Planning for the perfect time, the perfect setting and the perfect token of love for the perfect proposal is never easy – while the timing and the selection of the location will be entirely on your shoulders, here is a bit of help with how to buy an engagement ring.

If you are not experienced in buying jewelry, the engagement rings Denver shops that you find either in your city’s shopping street or online might seem like labyrinths ornamented with sparkling gems and bands, one more spectacular than the other. Here are a few factors to bear in mind when browsing engagement rings Denver jewelry stores to make sure your lady will love the piece you offer her and you will not go bankrupt.

Set a Realistic Budget

Engagement rings can cost anything from a few bucks to millions of dollars, so make sure that the budget you assign for the purchase will not put you into financial difficulties – there is nothing romantic in getting deep into debt and your lady surely knows that the ring is just a symbol and she doesn’t expect you to take out a loan just to buy her a ring.

Think About Your Lady’s Style

The best engagement ring is not the most expensive one that you can find, but a piece that reflects your lady’s personal preferences and her style. If her general style is simple, pick a ring that is simple and stylish, one that features geometrical shapes, such as an Art Deco ring or one single sparkling stone of a special cut.

Pick the metal for the band with your lady’s style in mind as well. Platinum is the most durable of all the band metals, but it can easily become dull, while gold is softer, but shinier. Silver being even softer than gold, it is not used for engagement rings, but its color is trend-setting – right now, the trendiest rings are made from white gold and platinum to make them look like silver.

diamond engagement ring

Picking the Stone

If you choose a diamond to sparkle in the center of the ring, pay attention to the 4C’s of diamonds: carat weight, cut, color and clarity. Out of the 4C’s, only the cut is provided artificially, by the cutter – the term refers to the number of facets cut into the stone to create the perfect sparkle and it is therefore the most important parameter of them all.

When it comes to color, you will be surprised to see how many options you have. The most expensive stones are colorless because the complete lack of colors in the stone indicates purity, but light yellow diamonds on the other end of the clarity scale are becoming increasingly popular these days.

Sapphires are also popular gems for engagement rings and they are much cheaper than diamonds. Pick a stone that is of a single, vivid blue color, without any purple, yellow or red reflections and imperfections that would blur its clarity. Emerald, marquis and brilliant cuts are the most popular cuts for sapphires, so try to stay in that range.

Ruby, aquamarine, opal and pearl also make attractive centerpieces for engagement rings – they are not nearly as expensive diamonds, but their extraordinary beauty will surely make your lady happy, so make sure you have a look at these alternatives to widen your engagement ring Denver options.