Education
Diamond Education
- Diamond 4 C's
- Diamond Buying Guide
- Answers to 1 Carat Diamond Questions
- Your Guide to Buying a Diamond Online
- How to Pick the Right Diamond
- Diamond Buying Mistakes
- Real vs. Fake Diamonds
- Lab Diamond Buying Guide
- 10 Most FAQ - Diamonds
- Off Size Diamonds Guide
- Popular Diamond Cuts
- Price of a 2 Carat Diamond
- Top FAQ - Lab Diamonds
- What Is the Average Diamond Size in Engagement Rings?
- Diamond Carat
- Diamond Clarity
- IF Diamonds
- FL Diamonds
- Diamond Inclusions Guide
- Flawless vs Internally Flawless
- Which Diamond Clarity Is Best?
- VS2 vs VS1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- VVS2 vs VVS1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- SI2 vs SI1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- SI1 vs VS2: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- VS1 vs VVS2: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- Accent Diamond Clarity
- Lab Diamond Clarity
- SI Diamonds
- VS Diamonds
- VVS Diamonds
- Diamond Color
- Diamond Cut
- Diamond Cut Types
- Ideal Cut Diamonds
- Hearts and Arrows Diamonds
- What is Diamond Depth
- Diamond Table
- Lab Diamond Cut
- Antique Cut Diamonds
- Brilliant Cut Diamonds
- Rose Cut Diamonds
- What Is The Most Expensive Diamond Cut?
- What Are Step Cut Diamonds?
- Diamond Bow Ties
- How Are Diamonds Cut
- Diamond Brilliance
- Spread Diamonds
- Diamond Fire
- Crushed Ice Diamonds
- Diamond Shape
- Lab Diamond Shape
- Asscher
- Cushion
- Emerald
- Marquise
- Oval
- Pear
- Princess
- Radiant
- Round
- Which Diamond Cut Is Best?
- Round vs Princess Diamond Cut
- Round vs Cushion Diamond Cut
- Cushion vs Princess Diamonds
- Cushion vs Oval Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Asscher Cut Diamond
- Princess vs Marquis Diamonds
- Princess vs Radiant Cut Diamonds
- Cushion vs Asscher Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Radiant Cut Diamonds
- Oval vs Marquise Cut Diamonds
- Oval vs Pear Cut Diamonds
- Pear vs Marquise Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Elongated Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Diamond Certification
- Diamond Fluorescence
- How Diamonds Are Formed
- Diamond Pricing
- Diamond Size Chart Carat & MM
- Diamond Symmetry
- Diamond Polish
- Diamond Girdle
- Diamond Culet
- Engraved Rings
- Fancy Colored Diamonds
- Loose Diamonds
- History Of Lab Grown Diamonds
- Natural vs Synthetic Diamonds
- Diamond Sourcing
- NY Diamond District
Engagement Ring Education
- How To Buy Engagement Rings
- Affordable Engagement Rings
- Cost of a One Carat Diamond
- How To Buy A Lab Diamond Ring
- How to Buy An Engagement Ring In a Time Crunch
- How to Choose An Engagement Ring
- How to Pick Your Engagement Ring Budget
- Engagement Rings For Second Marriage
- Best Time to Buy An Engagement Ring
- How to Buy An Engagement Ring As a Couple
- Everything You Need to Know About Dainty Engagement Rings
- Future Mother In Law's Guide to Engagement Ring Shopping
- Engagement Ring Financing
- Why You Need an Engagement Ring Appraisal
- Best Round Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Square Cut Engagement Ring
- Top Teardrop Engagement Rings
- Best Asscher Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Oval Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Radiant Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Marquise Cut Engagement Rings
- Twisting Rings
- Best Emerald Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Dainty Engagement Rings
- Best Unique Engagement Rings
- Best Traditional Diamond Engagement Rings
- Best Split Shank Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top 10 Square Halo Engagement Rings
- Top 10 Unusual Engagement Rings
- Black Diamond Engagement Rings
- Edwardian Engagement Rings
- Antique Style Engagement Rings
- Nature Inspired Engagement Ring
- Filigree Rings
- Art Deco Rings
- Wide Band Engagement Rings
- Infinity Engagement Rings
- Best Two Tone Diamond Engagement Rings
- Victorian Style Engagement Rings
- Minimalistic Engagement Rings
- Big Style Engagement Rings
- Cute Style Engagement Rings
- Modern Style Engagement Rings
- Past Present and Future Rings
- Thin Engagement Rings
- Pretty Style Engagement Rings
- Double Band Engagement Rings
- 1 Carat Diamond Ring
- Top Princess Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Women's Rose Gold Engagement Rings
- Top Round Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top East West Engagement Rings
- Top Pave Engagement Rings
- Top Split Shank Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Unique Halo Engagement Rings
- Rose Gold Pear Shaped Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Pear Shaped Engagement Rings
- Top Oval Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Engagement Rings
- Top Marquise Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Emerald Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Bypass Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Oval Engagement Rings
- Top Emerald Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Oval Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Emerald Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Oval Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Floating Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Princess Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Simple Engagement Rings
- Vintage Style Engagement Rings
- Types of Accent Diamonds
- Everything You Need to Know Before Setting Diamonds
- Engagement Ring Prong Guide
- All About Ring Resizing
- Identifying Your Ring After A Repair
- Everything You Need to Know About Milgrain
- Everything You Need to Know About Wide Band Engagement Rings
- Eternity Rings vs Infinity Rings
- When To Propose
- What Are Baguette Diamond Engagement Rings
- What to Say When You Propose
- What Are the Groom's Parents Responsible For?
