Buying an engagement ring is a special and exciting time! However, finding the perfect ring may seem like a big project to tackle. Although it is an exciting process, we know that it can be tricky to navigate. We are here to help you make the process as fun and easy as possible! We’ve put together some tips that can help you no matter if you are shopping with us online, or in our San Francisco showroom.

Tip # 1 - Set a Budget Ahead of Time

Setting a budget significantly narrows down the diamonds that make sense for you to consider. For each price range, you can always find a larger diamond with lower quality, a smaller diamond with higher quality or a happy medium that combines the best of both worlds. Our diamond experts will help you understand how the overall look of the diamond will change as you move from one option to the next so that you can decide which one is the best option for you.

Tip # 2 - Collect Inspiration

Creating a collection of inspirations, whether it’s pictures, videos or notes, will help our jewelry experts convert your ideas into reality. Consider scrolling through our Instagram page @yadavjewelry, or our website. You can even consider other outlets and our highly experienced designers will help you customize almost any design! Coming in with even a vague idea can help us get a sense of what you are looking for and guide you towards the perfect setting!

Tip # 3 - Bring in Their Friends or Family

Your partner's friends and family could be one of your most valuable sources of information! They understand your partner's taste and may hold years worth of information that even the most thorough web searches couldn’t unveil. Making the final decision can be overwhelming so it’s good to have someone who can provide some reassurance.

Tip #4 - Have Some Shapes in Mind

Deciding on one or a few shapes ahead of time, helps focus the engagement ring hunt immensely. Every shape has its own unique characteristics. Understanding the advantages of each shape can help narrow down the possibilities

• Round Brilliant: As the name suggests, Round Brilliant diamonds hold the most brilliance of all the shapes. This is done by maximizing the number of facets that the diamond contains. Round Brilliant diamonds are timeless and have been sought after ever since their creation in the 17th century!

• Oval: Oval diamonds are popular for their combinations of two popular features found in diamonds: brilliance and size. Ovals preserve most of the brilliance that round diamonds have but their elongated nature makes them seem like they cover more area on the finger.

• Emerald / Asscher: Emerald and Asscher cut diamonds sacrifice brilliance for an elegant, clean, art-deco look. These “step cut” diamonds are nearly see through so they showcase every line and facet within the stone. Due to the way they are cut, they show much less color than all the other shapes. As a result, a perfectly cut Emerald or Asscher is a real source of beauty.

• Cushion: Cushion cut diamonds are the intersection between square and round diamonds. Today, many Cushions are cut with a bottom portion similar to that of a round diamond (also known as Cushion Brilliant). This gives cushions an extra burst of brilliance making them a perfect choice for those who appreciate the square looks but seek the brilliance of a round diamond.

• Princess: First created in 1980, the broad, flat, square top makes the princess cut diamond face up very large. Although the Princess cut is simple in its shape, it introduces setting possibilities unavailable to any other shape. One of the most popular being kite-set, where the diamond is turned 90 degrees so that it’s corners are set in a North, South, East, West orientation.

• Marquise: The Marquise cut is the real elongated shape. With an average 2:1 length to width ratio, even small increases in carat weight makes a significant contribution to the length of the diamond. Although Marquise cut diamonds are not a favorite among most people, they are the perfect diamond for those who favor an elongated shape over everything else.

• Pear: The Pear shaped diamond features the big rounded edge of the oval along with the perfectly sharp corner of a marquise. Their bold shape leaves room to have them set on a simple, classic setting while still making a big statement.