Engagement Ring Buying Tips for Black Friday
Black Friday is here with various deals and discounts. It is the perfect time to splurge a little and go on a shopping spree. But is it the correct time to buy the most important piece of jewelry that she and you will cherish for the rest of your lives? Well! Why not? Black Friday doesn’t really affect the engagement ring market. It will only make it a little bit more difficult for you to discover the right one at the right price.
Why Do Engagement Rings Make a Good Black Friday Jewelry Purchase?
It is the most valuable piece of Black Friday jewelry that you most likely will ever own. The deeper meaning and attachment associated with a precious diamond engagement ring makes it enough to be the most cherished piece, even if it costs less than, say, a glorious diamond eternity necklace. So it is critical to avoid deception and purchasing a poor ring that costs far more than it should. Even if you think you are paying less. Let’s face it, a 50% or 80% discount means nothing if the price was already jacked up or if it was ridiculously exorbitant, to begin with.
But don’t worry; we’re here to make sure you’re prepared and ready to purchase your treasured diamond engagement ring without falling victim to a scam and getting the best bargain possible. So, here are our tips that you need to follow before you start your hunt for a diamond ring during Black Friday jewelry sales.
- Know About the Basics of Diamonds
This isn’t a tip just for shopping during Black Friday jewelry sales, but for every time you go diamond shopping. Knowing the basics of diamonds will always help you in buying good, value-for-money jewels. You must have heard about the 4Cs of diamonds. So let us elaborate on that, and present you some general knowledge about diamonds, that will make you more of an expert than the next Joe.
The 4Cs of Diamonds:
Color – The presence or absence of color in diamonds is referred to as color. The more colorless the diamond, the more it costs. Jewelers use a color scale to grade colorlessness and whiteness. The color scale goes from D to Z, with D being the highest rating.
Clarity – The faults on the outside of a diamond are called blemishes. And inclusions are basically flaws on the inside. Air gaps or cracks are examples of inclusions, while chips and scratches are examples of imperfections. Inclusions appear during the formation of the diamond. And imperfections appear during the cutting process. Most diamonds have imperfections, and the fewer flaws a diamond has, the more valuable and unusual it is. Blemishes and Inclusions is the main factor that decides the clarity.
Classification of Clarity
- Flawless (F): There are no defects on the inside or outside.
- Internally Flawless (IF): There are no internal faults, however, there are minor imperfections.
- Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1-VVS2): Under magnification, inclusions are difficult to spot.
- VS1-VS2: Under magnification, inclusions can only be noticed with difficulty.
- Slightly Included (SI1-SI2): Under magnification, inclusions are seen.
- I1-I2-I3: All of the above are included. Under magnification and to the naked eye, inclusions can be seen.
Carat: It is the diamond industry-specific unit of measurement for determining a diamond’s weight. 200 milligrams equals one carat (0.2 grams). Larger diamonds are more valuable per carat since they are rarer.
Cut: The cut of a diamond determines how bright it is. The term “cut” does not refer to the diamond’s shape (round, square, or pear), but rather to its reflecting properties. Light may readily flow through a well-cut diamond and reflect back, causing it to dazzle and shine. A diamond with a poor cut will enable light to ‘spill’ out from the bottom or sides. The cuts are categorized as fair/poor, decent, very good, premium, and ideal.
- Do Tons of Research Beforehand
The 4Cs of diamonds aside, there are many other things to learn about diamonds. Meaning of certain cuts, the history behind certain designs, etc. Why not learn about them? The more you understand this background knowledge and conduct research, the better buyer you will become. You can also analyze and see market prices of different cuts and clarity of stones. This way, you’re not only getting a gorgeous diamond engagement ring, but you’re also getting something you’ve worked hard for. And of course, if you are spending your well-earned money on it, you might as well get the best one within the set budget.
- Talk With Your Partner
In many places during Black Friday jewelry sales, they change the return or exchange policy. So if by some chance your partner does like the design or the style, you will be in a world full of trouble as she will be stuck with something she doesn’t like. Sure you can enhance or modify it later, but that will again cost you more. During the pandemic, we are all strapped for cash, so it is better to get it right in the first place. So talk to your partner about what she likes and dislikes. And if you still want to surprise her, ask her friends and family to get an idea.
- Don’t Go Buyer Crazy With Discounts
Choosing the biggest discount or sprinting after signs that say “Mega,” “Ultra sale” is a very human thing to do. However, you need to stop and think if that truly is a good deal or not. Do you really wanna get a lower quality product that will lose all its value in the future? or would you rather buy a unique engagement ring that becomes more valuable with time? Buying from an untrustworthy jewelry store or grabbing the first large discount you see is never a good idea. It is better to search for a few reliable stores that are offering discounts and then compare between them and see which one suits your budget and needs. This way you will be able to find unique engagement rings for women with far better quality.
- Before Buying Ask Around for a Bit
After comparing different products and their prices do a last-minute check before buying. You can obviously google the store and the product. But it will be nice if you can talk to another person who has previously bought jewelry from that store. See if you can find testimonies of buyers or verified reviews. This is a great way to check the quality of the stores and their services.
- Try To Wait Out the Weekend
I know it is counterproductive to give you advice on not shopping on Black Friday in an article about shopping on this particular day. But, this is an important note if you don’t want to be overwhelmed with so many options at the stroke of midnight. It could be best for you to wait until Cyber Monday. And, believe it or not, some retailers lower their prices even further to get rid of their remaining stock. So if you have a tighter budget and some patience, then shop for unique engagement rings for women on Cyber Monday.
An engagement ring is amazing and magical and is there to stay with you forever. And now you can find your special someone’s perfect engagement ring by being well-informed, performing research, and exercising patience! You can start the search for unique engagement rings for women in the diamond stores Los Angeles has to offer for Black Friday and beyond.