If the center stone is a classic diamond, I will, of course, also review the four C's used to categorize diamond quality.

Engagement rings are a lasting symbol of love. They have been for hundreds of years. Engagement rings express enduring companionship, love, and togetherness between people. Although this tradition is several hundred years old, it is a tradition that both men and women have adhered to. The engagement ring connects couples and shows others that they belong together in the name of love.

In my opinion, there are 13 factors that are important to know before buying an engagement ring. Let's get started.

Buy the engagement ring well in advance

Unless you happen to have a ring lying around or perhaps an inherited ring that you intend to pass on, you need to set aside plenty of time to find and get the right ring in place or adjusted before proposing. I always recommend that you start shopping 2-3 months before you intend to make your proposal.

Many people choose a ring that is designed and crafted uniquely for them. This might be because you've noticed that your partner has saved pictures of a specific type of ring that you just can't find anywhere. It might be because you feel that it's most romantic for the ring to be unique. Because a unique and handmade engagement ring requires extra work, it also takes longer to produce compared to ordering an engagement ring that is in stock. If you want to be sure to get your engagement ring in good time, talk to a designer well in advance. As mentioned, a good rule of thumb is to start the process 2-3 months beforehand, giving you plenty of time.

What shape should the center stone in an engagement ring have?

If your partner saves pictures and links of a specific diamond shape, and you don't know what the diamond shape means, it can lead to you ultimately making the wrong purchase. There are many diamond shapes, and it can be a bit confusing to know that "round cut," for example, refers to the round shape of the center stone in a diamond ring. Below, you can see the different types of center stones ranked by popularity.

If your partner saves pictures and links of a specific diamond shape, and you don't know what the diamond shape means, it can lead to you ultimately making the wrong purchase. There are many diamond shapes, and it can be a bit confusing to know that "round cut," for example, refers to the round shape of the center stone in a diamond ring. Below, you can see the different types of center stones ranked by popularity.

The most popular shape is "round cut," meaning a round center stone. It is also the most classic and the one often used for the small diamonds surrounding the center stone in a halo. But if your significant other prefers something unique, you can choose one of the other more unconventional and special diamond shapes.

Find her correct ring size

When you're out buying an engagement ring for your partner, it's incredibly important to know her finger size! As a rule, the engagement ring should be placed on the left ring finger, so this is the size you need to know (yes, there can be a difference in size between the right and left fingers).

The best way to find out her ring size is to ask her – or even better, have her get it accurately measured by a jeweler if she herself is unsure.

However, if you want to be discreet, you can also try to measure the inside diameter of one of her current rings. It is important, however, that you measure very precisely, as just half a millimeter can make a noticeable size difference. Many jewelers also lend out sizers that you can take home so you can accurately measure her size.

Another tip is to get help from her friends and family. It's very possible they know her ring size. You can also see which ring she wears on her left ring finger, borrow it, and have it measured at a jeweler. Here, however, it is very important that the width of the ring is approximately the same as the one you wish to buy. A wide ring can feel slightly smaller in size than a thin ring.

I always make our customers aware of this, as many women choose to go down a size if they have a thin engagement ring with a heavy crown, as there's nothing worse than a ring that rotates because the heavy crown will go down and sit on the side of the finger. At Abelstedt, we have sizes from 46 to 69. The most popular sizes are 50, 52, and 54.

Set your budget for the engagement ring

A mistake many people make when buying an engagement ring is to exceed their budget and then regret the purchase – or even worse, end up in an unfortunate financial situation because they didn't set a budget in the first place. Precisely for this reason, I founded Abelstedt, because I felt there was a lack of engagement rings that weren't only available to those without a budget of +$8,000.

There is no right or wrong amount to spend on an engagement ring. These three factors play a role:

• Your budget and financial situation
• Your partner's expectations
• The ring's significance

An engagement ring is a personal item for the couple whose love it symbolizes. For this reason alone, it is impossible to put a specific figure on what it should cost. Just try to find a ring that you can afford and that you know your partner will appreciate.

Find a good and reliable jewelry retailer

When buying an engagement ring, it's important to choose a jewelry retailer that, of course, has the selection you desire, but it's also important to find one that provides good and personal service both before and after the purchase. Many people believe that going to a physical store is best for ensuring good service, but in fact, I find that most are disappointed as they subsequently find much cheaper prices for an equivalent ring online. If you are unsure whether the potential jewelry retailer provides good service, I recommend that you contact them before buying to see how quickly they respond and how much time they take to answer your questions.

At Abelstedt, we have the experience and training to properly assist our customers through the engagement ring design process and clearly explain the various factors involved in finding the perfect engagement ring. I handle most customers when it comes to purchasing from our diamond collection. I like to personally attend to each customer, as we often find a more personalized and suitable solution for an engagement ring. I am always available with personal assistance after every purchase.

What type is your significant other?

