Due to the current world financial crisis, the cost of jewelry components like gold, platinum, silver and gemstones, has swiftly risen. Hence, the cost of jewelry has also risen dramatically. What should the guy who wants to propose to his girlfriend do? Well, it shouldn’t cause him to postpone proposing. There are ways to get around the high prices of engagement rings and to make your girlfriend a very happy fiancee.

Brand – A brand name diamond is always going to be much more expensive than an unbranded stone. In the same respect that branded clothing is more expensive than unbranded. If you are looking to save money on a ring then just go for a generic stone. Plus, just as clothing fashion comes in and out, so does jewelry fashion, so in a few years, spending a huge amount on a branded stone might not seem like such a sensible idea.

Negotiation – Plan to haggle a little after you’ve made your decision about which stone or ring you plan to purchase. Retailers normally mark jewelry up 200% or more. There is no shame in “discussing” the price with the salesperson. In fact, you’d be silly not to have a price discussion. It’s the same as making any other large purchase. You wouldn’t buy a car off a lot without discussing price. Do the same before you purchase a diamond.

Shape – Some shapes cost more than others. Look for an oval or pear shaped diamond. Diamonds that are cut into oval or pear shapes appear to be larger than they actually are, or than diamond cuts of equal carat weight. This is also a less popular diamond cut so that the price of these is naturally a little lower.

Band – People immediately notice the diamond in the center of an engagement ring. The band is secondary. It makes lots of sense to choose a simple band and put that saved money into the centre stone. Your fiancee will be blown away by the beautiful centre diamond and that’s what everyone else will notice too.

Stone – A common mistake among purchasers of diamond rings is purchasing the stone from the same retailer that will set the stone. It saves big money if you purchase the stone from one retailer and have a second retailer set it into the band.

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