The bigger question is always How to buy a diamond you want when you are on a budget? When you're on a budget for your ring, finding a large diamond might seem like a challenge. You want a beautiful engagement ring but aren't sure how to make it happen or what to focus on.

The good news? You don't have to spend a fortune to get a diamond you love. By following a few diamond buying tips, you can select a diamond that you will cherish for years, all while staying within your spending limit.

It doesn't matter if your budget is 1.000, 3.000 EURO or more, you can buy a diamond engagement ring that matches what you are looking for without sacrificing its beauty. You can feel confident in your diamond and pair it with a setting that matches your style.

When you enter a retail store, such as D'ARRIGO DIAMANTI, you will often find a 1 Carat Round Diamond Engagement Ring at a price of around 7.000 EURO. If you shop at a low-end jewelry store, you may be able to find a similar 1-carat diamond ring for around $4.000-$6.000. It's still too expensive for some. Luckily, there are ways to get a beautiful 1 carat ring for less.

Here, we'll share the top six tips for getting the diamond you want without breaking your budget. We will highlight examples for buyers with a $3.000 budget looking to get a 1 carat engagement ring, but you can apply these methods to any budget.

1. Choose a lower color diamond

Most people want a diamond that looks white, and as jewelry experts, that's what we recommend too. When a diamond appears white to the naked eye, it is more pristine and stunningly beautiful. When a diamond has a brown or yellow tinge, it takes away from the beauty of the diamond.

But that doesn't mean you have to choose a high color grade, like D or E, to get a white-looking diamond. You can go for a lower color grade, like J or K, and still have the white diamond look. Just to make sure you follow these tips and tricks.

• Select a yellow gold or rose gold frame: pairing a lower color diamond with a yellow or rose gold ring will make the diamond appear whiter. The darker metal will make the diamond lighter and remove some of the tinge from the stone's appearance. This yellow gold halo ring it is a great example of a ring to pair with a lower grade diamond, such as a JK colored diamond.
• Add a fancy color diamond or gemstone to your ring design: Whether you prefer a halo ring or one with sidestones, adding colored gemstones can make your center diamond look whiter. Consider placing smaller amethysts or topaz stones next to your diamond.
• Make sure the accent diamonds are no whiter than your center stone: if there are other diamonds than the center stone in your ring, make sure their color grade is no better than your center diamond. When the side diamonds are whiter, the main diamond appears darker.
• Select a loner: by choosing a simple rose or yellow gold solitaire, your center diamond won't have to compete with the surrounding diamonds. This yellow gold solitaire it is a nice choice for a lower color diamond. The diamond will appear white next to the band and you don't have to worry about the color of any smaller diamonds.

2. Opt for a lower clarity diamond

While having a pristine diamond with no blemishes sounds appealing, it's not always realistic or necessary. To save some of your budget, you can opt for a diamond with inclusions. There are diamonds that have carbon black flecks, others with feather-like inclusions, and others that are a bit cloudy.

When looking for a lower clarity diamond, such as I1-I3, consider the appearance of the diamond, not its specifications:

• Look for a diamond with small black spots or scattered feathers on a cloudy diamond.
• Avoid cloudy diamonds as they don't offer as much brilliance and can appear dull. Instead, choose a diamond with a flaw such as a black spot or small pit.

Some inclusions make the diamond more unique, and others may be near the edge of the diamond and somewhat hidden by the setting. Some inclusions in the diamond can significantly reduce its price but will be completely unnoticeable in the setting.

Take a look at the price comparison of the different clarity grades of 1 carat diamonds:

For a lower clarity diamond, it is often best to place it in a ring setting that is intricate with many enticing details, such as this unique halo ring . The design draws attention away from the center diamond and allows the total piece to stand out as a work of art. Consider a lower clarity diamond in a ring setting with side diamonds, gemstones, and unique detailing. In general, it's a good practice to see the diamond in its setting before deciding.

