Women’s Buyer’s Guide

It is a growing trend that men and women plan their engagement. This comes right down to the ring buying decisions. We’ve advised thousands of couples on how to buy their wedding rings. At Peter Franklin, we put your mind at ease and help you every step of the way in your purchasing decision.

Establish your budget

Before buying your ring, you need to establish a budget. We advise that you look at the monthly payments, not the final purchase price. Looking at the monthly payments is the best way to look at what will work within your budget.
Budgets are also established with combined incomes in mind.

Once you’ve established your budget, our consultants will work with you to find the right ring within your budget and help you with pre-approval, if you need financing. Peter Franklin works with top lenders and have expert staff that can assist you with financing.

Get fitted

Once you’ve established your budget, your Peter Franklin consultant will size you for your rings.

Know style

With a lifetime purchase, it’s important to know who you are. Know you preference in stone cuts, gold/silver, and more. This will make your decision easier.

Pick the engagement bands

This is the first part of the ring process — the engagement band. Our consultants will help you pick the perfect band, so you won’t have to worry much here. Make sure you have spent time looking at the various type of bands available and that it “fits” your wedding ring. Some people will often have their engagement band attached to their wedding band — which, of course, Peter Franklin can help you with.

Pick the stone and setting

Again, your Peter Franklin consultant will be there every step of the way, so they’ll help you when figuring out which rings to buy. However, it will definitely help to have an idea of how stones are “graded” before you buy.

When it comes to the diamond, think of the “Four C’s” — Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat.

Cut. Cut doesn’t refer to the shape of the diamond, but rather the angles and proportions of the stone. A well cut diamond reflects light from one facet to another and projects the light through the top of the stone. This is what gives a diamond its sparkle. Out of all the four C’s, cut is the most important.

Color. Diamond color is graded on a scale that ranges from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). Truly colorless diamonds are the most rare and most expensive. White color diamonds are the most popular.

Clarity. The fewer imperfections a diamond has, the more clear, and consequently, more expensive it is. When the jeweler starts discussing the clarity of the diamond, he or she will probably mention the diamond’s “inclusions.” Inclusions are other minerals or tiny fractures in the diamond. The fewer inclusions the better.

Carat (Weight). Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. Through proper mounting and shaping, a master jeweler can make a diamond appear larger than its carat weight might suggest.

For men, you have to establish if your style is simple or complex. Most men have simpler tastes, but there are many options still. Let your Peter Franklin consultant help describe the differences available.