How To Easily Buy an Engagement Ring Online with James Allen

Buying an engagement ring is both exciting and terrifying. Compound that with the spirit of whatever season it may be (and waves of pandemic restrictions), and it’s easy to see why online platforms like JamesAllen.com are coming in clutch for so many.

People tend to get engaged all year long. Late fall proposals bring engagement-ring excitement that lasts through Valentine’s Day. Thanksgiving and Holiday season proposals let the entire family bear witness.

Of course, before deciding when and where to propose, there’s a lot to learn when getting started with the task of finding the perfect engagement ring. Buying a ring online puts a great deal of power in the shopper’s hands, which makes the process a lot easier.

We’re breaking down the steps you need to secure the right ring for your significant other.

Getting Started With Engagement Rings

Before an engagement, wedding, and a whole lot of fanfare, there’s a study guide. The 4C’s (which we’ll get into later) are the keys to finding the right diamond. Beyond that, there’s choosing a metal for the band, a setting style, and finding their ring size. 

To get the most out of your ring shopping experience, be sure to consider the diamond’s appearance at multiple angles.

Keep in mind, at the same time, this ring is for your partner. Be sure to find something that they will adore as it glimmers and sparkles during the big moment.

Create the Perfect Engagement Ring Online

With James Allen, finding the exact engagement ring of your partner’s dreams is not only feasible, it’s fun! Their diamond collection is expansive with over 200,000 stones, both earth-created and lab-created. Prefer a gemstone? They’ve got those, too. 

Designing the ring is like shopping for any other product online in some ways, making it easy to sort and filter by diamond shape, color, or carat. There are also functions for adding gemstones and other finishing touches. Slide the budget bar to set a minimum (or maximum) on price.

Buying jewelry online, especially diamond engagement rings, may be tricky. It’s hard to see how the diamond shines through the computer screen. That was true until James Allen’s 360-degree technology allowed shoppers to inspect the diamond from all angles.

One can shop for engagement ring, too. A lab-created diamond option helps some buyers get more bang for their buck as well. Discounts have been rumored to hover at about 30% by going this route.

Using the 4C’s To Shop for Engagement Rings

Knowing the 4C’s is a prerequisite to ring shopping:

• Color
• Cut
• Clarity
• Carat weight

Color is measured on a D-to-Z scale. Diamonds with less color are rarer, but colored diamonds can be a popular option for some tastes. Cut refers to the ability of the diamond to reflect light. Clarity relates to how blemished the surface, and carat is basically size by weight.

On the GIA color scale, diamonds are ranked by color. D diamonds are very rare, lacking color. M diamonds are more common. Their warm glow denotes a fairer price tag but doesn’t make them less lovely in terms of sentiment.

Everybody is going to attribute a different level of importance to each “C.” For example, some people prefer a certain carat diamond. Others, by contrast, want a diamond that is of a certain shape, cut, or color.

By remembering this short report card while shopping for diamonds, all the sleuthing will be a little bit easier to manage. 

Something to keep in mind: buying online lets you take your time to make sure you find the right C’s for you. All the options are at your fingertips so that you can make sure the right ring ends up on your significant other’s hand.

Sort by Shape, Style, and Cut

If you know which of the C’s stands out to you, searching for it on JamesAllen.com can quicken the process thanks to their precise search filters. This is especially valuable when there are hundreds of thousands of diamonds from which to choose!

Filtering the inventory by shape, style, and cut makes finding the right one easier.

There are plenty of diamond shapes out there. Although not everybody pays much attention to the differences between a heart-shaped diamond and a marquise-shaped one, often the person receiving the engagement ring has a certain shape in mind.

Choose the Right Metal Band

The diamond(s) will sit on a band. Selecting the right band requires a general knowledge of the options. James Allen offers several types of bands, for example. They have 14k and 18k white gold, 14k and 18k yellow gold, platinum, and rose gold.

