Before selecting an engagement ring, you should decide on a budget you feel comfortable with. Many old wives' tales suggest that an engagement ring should cost three months' worth of your salary, but truthfully there is no rule to dictate the budget you set. Your budget should depend on your significant other’s preferences and your own financial circumstances. The best plan is to find a diamond or gemstone that balances size with quality at a price point that works for you. Lab grown diamonds and moissanites are budget-friendly options and we have a variety of flexible payment options including 12-month financing, layaway, and easy monthly payments via Affirm.

Once you’ve determined your budget, it’s time to select a setting. A ring setting refers to the entirety of the design besides the center stone — the prongs, gallery, and band (as well as any accents that adorn it). While settings are very important to the way a style looks, they’re also important structurally: they hold the center piece and should provide comfort for everyday wear.

Ring Style

Ring settings can range from luxurious halo styles to classic solitaire silhouettes and completely custom designs — so it’s definitely helpful to have guidance from a professional in picking the perfect piece. Selecting the setting can be one of the most difficult decisions to make during this process, so take the time to consider what you and your partner want: whether it’s modern, nature-inspired, or something unique. It can also be helpful to consider what types of clothing and accessories your partner typically gravitates towards to inform the style of setting you go for. To make the decision less stressful, we proudly offer 30-day free returns and exchanges on unworn items.

Metal Type

Engagement rings generally come in four different metal types: white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, and platinum (though you can choose any metal that works best for you). Trends are constantly changing, but white gold and platinum are classic choices, with yellow gold becoming increasingly popular. For those with metal allergies, platinum is the hypoallergenic choice.

Once you’ve decided on what style of setting and metal type your ring will be, it’s time to find the right center stone. Traditionally engagement rings are set with diamonds, but colored gemstones are also a great choice for anyone looking for something unique or a pop of color. Whatever type, shape, or color of gemstone you fall for, selecting a center stone is a vital and exciting next step to designing the perfect piece.

Diamond

4 Cs
Diamonds are the classic choice for an engagement ring. Understanding the 4 C’s of cut, color, clarity, and carat weight can help you best identify the diamond that works for your budget, ring, and preferences. We recommend selecting a diamond shape and then finding a balance between size and quality. Sometimes choosing a smaller diamond can get you a higher quality stone, while opting for an option with some color or a lower clarity grade can allow you to get a larger carat weight within your budget.

Cut
By understanding the way that light moves through diamond crystals, modern diamond cutters have established a set of proportions and angles that are known to harness the diamond’s internal brilliance. Cut refers to the facets, symmetry, and reflective qualities of a diamond. The cut of a diamond is directly related to its overall sparkle and beauty and can be one of the most important factors to consider when optimizing for the overall look of your diamond.

Color
Diamond color refers to the natural color or lack of color visible within a diamond, and is caused by natural trace elements, such as nitrogen, that were present when the diamond formed under the Earth’s crust. The color grade assigned is based on the GIA grading scale which determines the amount of yellow or grey hues visible within a diamond. Jweyo carries only diamonds within the “colorless” and “near-colorless” range (from D color to J color). The closer a diamond is to “colorless,” the rarer it is, and the more valuable.

Clarity
Clarity is determined by the visibility of natural microscopic inclusions and imperfections within a diamond. Diamonds with little to no inclusions are considered particularly rare and highly valued.

Carat
Carat measures the overall weight of the diamond, which impacts the visual size of your diamond. Different diamond shapes will hold their carat weight differently, so some elongated fancy shapes such as oval, pear, or marquise diamonds can appear to be larger than round diamonds of comparable carat weight because they have longer dimensions.

Lab vs. Natural
Lab diamonds have the same chemical, optical, and physical properties as natural diamonds, but are created by scientists above ground in a controlled environment. These diamonds are considered more budget-friendly and eco-friendly as they require no mining.