When choosing the look of her engagement ring, it's important to select a design that matches the type of girl your partner is. Will your partner prefer the very feminine "princess look"? Or is she more into the simple, sporty look? If it's the latter, then she probably isn't into the extravagant look with lots of diamonds and gemstones. If necessary, try to go through her jewelry box and see what she has and what fits well.

What color gold should the engagement ring be?

Here, I would probably also sneak into her jewelry box to see what color jewelry she usually wears. Is she mostly into warm yellow gold, or are most of her pieces in cool white gold or a silver look? Or maybe she loves rose gold? You should choose the color that best matches her other jewelry.

Personally, I always recommend choosing a white gold ring, as its light color pairs well with a white gemstone. Gold doesn't showcase diamonds or other gemstones particularly well. However, if you have a ring where the majority of it isn't filled with stones, then yellow gold is, of course, also super beautiful.

What gold karat should you choose for an engagement ring?

An engagement ring is most often made of gold, but it doesn't necessarily have to be yellow-gold colored – it can also be white gold or rose gold.

You can often choose between 9-10 karat, 14 karat, and 18 karat white gold. 14 karat is less pure than 18 karat, but 14 karat can be more durable than 18 karat white gold. The purer the gold, the softer it becomes. Therefore, choosing a high karat is not necessarily the best option if you want the ring to be more durable. Karat also has something to say about the color of the gold. If you choose a high karat, the yellow color will appear more golden and dark. In the picture below, you can see examples of the different shades.

Choose an engagement ring that is unique and has character

Even if your best friend has chosen a super beautiful ring, you should never choose something similar or identical to it. A ring should reflect your partner and your unique relationship and should therefore also be unique. No girl wants to have the same engagement ring as their closest friend. Try to see if you can choose a ring that is personal and tells a story about you as a couple.

Take a look at her hand

Hands are different, and even if your partner is petite, her fingers may well be large if they are robustly built. It might be a good idea to consider this, as it is often said that a slender and delicate hand looks better with a thin ring, while a larger hand looks better with a ring that has some fullness.

If she has wide fingers, I would recommend that you choose a ring with a double halo, as this is an example of a ring that has substance without breaking the budget:

If she has a small hand, a solitaire ring can be a good choice, as it is simple, beautiful, and delicate:

Choose a ring size that (almost) fits

Remember, this is a ring that will accompany her for many years to come. Therefore, it's a good idea to look into the future when choosing the size. I would recommend not choosing a ring that fits too tightly on the finger. It's okay if there's a little room for the finger to expand. Her hand might grow over the years (which most people's do), or she might become pregnant and therefore need a larger size for that reason.

Know the Four C's

If you're certain you want a diamond as the center stone, it's important to know the Four C's, which are quality classifications for diamonds. Here's a brief overview:

Cut: An evaluation of how well a diamond is cut, which affects how it captures light.

Color: A classification of how colorless a white diamond is.

Clarity: An assessment of how flawless a diamond is, both internally and externally.

Carat: A weight measurement that can give you an idea of how large a diamond is.

My recommendation for diamond quality

Although each of the Four C's is important, jewelry experts and I typically recommend prioritizing the cut when choosing a diamond. If a diamond has poor quality, it will not reflect light well, making it appear dull and dirty. SI1, G-H is an average, good quality and a good choice for all diamond purchases. These qualities are usually what I recommend. If you want a ring with many small diamonds, I would never choose SI1, as you cannot see the diamond quality here in the same way as with a large diamond.

Here are the different diamond qualities I can recommend:

Clarity: SI1

SI1 means that the diamond has some small inclusions within it. These can be tiny spots that are not visible to the naked eye. In fact, SI1 is the best clarity grade on the scale that has inclusions. They are therefore not visible to the eye, regardless of the angle from which you view the diamond. To see inclusions or imperfections in an SI1 diamond, you would need to use a microscope or a 10x jeweler's loupe. The inclusions are so small (which, of course, is a good thing).

All diamonds with a clarity grade below SI1 (i.e., SI2, I1, I2, and I3) have flaws that you can visibly see from above or from the side.

So you get a beautiful diamond where the inclusions are well hidden, at a good price, if you choose SI1. You can go much higher in clarity (e.g., FL, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2), but to the naked eye, you won't see much difference in these stones. It's only under a microscope that you can see the difference, but honestly, how often do you look at your diamond under a microscope?

That's what makes SI1 such a popular choice and definitely the reason why I would choose an SI1 diamond.

Color: G or H

Let's look at the color, as it naturally also plays a role. The color range G-H means that the diamond is considered a "fine white" diamond. Both are perfectly fine to buy. Both colors are on the high end of the colorless scale, but not at the very top.