Gemstone Education
Jewelry Education
- Jewelry Buying Guide
- How To Buy Jewelry Online
- Diamond: 10th Anniversary Gifts
- Ruby: 40th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Sapphire: 5th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Top 10 Sapphire Earrings
- Emerald: 20th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Top 10 Push Presents
- How To Shop For Christmas Jewelry Gifts
- How To Buy An Anniversary Band
Metal Education


Ways To Buy An Engagement Ring
Not only are there many options for diamond and ring styles, but there are also several ways to shop for the perfect diamond ring. Typically, you can purchase a preset ring, a diamond and compatible ring setting or a fully custom ring. Each style has their positives and negatives in terms of design, price and overall value. We’d like to explore all of them and provide our ultimately recommendations for each and the type of shopper it may work best for.
Preset rings are what you typically see in a traditional jewelry store. They have a readymade ring setting with a diamond already set in the center. If you purchased a preset ring, you’d be walking out with a ring on your finger (or in a box). There are several reasons why you may want to purchase preset, but it’s not for everyone.
Reasons to buy preset rings:
Timing: making an engagement ring from scratch takes time and effort. Ultimately, it’s both an art and a science. Not only to jewelers have to get the artwork and fine detailing right, the heating, cooling, casting process takes time. Imagine if you found out you’re being stationed elsewhere or have to leave for active duty and you’d like to pop the big question in advance. Well, you may not have the time for any other shopping method. Therefore, this may be the way to manage your time effectively and see many options that are out of the box and ready to go.
Antique or vintage pieces: jewelry is a form of art. Vintage pieces, classic jewelry and even modern preset styles can be purchased preset. Often times, the value is in the name or brand the craftsmanship and quality and the style of setting is part of the design. By separating these factors and buying the individual components, you’d be removing the value and beauty of the engagement ring.
Quality: if the diamond is governed by a GIA grading certification report and you’re purchasing a high quality ring, then you have less to worry about. Typically, rings can help mask diamond inclusions and color in the diamond. When set, the diamond will look better and there are other distractions to divert the eyes away from noticeable or obvious factors that affect diamond sparkle. If the quality is certified and there, you can purchase preset without any problems.
Another way to buy a diamond engagement ring is building it with a diamond and then a ring setting (or vice versa). This has become the more popular way to shop over time because it provides more transparency and semi-customization in the process. It also gives you the flexibility to work with multiple jewelers and maximize on pricing potential.
Reasons to build the ring:
Transparency: the easiest way to ensure all the transparency and authenticity of the ring and diamond is buying it unset. This gives you time to inspect and challenge any questions or concerns. Additionally, diamonds always look better when set in a ring. When the diamond is loose, you have less distractions so you can try and examine for any inclusions or tint of color that will adversely affect the diamond’s sparkle.
Customization: while this option isn’t total customization, it certainly required substantially more effort. Ultimately, you have to separately research the diamond and the ring setting. You’re choosing all of the attributes that build the components of the ring. In essence, you’re custom creating the perfect ring for your personalized proposal. This also gives you increased flexibility to choose the setting styles, metal colors, sidestone sizes, etc.
Price: There is no better way to ensure you get the best price than buying the diamond separately and the ring setting separately (can be from the same jeweler). If the diamond and ring are compatible, odd are you’ll have several diamond options to choose from. Diamonds are priced based on rarity. If you’re in the market for a 10ct Emerald cut diamond with D color and FL clarity, odds are you will take it at whatever price it is offered at (if it even exists). However, while diamonds are considered rare, you’ll notice that you have plenty of options to choose from is you’re buying a Round diamond 1.00ct G VS2. Because every diamond has a different cost basis, it has a different price. This means you can buy 2 virtually identical diamonds at very different prices, allowing you to maximize value.
The final way to purchase a diamond engagement ring is to go totally custom. This method is more about the ring setting than the diamond itself. It is totally unique and gives you to really create something meaningful.
Reasons to buy custom rings:
Personalization: Sky is the limit here! You can create almost anything with jewelry (subject to structural constraints). This makes the experience more unique and less price driven. You must be patient though and willing to take risks. Custom doesn’t always mean beautiful.
Differentiation: Rings have become essentially cookie cutter. While many see rings as a symbol of commitment and are okay with thousands having similar looking rings, some want total uniqueness. Custom rings give you this chance to do exactly that. You can come up with a creation that’s very different than anything anyone has seen and it always shows. It’s rare a custom ring doesn’t look custom.
Attention to detail: with custom jewelry, you can meticulously design every aspect from prongs to setting style to height of setting for the center stone. The freedom does come at a premium. Most jewelers require a minimum spend on the setting because of the amount of work associated with customization. With Clarity has no minimums on custom jewelry.
As you can see, there are several ways to buy engagement rings. Everyone’s process is fairly unique and personal. Choose the option that works best for your timing, your budget and ultimately your peace of mind. Custom jewelry isn’t for everyone; it requires a certain sense of imagination. Preset rings may get you less value for money. Ultimately the semi-custom options where you’re buying the diamond and a compatible ring setting is best for most. Remember, a diamond ring is a symbol of commitment above all else.
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