Read to learn the basics of engagement ring shopping and then come into Frank Jewelers so we can guide you to the right ring for your bride!

 Engagement Ring Buying in 3 Easy Steps

After you’ve found the girl of your dreams, the next step is asking for her hand in marriage! And for men who might feel a little overwhelmed by all the ring options available, then the bridal jewelry experts at Frank Jewelers are here to help educate you on diamonds and engagement ring options that work best for your situation.

For over 70 years, our expert staff has created a memorable and stress-free shopping experience and have been able to help every groom and have come together to put together these three simple steps for finding the perfect engagement ring in our Freeport showroom today!

STEP 1: PICK A SHAPE!

Perhaps the most important choice, determining the center diamond shape is one of the very first things to do with engagement ring shopping. While every shape is beautiful, some shapes work better with certain style rings or offer a unique sparkle experience. For clues as to what shape your special someone might prefer, we suggest that you check out her Instagram, Pinterest, or simply ask her best friend for a quick answer on what shape is best. At Frank Jewelers we carry an enormous inventory of GIA-certified loose diamonds crafted in popular and rare shapes, so there’s no worry we won’t have the shape you are looking for.

STEP 2: FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE FOUR C’S!

Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat, the Four C’s are an easy way to understand the various differences between diamonds and are important to understand when on your engagement ring search.

Cut:

You might think cut refers to the diamond shape, but when it comes to engagement rings cut refers to how well the diamond shape is crafted by the gem’s cutters and sculptors. The better the diamond’s cut, the better the gem interacts with light and reflects back more diamond fire. For your future-bride, this means the better the cut, the more sparkly it will be.

Cut is graded on a scale from “Excellent” to “Poor” with poor being the worst and excellent being the best.

Color:

While stones come in many colors, the best color for a diamond is no color at all. The highest quality diamonds are those that are graded “colorless” as they can disperse sparkle and shine more radiantly. Conversely, diamonds with more noticeable yellowness to them are considered of lower quality and tend to be priced lower.    

Clarity:

Another important part of diamond shopping is evaluating the clarity of the diamond for inclusions or internal blemishes. Depending on the size, quantity, and placement of these inclusions, diamonds are priced accordingly. 

Keep in mind it is difficult to see some flaws with the naked eye, so to make sure that diamonds are priced appropriately, GIA-certified diamonds are examined under 10x magnification to assess the proper clarity grade of the stone. 

Carat Weight:

When diamond shopping, carat weight is the physical weight of a diamond. Because of the relative rarity of diamonds, the larger the carat weight the rarer the gem tends to be. Keep in mind that just because one stone is larger than another, does not mean it will be more expensive. After considering all of the aspects of the 4'cs the price can then be determined. 

At Frank Jewelers we carry diamonds of all clarity ratings, of all carat weights, colors, and cuts, and we will work with you to accommodate your budget as well as your diamond desires. 

Earlier we discussed the Four C’s in greater length. For a more in-depth look at the  Four C’s click here.

STEP 3: DETERMINE MOUNTING

The final step in engagement ring shopping is choosing the mounting that holds the precious stone. 

When selecting the mounting, you have many precious metal choices including white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, or platinum. A ring’s mounting can range from classic looks such as solitaire to modern designs like halo (diamonds around the center stone), three stone, or even shared prong settings (often referred to as pave)— we carry it all at Frank Jewelers. 

Shop Engagement Rings at Frank Jewelers!

Now that you’ve got the basics,  schedule an appointment with our bridal experts and visit our Freeport, Illinois showroom to see the fabulous selection of loose diamonds and extensive collection of engagement rings. Proud to be an authorized retailer of all the designers on display, you can shop with ease knowing you can select from an extraordinary selection of pieces that are hand-picked for quality.

Our showroom is thrilled to offer you engagement rings by A. Jaffe, ArtCarved, Love Story Diamonds, Rhythm of Love, and Gabriel New York. With so many to choose from and our wonderful staff on-hand, there is no doubt you’ll find the perfect ring for your bride at Frank Jewelers. And if you cant find it, we will create it. 

For more information on our selection of engagement rings, browse R.FrankJewelers.com, call one of our representatives at 815.235.3169, or visit us in our Freeport, Illinois showroom today.