An engagement ring is one of the most meaningful purchases you’ll ever make. It represents your love and commitment to your partner and is something that will we worn and cherished for many years to come. It’s also something that you’ve likely never shopped for or bought in your life. That’s why we created this guide to help you during your engagement ring search.

1. Determine your budget. Figure out how much money you can comfortably spend toward an engagement ring. Not sure how much one typically costs? The average amount spent on an engagement ring at Kloiber Jewelers is about $6,000, but we’ve created diamond engagement rings for as little as $500 and as much as $100,000. The cost of an engagement ring all depends on the style you’re after, the quality and type of the gemstones incorporated in the ring, and the type of metal you’d prefer.
2. Do your research. When shopping for an engagement ring, it helps to have a general idea of the type of ring style your soon-to-be-fiancé likes best. There are a large number of options when it comes to engagement rings, so doing your research beforehand and having an idea of the type of metal, type of gemstone, shape of gemstone, and ring style will make searching for the perfect engagement ring a little less overwhelming. If you have no idea what type of engagement ring your significant other will like best and don’t want to ask and risk ruining the surprise, use these helpful tips to get a better sense of your partner’s dream ring.
3. Familiarize yourself with the 4 C’s. Since most engagement rings incorporate at least one diamond in the ring, you’re going to want to study up on the four factors that determine the quality of a diamond: cut, clarity, carat, and color. The most important quality factor of a diamond is its cut, but some people put a preference on other quality factors, especially carat weight. By familiarizing yourself with these quality factors (either by visiting the GIA website or speaking with an experienced jeweler), you’ll have a better understanding of why certain diamonds are more valuable than others. *If you’re not interested in incorporating a diamond into the engagement ring, consider selecting another durable gemstone like sapphire or ruby. And if you want the diamond appearance without the diamond price, you may want to incorporate one of these diamond alternatives.
4. Compare gemstones in person. Without being able to look at a diamond or other gemstone in person and compare it to others, you’ll never really know if the gem you selected is the best one for you (and most importantly, your soon-to-be-fiancé). A diamond or colored gemstone may look great initially when you have nothing to compare it to, but only after you place it next to another gem, will you begin to really notice the differences between the two gemstones. At Kloiber Jewelers, we’ll sort through thousands of different diamond or colored gemstone options to present you with the three best gems that fit within your quality specifications and budget and let you compare them in person and under our microscope.
5. Figure out your partner’s ring size. There’s nothing worse than not being able to wear your new engagement ring because it’s too small for your finger. There are several ways you can figure out ring size. The most obvious (but the less romantic way) is just asking your significant other or going to a jewelry store together to determine the right size. If you don’t want to ruin the surprise, you can always secretly borrow one of your partner’s rings and bring it to a jeweler to determine its size. Just make sure it’s a ring that’s worn on the ring finger, and not on a thumb or pinky. If you’re unable to determine the right finger size, the good news is we can always make an educated guess based on the information you tell us about your partner. And if we need to adjust the size a bit, we’ll do so as a courtesy!
6. Always shop with a reputable fine jeweler. Shopping for an engagement ring is a major life event. You’re planning on spending the rest of your life with this special person and you want to commemorate that with a gorgeous engagement ring. Working one-on-one with a local, reputable jeweler will allow you to learn all of the important information you should know when shopping for an engagement ring and build that ever-crucial relationship in case you encounter any problems later on down the road. Shopping for the perfect engagement ring is no easy task and you’ll most likely have a lot of questions when doing so. Working with a trustworthy jeweler will ensure you end up with the perfect ring when it’s time to ask that life-altering question.

If you’re interested in purchasing an engagement ring, contact Kloiber Jewelers at 414-276-2457 or email us at info@kloiberjewelers.com. You can also schedule an appointment. And make sure to view part of our engagement ring collection in case you need a little inspiration.