How To Buy A Gorgeous Engagement Ring Online

Getting engaged is perhaps one of the scariest moves a man (and yes a woman too) could ever make. So I have put together this engagement rings guide to help you find that special ring that your girl will love - while leaving you satisfied that you have not over-spent.

And even if your fiancee will be choosing her own ring, you'd want to tell her to read this information as well. But more than likely, you'd be buying your "special lady" a diamond engagement ring. Because:

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

Right. Diamonds are 99.95% pure crystallized carbon and is as old as dirt - between 1-3 billion years old. In fact, they are the hardest naturally occurring substance known and are formed in the earth's upper mantle under heat and pressure and carried to the earth's surface by deep volcanic eruptions.

They are later mined from layers of gravel found in just a few sites around the world. Then they are transported to the various cutting centers to be cut, polished and set as jewelry. Their brilliance, sparkle and toughness make them well sought after.

But they can be costly too. Various sources quote averages prices anywhere from $3500 - $5000. "Ouch" you say. Well, I can give you the name of:

The "Genius" That Started The Diamond Engagement Ring Idea

But he has long passed so you'll have to put your weapon back in your holster. The first well-documented case of giving an engagement diamond ring occurred in 1477.

This was when a lovestruck Austrian, Archduke Maximilian, put a diamond ring on the third finger of the left hand of Mary of Burgundy in his betrothal to her. That finger was believed by ancient Egyptians to have a vein that leads straight to a woman's heart.

In the United States, it was not until the 30′s that giving diamond rings for engagements became typical. Now about 80% of women engaged are offered diamond rings.

As this will be a most important purchase - symbolic of your love and the importance of your relationship, taking note of the following factors should put you in good stead.

The 5th C And Coming Up With A Budget

Any good engagement rings guide will mention the 4 C's as they are central to making a purchase for a diamond ring. The 4 C's are outlined in greater detail below but it is the "5th C" - cost, that arouses the greatest amount of curiosity and perhaps fear.

You may have heard the "conventional wisdom" that claims that you need to save at least three months salary to purchase a diamond ring. This "advice" may have come from the De Beers' publicity machine; Debeers being dominant force in every aspect of the diamond industry. So take this advice with a grain of salt.

A much better approach is to set your budget based on how much you can realistically afford. And you are likely the best person who can come up with that number.

Also your budget will need to take into consideration the qualities of the ring that are the most important to you. With the wide array of diamond rings available, you can spend less and still get a good ring or you can spend a lot more on size and quality.

There are some highly trusted places where you can buy engagement rings online whilst staying within your budget. These places offer a 100% money back guarantee should you not be satisfied with your budget.

A reputable online diamond retailer would also ensure that their diamonds don't originate from conflict countries nor other sources with links to criminal or terrorist activities.

Whichever source you buy from, resist the temptation to go over your budget especially if money is tight. A salesperson may encourage you to spend beyond your budget because diamonds possibly represent a sound investment.

But a retailer can significantly mark up the value of a diamond and shortly after you buy that ring, it could lose a lot of it value. And worse, it could take years for that value to return. So stay true to your budget as much as you can.