With a G or H color diamond, it will appear completely white (but is considered off-white). Most people cannot tell the difference between a G or H and a higher color on the scale. Diamonds with color D, E, or F are the highest on the colorless scale. The colorless D, E, and F are beautiful, but they are also much more expensive. And since most people don't know the difference between a "fine white" diamond and a "pure white" (D, E, and F) diamond, why spend extra money on it?

You can also choose a lower color on the scale like I, J, K, L, and M, but then you'll enter into diamonds that start to have a yellow tint, and that's not as beautiful as the fine white color (although some love the warmth it can add to the diamond).

So stick to a white diamond within G or H, and it will look brighter and whiter.

Quality and Price

Clarity, color, and price are naturally what make SI1, G-H the most popular diamond qualities on the market. Both are good qualities that you also don't have to empty your bank account to afford. If you want to spend extra money on a diamond, it's better to go up a size and carat.

Does the diamond I buy need a certificate?

If you're buying a larger diamond, you should always make sure you get a certificate. I always recommend choosing a GIA-certified diamond. GIA certificates are commonly used in the jewelry industry to refer to diamonds that have undergone GIA's strict grading process. It is therefore a certificate for your diamond that guarantees your SI1, G-H diamond is indeed an SI1, G-H diamond.

See Abelstedt's engagement rings to find the ring that suits you and your partner's preferences. In our collection, we have a wide range of styles to choose from – both affordable engagement rings and engagement rings with custom service. This allows you to find or design the perfect ring for you or your partner with the help of our design team.

Frequently Asked Questions about Engagement Rings

Which hand should the engagement ring be worn on?

The engagement ring should be worn on the left hand on the ring finger. You should remember this when choosing the size, as the right and left ring fingers typically do not have exactly the same size.

In Western countries, the tradition of wearing an engagement ring on the fourth finger, i.e., the ring finger, can be traced back to the Roman Empire. They believed that this finger had a blood vessel that runs directly to the heart, and it is therefore called the "Vena Amoris", which means "vein of love". Since the heart is the center of your emotions, the ring finger was therefore considered the best finger on which to wear the engagement ring.

Can I get a ring size adjusted if the engagement ring doesn't fit?

Here, it's important that you make the right choice the first time – or at least as close as possible! If you buy a ring that is either too big or too small, most jewelers can adjust the size. It usually costs around 70 dollars and takes about 10 days for a good jeweler to repair. The problem with this is that many engagement rings can become a little more fragile from being adjusted in size. When you make an engagement ring smaller, you cut a small piece off the bottom of the ring, and then you press the ring together and weld it. You can't see that the ring has been made smaller, but it can affect the prongs if there are many stones in the engagement ring. When the engagement ring is pressed together, the prongs that hold each individual stone in the ring can move. This can lead to you losing diamonds over time. Of course, this usually doesn't happen, but it's important that you know the risk before you change the size of the engagement ring.

When you borrow one of her existing rings, make sure it's a ring she wears on the same finger as the new ring you want to buy. In this short guide, I'll give you some advice and guidance on how you can find her size at home.

Can I buy an engagement ring in silver?

You can easily make your proposal a memorable moment by giving her a beautiful silver ring that she will cherish forever, but which didn't cost a lot. A silver engagement ring is not a bad choice with all its brilliance. Many people today choose to buy a cheaper engagement ring. The reasons can be many. In some cases, the couple would rather spend the money on a better honeymoon or a bigger wedding. In other cases, a silver engagement ring is used as a stand-in instead of a ring with real diamonds in white gold. You should always choose the kind of ring that means something to you, regardless of price and design. A silver ring can certainly do that.

Should I buy my engagement ring online, and is it cheaper?

In most cases, engagement rings are 30-40% cheaper online than at physical jewelry retailers. Due to the way diamonds are sold and distributed, diamonds are cheaper for online retailers. By buying your engagement ring online, you get both a wider selection of conflict-free diamonds and competitive prices. At Abelstedt, we engrave your 10-18 carat engagement ring for free and deliver your ring in unbeatable packaging.

Why choose Abelstedt for your engagement ring?

Abelstedt has access to over 80% of the world's market for cut diamonds. This means you can choose exactly the diamond you want if you wish to have a custom design made. We are market leaders in affordable, certified, and ethically sourced diamonds. We offer comprehensive design options that allow you to buy a ring that matches your most precise preferences. We can create all types of engagement rings in white gold and gold. You are welcome to send us an email with your request, and we will get back to you as soon as possible with a non-binding offer for her dream ring.

Buying an engagement ring can be a long process, and it's completely normal to feel a little worried. Our team of dedicated designers and jewelers offers you personalized customer service, both before and after you have purchased your engagement ring.

Therefore, Abelstedt is proud to offer engagement rings of the highest quality and elegance.

With your purchase, you also benefit from the following policies:

• Lifetime warranty on all engagement rings
• 30-day return policy
• Free engraving
• Beautiful packaging
• An extra small gift with the purchase of a diamond engagement ring