Diamond jewelry like engagement rings can be expensive. However, if you know what types of decisions to make to cut the cost, you can still get the style and look you want for much less. The more say you have in how you build your diamond engagement ring, the better likelihood you can get exactly what you want at the price you can afford.
Carat Weight – If you want a large diamond, it will cost you. However, it will also depend on the cut and clarity, and color of the stone too. You might find a cushion cut diamond of low clarity or a different color, like yellow, is less than a white diamond of the same carat weight. That’s why you have to determine if size really matters to you or not. If it doesn’t you can get a higher quality diamond that is smaller.
Cut – Pear-shaped diamonds are in vogue right now; that makes them more expensive. Certain diamonds are cut to almost perfect dimensions and marketed as high-technology cuts that are near perfect. You’ll pay more for those too. Ordinary princess cuts are not as expensive as other cuts, but don’t forget you can also go for a raw diamond ring too. In general, if the cut is not that important to you, you can save money by picking a more generic cut.
Color – Blue diamonds are among the most expensive diamonds out there, even costlier than white diamonds. If you want a blue stone, you can opt for a sapphire. You can try different fancy-colored diamonds of lower grade to get a unique diamond engagement ring. There are many more options now in color choices on the diamond market than every before.
Clarity – If you’re a jewelry with loupe, you’ll want a stone with excellent clarity. However, if you’re just a consumer, visual flaws and occlusions may be visible when magnified, but invisible to the average person. The thing is though that they affect the price of the diamond, thus, it’s also a way to get a lower quality stone that still looks good in public.
Metal Settings – Some metal settings are more expensive than other settings. Platinum is very expensive, and hard to resize. White gold is cheaper than platinum, but can end up getting scratched and in need of re-coating after a few years. Yellow gold quality and cost is determined by whether it is 14k or 10k gold. Whatever you metal you choose will contribute quite a bit to how much the ring costs.
Design – If the design is intricate with multiple stones or engravings, it will cost more than a simple design. It doesn’t mean people on a budget can’t get additional features on their rings, but they might have to weigh that against the cost of the other elements of the ring, like the metal setting, the color of the diamond, and so on. Typically, the simpler the design, the less expensive it will be.
The recession has given pause to rethink the rules and guidelines in place. One of these rules, is the idea that a suitor needs to spend two months of his salary on the most beautiful engagement ring she could ever hope to wear. The good news is that you can fudge a little on the two-month salary rule, particularly if you pay attention to what she wants, and not how much it costs. There are so many 
Whether the fashion or jewelry industry believes it or not, there are really no existing rules or trends where engagement rings are concerned! While there are some popular styles that come and go, really it is strictly up to a soon-to-be groom to choose the ring that best signifies his love.
While for sentimental reasons, the most beautiful engagement rings in the world need only to share the right intent, when it comes to aesthetic beauty there is just something deeper that we seek. Whether looking at a celebrity ring, such as the breathtaking six carat pink diamond briefly exchanged between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, or a less publicized ring, there are a number of things that can place a ring among the world’s most beautiful. 
Diamonds weren’t always associated with engagements or weddings. In fact, America had little interest in diamonds until the mid-20th century, when a successful marketing campaign convinced millions that “I love you” and “forever” could be perfectly represented in a glittering diamond stone. Years later, diamonds are still largely identified with weddings and marriage proposals. Are you thinking of popping a big question to that special someone? Are diamonds required? What kind of diamond should you buy? 
Diamonds have a reputation as being the perfect way to say I love you, referred to as being “a girl’s best friend” and a symbol of eternity. This is a belief held by romantics all over the world, and the diamond is by far the most commonly used stone in engagement rings. If diamonds are the most precious stone, however, then pink diamonds are in a class of their own. When you add a rare pink diamond, engagement rings truly become amazing symbols of an undying affection.
When it comes to jewelry trends, sometimes the next big thing is hard to see coming. While it can happen overnight, such as when identical sunglasses to those worn by Tom Cruise soared in sales after Top Gun, a trend can also develop so slowly that nobody really takes notice. That has, until now, been the case with men’s engagement rings.It has been a slowly growing trend for women to propose to their boyfriends. While it is an idea that has taken some warming up to by the male community and by traditionalists, female proposals are actually becoming rather common. In some countries engagement rings for males are tradition, but in many nations it is only a recent idea.