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How To Buy An Engagement Ring Online
(Don't worry... Diamonds can be your best friend too)

A diamond engagement ring is a symbol of affection, commitment and sustaining love. Purchasing the perfect engagement ring can be difficult, especially considering all the different types of diamonds and setting available... not to mention cost. Don't fret! James Allen makes designing your own engagement ring online simple, fun and affordable, and I'm here to guide you through it.

First Things First: What type of ring would she like?

Solitaire, pave, tension - with so many types of rings,   I know this can be tricky to answer. After all, women are complicated, and their taste in jewelry is no exception. So let's assume you have no clue what type of engagement ring to get... and work from that point:

Ask her: In today's modern world, many women prefer choosing for themselves what they want. So, if your girlfriend is similar, you can simply ask her.

Ask her friends: She has probably talked about the perfect engagement ring with her friends many times over, so why not benefit from their knowledge? They will be eager to help, and they will think it was romantic of you to ask.

Investigate: Look around and you'll see clues everywhere. Before you know it, you'll feel like Sherlock Holmes. Pay attention to the jewelry she currently wears. Look through her magazines and see if she left any hints behind. Notice how she reacts to different jewelry when you walk past jewelry stores or counters. Women love to provide men with a trail of breadcrumbs to their heart.

Budget and Education: Spend what you want and know what you're getting

Ok, so now that you know more-or-less what type of ring she would want, you should set aside a budget. This way you can eliminate diamond rings that are out of your budget and focus on rings you can comfortably afford. The good news is that James Allen sells only high quality diamond engagement rings - each with a grading certificate - for up to 50% less than stores sell the same rings for. This means your budget stretches big time, and you can get a really great ring for less than you probably thought. Plus, you can design your own engagement ring exactly the way you want.

Diamond education is an important factor in deciding what type of ring to purchase. You may have already heard about the 4 Cs (color, cut, clarity and carat), but do you know what they mean? Luckily, James Allen provides comprehensive, yet easily digestible information for you.

Design Your Own: Create the perfect ring, exactly the way you want it.

Great! Now you know basically what type of ring she wants, how much you want to spend and you have a bit of knowledge regarding diamonds. It's time for you to find the perfect ring.

James Allen lets you design your own engagement ring, so now is the time to make it happen. You can start by choosing a setting or start by choosing a diamond.

The Setting

Ok, let's start with a setting. As you can see there are many different types to choose from:

• Solitaire
• Sidestone
• Pave
• Tension
• Meno
• Gemstone

Once you've chosen the setting type you want, you can sort by price and metal. As we discussed earlier, only look at settings within your budget. This will save you time, energy and useless frustration.

As for metal - that depends on what you're looking for. If your girlfriend wears mostly white gold, go with that. If her tastes tend towards platinum, I recommend picking it. In any case, you can't go wrong with any metal, since they are all of fine quality.

Now go ahead and choose a setting. Simply click on any setting that looks appealing to you. You will be transferred to a page that gives you detailed information about the setting you've selected. On this page you can:

• View the ring in our high definition player
• See actual photos of the setting
• Get a list of recommended matching diamonds
• Examine similar rings that were recently purchased
• Ask your friends on Facebook what they think
• Read customer reviews

Gemstone, Modern, Pave Engagement Ring Settings

The Diamond

When you've found a setting you're happy with, it's time to find a matching diamond. As we discussed before, a basic education regarding the quality of diamonds will be useful at this point.


The Different Cuts of Diamonds Available

PICTURES OF DIAMOND SHAPES:

Here's how to find a diamond:

1. Select Shape:
   • Round
   • Princess
   • Emerald
   • Asscher
   • Oval
   • Radiant
   • Pear
   • Heart
   • Marquis
   • Cushion
2. Select Color: D, E, F, G, H, I, J
3. Select Clarity: IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1
4. Select Cut: TrueHearts, Ideal, Premium, Good
5. Select Carat: Use the slider to limit the range. Remember to keep your initial budget in mind.
6. Select price: Use the slider to limit the range. Remember to keep your initial budget in mind.

As you can see, every selection you make updates the diamond list. Now is the time to pick a single diamond.

You can get specific details about any diamond by hovering the mouse over 'view'.

You can see an actual photo of any diamond by clicking on 'photo'. Once you click, a new window will open with a photo of the diamond and a virtual loupe. Use the loupe to examine the diamond up close and see all the inclusions.

You can see the GIA certificate for any diamond by clicking on 'GIA'. This certificate will also be shipped with your order.

You can also compare any number of diamonds by selecting the checkbox next to the diamonds you want to compare and clicking 'compare'. Here you can compare the specifications of several diamonds in one convenient place.

Ok, so now it's time to make the decision. To pick a specific diamond simply hover the mouse over 'view' and click on 'Add Diamond To Ring'.

Putting It All Together: Time to buy a dream

Now that you've selected both a setting and a diamond, it's time to checkout. To complete your order, simply click on 'Add to Cart'.

There are 3 payment methods: Credit Card, Google Checkout and PayPal.

Simply enter your details and that's it! The loose diamond and Ring you selected will be set, quality inspected and appraised. And if that's not enough, James Allen will deliver the ring in a gorgeous presentation box right to your front door for free.

What if you get the wrong ring or wrong size? Simple, James Allen provides a cash-back guarantee and free resizing, so you can shop in confidence.