Cheap Engagement Rings

Finding cheap engagement rings may be the ultimate quest for cash-strapped young men who are eager to secure the lifetime affections of their loved ones. Of course, brides-to-be may not be too thrilled if price is the only consideration given to the stones that will adorn their fingers and be shown off to family members and friends. But the good news is that an affordable ring can be purchased that will delight the fair lady and yet not force the knight to pawn his shining armor. If the lady's heart is set on a sparkling diamond, then her beloved beau is well-advised to educate himself on what is known in the jewelry industry as the 4 Cs of diamonds, namely, cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. These are the four factors that determine the value and worth of a loose diamond (a stone that has not been mounted into a band or other type of jewelry). By becoming familiar with these important 4 Cs, the potentially engaged young man will be a more informed shopper. As the jewelry salesperson displays different choices on a variety of black velvet trays, the shopping knight will have a better understanding of why one diamond is more expensive than another. The cheap engagement rings will have settings with less valuable diamonds than the more expensive rings.

Let's take a quick look at each of the 4 Cs in the context of distinguishing between expensive and cheap engagement rings. First, the cut can determine the diamond's sparkle and brilliance. Experts know how to cut the precious stone in such a way to get the most fire from its depths. This brilliant fire is a main reason that diamonds are so appealing and popular. There's something delightful about unexpectedly seeing the prism of colors in a lovely diamond as it catches and reflects the light. Gem experts, known as gemologists, grade loose stones on the second factor, color, according to their whiteness. Stones are graded from D to Z with D, E, and F designating colorless diamonds while those with a grade nearer the end of the alphabet have a visible yellow or even a brownish tint. A valuable diamond will have a higher letter grade for color than a lower quality stone. The third factor, clarity, refers to the flaws or the inclusions within the stone. The grades for clarity are: I (included); SI (slightly included); VS (very slightly included); and VVS (very, very slightly included). Additionally, there are distinctions, indicated by the numerals 1, 2, and sometimes 3, within those grades. A gem that is graded as I3 may have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye while the clarity of one that is graded VVS1 is an excellent and very expensive jewel. The fourth factor, carat weight, refers to the size of the stone. Generally speaking, larger stones are more valuable than smaller ones. From this brief summary, it's easy to see that cheap engagement rings may have settings that are poorly cut, yellowish, included, and small.

But there is no need to be discouraged. The key to purchasing an affordable diamond is to weigh all the factors against one another. Particularly, the shopper will want to balance the diamond's brilliancy with its size. The hopeful groom-to-be can begin by asking the salesperson to show him stones that with a clarity grade of I1, SI2, and SI3. These stones are set into relatively cheap engagement rings. Even those they may have inclusions that are visible without magnification, their cut, color, and size may still be beautiful to behold. An I1 stone with a higher color grade than a comparable SI2 stone may be a better value and less expensive. However, some experts advise that SI1 diamonds are often the best value when it comes to buying an engagement ring because the inclusions can't be seen without magnification. The groom-to-be may need to decide between a smaller stone with better clarity or a larger one that may have a visible inclusion. Armed with information on the 4 Cs and how to balance them against one another, the shining knight can begin his quest for that one ring amongst all the cheap engagement rings that will delight the fair lady.

Of course, the jewel isn't the only factor that determines the price of an engagement ring. A platinum or white gold band is often more expensive than one made of yellow gold. Other metals, such as titanium and silver, are even less expensive. The knight may choose to set a more valuable gem in a less valuable band or vice versa. Either way, cheap engagement rings don't need to look cheesy. The groom-to-be just needs to be an educated and careful shopper. Many young women have their own ideas about what type of ring they want to receive during that magical moment when the marriage proposal takes place. The lady may prefer a different kind of gemstone gracing her finger, such as an opal or emerald or some other precious or semi-precious jewel. These may be less expensive alternatives that are still absolutely stunning. King Solomon wrote that: "There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel" (Proverbs 20:15). The cost of the engagement ring is not nearly as important as the love and respect that two individuals have for each other as they make this lifetime commitment of marriage. The most precious jewels won't be on anyone's finger, but will instead be found in wise and uplifting speech that edifies one's beloved spouse. The knight's quest through the black velvet trays of cheap engagement rings has a higher calling a godly marriage with the fair lady.