When you decide that you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, that epiphany should be the only thing that matters. Unfortunately, we all know that isn’t the case.
Whether you think you’re ready for it or not, weddings are extremely expensive. Before you even start your wedding planning process, however, you have one expensive purchase that comes first: the engagement ring.
Few names are more popular or prominent in the engagement ring sector than Tiffany. That little blue box and the time-honored craftsmanship that goes into each and every single diamond ring makes them a step above the rest. Even beyond that, you should consider buying your future Mrs. a Tiffany ring because it holds its value so well. I bought my wife’s engagement ring for 50% off on Ebay and, five years later, the same ring is selling for the same exact price that I bought it for.
Brian Solis | www.briansolis.com
What does this mean? It means that if I someday decide that I want to upgrade her ring, I know I’ll be able to get all (or almost all) of my money back when I re-sell it the original one.
(I’ve also got a great guide on how to choose your perfect black tie attire, once you start planning for the actual wedding.)
The 5 C’s of diamonds: Here’s what you need to know
The quality of a diamond ring is judged by 5 unique criteria: carat-weight, color, clarity, cut, and confidence. What do these mean though and how do you know if you are getting your money’s worth?
- Carat-weight refers to the weight of the diamond. 1 carat equals 0.2 grams.
- Color refers to the color of the diamond itself. Most diamonds fall somewhere into a category between “D”, which is colorless, and “Z”, which is light yellow. The clearer the diamond, the more expensive it will be.
- Clarity refers to the clarity of the diamond under 10-x magnification. The clearer the diamond, the more expensive it will be.
- Cut refers to the shape and style of the diamond, as well as its symmetry and proportions.
- Confidence refers to the reputability of the diamond ring. You should go to a jeweler that you can trust and insist upon receiving a diamond grading certificate from an independent and recognized grading laboratory.
Here’s how to buy an engagement ring from Ebay:
Schedule an appointment to bring your fiance into the store.
This is going to be very important for a number of reasons. You want to find out the kind of ring she likes and allow her to try on different carat sizes and settings until she finds her favorite. You’ll also want to have her ring size and find out the setting name, etc. until you have everything she wants down perfectly.
Then go home and start your search on Ebay for the exact specs.
Now that you have everything all ready, you can start your search. Pricing on Ebay should be 50% of the price in the store. Here’s a great example of a Tiffany diamond ring that you can get for half off.
Once you find your ideal ring, make sure to check the seller’s feedback score before you buy. Because you’re purchasing the ring online, it is important that you know you are buying from someone reputable and not getting scammed.
Bring the ring to the store and have ownership transferred into your name.
Once you are in possession of the ring and have purchased it, you need to go to the store and have ownership transferred into your name. The only thing left to do afterwards is purchase ring insurance—and you are ready to get engaged!
This post was published by Andrew Wise from Life, Tailored. You can follow him on Instagram, @AndrewUFL.