It can be tempting to choose trendy metals though traditional styles remain popular. Rose gold was popular decades ago and is now making a comeback. Those who choose yellow gold are encouraged to consider adding contrast with white prongs or bezels. 

Platinum, in its silver glow, is durable and resists corrosion. The best quality only has 5% alloy metals. 

Focus on Setting and Sparkle for the Big Question

The diamond is housed by a setting on the ring. It makes the diamond shine while protecting it from certain environmental hazards. Three common settings are prong, bezel, and halo.

A prong holds a diamond in its spot with four, five, or six prongs. Pay attention to the variations of the prongs to learn more about different styles.

The bezel style features a narrow metal strip that goes around the gem, keeping it secure. This is popular in terms of protection. The halo, on the other hand, boasts a tiny circle of diamonds around the main stone. It certainly throws some glitter into the mix!

Some engagements tend to be a little flashier by nature. To add some pizzazz to your engagement ring, consider selecting side stones. Beyond adding sparkle to the story, the side stones allow for a little personality to be expressed.

Remember, it’s supposed to be special to your future fiancé. Only go for these features if you know they’ll love it. 

Smart shoppers will examine the diamond under different lighting conditions to see how it captures the glow. Rings appear differently under the fluorescent lighting of the office than they will at a candlelight dinner. Online ring shopping with JamesAllen.com gives a 360-degree view of your diamond.

Exploring Cut and Other Parameters

Diamonds should be chosen only if they make the cut grade, earning a score of “excellent” (or at least “very good”).

The cut grade denotes how well reflections of light appear. The grade answers these questions: Is the light crisp and even? Is there an admirable contrast within the stone?

Pro tip: If you want to make the diamond appear bigger, try setting the stone in a head of fluted white metal. One might also consider a cluster setting, grouping smaller diamonds together.

James Allen also allows you to explore engagement rings by polish, symmetry, depth, and fluorescence.

How to Find a Ring that Will Be Loved

There’s more to finding the perfect engagement ring than knowing about diamonds, cuts, and clarities. It’s important to know the tastes of the person who will be responding to The Big Question.

The ring will be worn in various settings–on the beach, at work, at the grocery store, and at family events and parties. How will the ring look in front of each backdrop?

A quick way to answer this riddle is to look at the daily wardrobe of the soon-to-be fiancé(e). A glitz and glam person probably wants something bold and valuable. A pajamas-everyday person may want something more on-the-go friendly.

There are two better ways to avoid guessing, though. The first is to do your online ring shopping together. The second is to ask a trusted friend or family member for advice – go with somebody who knows the other person’s tastes like the back of their hand!

Some wannabe brides are more open, leaving hints like folded magazine pages in the bathroom. Others send emails with links to engagement rings they “love” or “would hate.” If your relationship warrants transparency, talk it through.

You might even log on to James Allen together to sort through the rings by shape, size, color, clarity, and price point. This way, the ring exceeds both partners’ expectations.

If it is a surprise, you’re on your own.

Size and Insurance are Important Factors

Don’t forget to figure out the ring size! You don’t want to buy a ring that’s the wrong size. It might be wiser to get a size larger if you’re not certain it will fit. Rings can be adjusted (and should be fitted to the wearer’s finger) after the proposal.

Many ring buying guides recommended having the ring insured after purchasing it. Getting an appraisal is part of the fun, so be sure to know the value of the ring just in case anything should happen to it.

Remember What’s Truly Special

The hustle and bustle of the everyday grind can put a strain on individuals and relationships. The pressure to have the picture-perfect ring and engagement is real. That said, couples should take a second to soak it all in and enjoy the moment. 

The parents, in-laws, cousins, and friends who will be applauding the engagement don’t mean any harm, and many times all the attention is kind of nice. 

Just recall what’s truly being celebrated. It isn’t the milestone (or the diamond); it is the love to be shared for the years to come.

Couples should also remember that websites like James Allen set out to make the engagement ring purchase process as stress-free as possible!