3. Choose a certificate other than GIA

Diamonds are graded by gemological laboratories for qualities such as color and clarity. There are many gem laboratories, including GIA, EGL, DGC, IGI, HRD and IGL. Each lab has its own grading standard, and the exact way diamonds are graded varies from lab to lab.

The GIA is the strictest laboratory institution and, in the opinion of many people, is overly strict. Getting a GIA certified diamond in your desired color and clarity can be extremely expensive. You will pay for small aspects that you cannot see even under magnification. With a GIA diamond, in many cases, you are putting your money into something invisible.

That's why if you're shopping for a diamond on a budget, it's often best to choose a diamond evaluated by a different lab entity. By choosing a diamond graded by a less stringent laboratory, you can get the diamond you want, just without the GIA name on it. You will still have a beautiful certified diamond.

Your diamond certificate is something you will probably put in a drawer and never look at again. Buy diamonds graded by laboratories other than the GIA. Consider labs like HRD, DGC and IGL.

Here is a look at all the diamond certificates available:

4. Carat Weight Compromise

Many brides and couples have their eyes set on a 1-carat diamond. And this is perfectly understandable. With a 1 carat diamond , you will have a large diamond.

But a slightly smaller diamond can save you quite a bit of your budget, while still looking nearly identical in size. A 0,9 carat diamond doesn't look much different than a 1,0 carat diamond. The diameter of the diamond table is only slightly smaller. To put things into perspective, a 0,75 ct diamond is only 10% smaller than a 1 carat diamond.

Below 1 carat, diamond prices drop significantly because many people want to hit that 1 carat mark. But if you choose a slightly smaller carat weight, the diamond can look just as big, but cost much less. With just a half mm difference in diameter, you can save hundreds of dollars. You can also spend more of your budget on a better color or clarity grade if that's what you want.

To help your budget, consider a diamond ring with a lower carat weight, like this one 0,75 carat with a halo setting . There are also a few ways to make your smaller stone look bigger.

Choose a Halo ring

A halo engagement ring has smaller diamonds decorating the center stone. You can choose a 0,5, 0,6 or 0,7 carat diamond and then surround it with smaller stones to give the illusion of a larger diamond. You could also choose a double halo setting, like this one white gold design , to make the diamond appear even larger. With the right ring, you can make a 0,6 carat diamond look like a 2 carat .

Consider a cluster ring

Another good tip on buying a diamond ring when you're on a budget is to consider a cluster ring. A cluster setting is a ring that has no central stone, but several slightly smaller diamonds clustered together to form the appearance of one larger stone. You can save a lot of your budget with a cluster ring, but still end up with a beautiful engagement ring. A cluster ring can have 3 or 4 diamonds next to each other in the center, like this princess cut cluster ring ..

5. Get a second opinion

An important tip on how to buy a diamond ring is to always ask for a second opinion. Sorting through all the diamond choices can be exhausting. It's hard to know where to find the best value for your budget.

That's why it can be especially helpful to get a second opinion from a knowledgeable jewelry expert who can help you suggest the best diamonds and engagement rings based on your budget and what's important to you. Contact us anytime and we'll help you narrow down your options and offer our best advice.

Depending on what you want, your preferences and your budget, we will help you find the perfect solution.

Conclusion: Focus on what's really important

First, when you're trying to figure out how to buy a diamond ring, nothing is more important than how the diamond in your ring looks. This is more important than its specifications and certificate.

There are five key ways to get the diamond you want within your budget:

• Get a lower color and yellow or pink setting
• Get a diamond included in a more unique setting and make sure you choose the right diamond carefully
• You get a Clarity Enhanced diamond that is both white and clean
• Get a non-GIA certified diamond
• Get a slightly smaller diamond and halo setting to complement it

The smallest details, like the exact color grade, become less important over time. Imperfections you can see under a microscope don't matter. The lab name on your certificate won't matter. The size of your diamond and how white and beautiful it is will matter. As the years go by, you will admire the diamond on your (or your partner's) hand and how it looks to you is the most important factor of all.