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7 Expert Tips for

Engagement Ring Shopping

tip #1

Talk to Your Partner

Whoever said every proposal needs to be a surprise was lying (we blame you, rom-coms 👀). Spoiler alert: Not everyone likes surprises, especially when it comes to important decisions like getting engaged!

Having a serious discussion is less romantic than what you’ve seen in the movies, but trust us when we say that it’s definitely the right move.

Tip #2

Don’t Get Tricked by the 3 Months Salary Myth

We’re sure you’ve heard the rumor that you’re supposed to spend three months’ salary on an engagement ring…but did you know that it originated from a sneakily successful marketing campaign? The culprit was De Beers, one of the largest diamond manufacturers, who had significant trouble selling diamonds during the Great Depression (go figure!).

Alas, Holden is not De Beers, so our advice will be a little different. The amount you spend on an engagement ring is totally up to you and your partner!

Tip #3

You Don’t Have to Get a Ring with a Rock

Though most engagement rings tend to be solitaires, any ring can be an engagement ring.

Men or those in the LGBTQ+ community in particular may prefer simple rings that are typically seen as less traditionally feminine. Many of our customers will consider diamond bands, solid bands, and signet rings.

At the end of the day, what matters most is that the person who’s wearing the ring loves it and feels that it comfortably reflects their style!

Tip #4

Know How to Get a Bigger Diamond for Less Money

Our #1 tip on how to get a bigger and better diamond for less money? Go lab-grown!

Lab-grown diamonds are chemically identical to mined diamonds but are more affordable and environmentally friendly (we also offset 100% of our carbon emissions each year!).

You’ll also want to know a bit about the 4 C’s and the pros and cons of each diamond shape to help you get the best bang for your buck. If size matters most to you, you may want to go for an elongated shape like an oval since these diamonds look bigger than round cut stones of the same carat weight.

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Tip #5

Think About Wedding Band Stacking

If you or your partner plans to wear the engagement ring stacked flush with a wedding band, you may want to steer clear from low or wide settings.

Time and again, we’ve encountered frustrated customers with low-set engagement rings that are difficult to pair with flat wedding bands without gapping between the rings. Though our Curved and Open bands are great solutions for many in this predicament, not even these styles will work with every engagement ring.

For this reason, it’s best to keep wedding and anniversary band stacking in the back of your mind when engagement ring shopping. You can thank us later!

Tip #6

Let Holden’s Diamond Experts Do the Work for You

Feeling overwhelmed already? We get it. That’s why we offer a white-glove diamond selection process at Holden.


If you don’t want to have to do a ton of research before buying a diamond engagement ring, our GIA-trained diamond experts will select the best stone available for your design to meet the minimum cut, clarity, and color grades requested after your order is placed.

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"They were so patient during our appointment. They also guided us through the ring selection process without any rush or pressure."
—Kayla

Tip #7

Read the Ultimate Buying Guide

Rather take the reins yourself? We still want to help empower you with all the information you’ll need to make educated decisions when selecting an engagement ring.


For more helpful tips, we encourage you to check out our Ultimate Engagement Ring Buying Guide. It covers the basics of what you need to know about gemstones, protective setting types, and which diamond shapes to get if you want something that’s more (or less!) sparkly.


We also cover information on insurance, warranties, how to care for the ring, and more!

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