Thanks to Diamonds Direct for sponsoring this Engagement Ring Shopping post. All opinions and experiences are authentically my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support me!

If you are reading this, then my brother has FINALLY proposed to his girlfriend of three years and I couldn’t be more excited! More on the proposal soon #staytuned…

For now, let’s talk about engagement ring shopping!

(If you are a guy and strictly here for our engagement ring shopping guide, scroll to the bottom. Although, I think reading about our experience would certainly help prepare you for your engagement ring shopping adventure!)

When Trever told me he was ready to make it happen (yes, even during the pandemic) and wanted to enlist my help finding the perfect ring, I knew we had to go shopping at Diamonds Direct in Virginia Beach.

Over the years, I have partnered with Diamonds Direct on several occasions and KNEW they were the best option when it comes to finding the perfect ring at the best price. They also have the most knowledgeable team, which was really helpful since Trever knew nothing about diamonds!

My brother, Trever, is a fireman and lifeguard in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and SO good with his money… I wish I was as frugal as he is! He saved (as any good boyfriend should) and we walked in, masks on, with a $6,000 budget.

As you can see by his face here, he was a little overwhelmed. Totally understandable!

Jeff, pictured here, made Trever feel right at home and got straight to educating him!

Trever learned that engagement ring shopping at Diamonds Direct means:

• Dealing with a direct diamond importer (saves $$$)
• Being taken care of for life with Diamonds Direct’s complimentary after-sale services
• A great deal on upgrades, if he wanted to in the future (110% after 1 year)

Next, Jeff taught about the 4 C’s of a diamond: cut (makes up 60% of the cost of the diamond), carat, color, and clarity! But don’t forget the 5th “C”…certification by the Gemological Institute of America. This paperwork means the diamond was rigorously certified for the level of quality you are paying for!

After his diamond education, Trever said that choosing a stone with good fire/sparkle was a top priority. We chose the setting for the ring that he liked best, and then it was time to look at the loose diamonds!

THIS was in my opinion the most fun part! Jeff brought out 5 stones and allowed us to compare them. He never told us the specs on each one until the end, because he wanted us to choose the one we thought was best without any bias. This way, we could not be influenced by price or any other factors.

Each stone was similar but, of course, each had its differences.

We actually chose one that ended up being exactly in his budget, which I know made Trever feel SO much better!

Since he chose a setting Diamonds Direct had available, it took less than 2 weeks to have it ready.  BUT keep in mind some rings can take 4-6 weeks to prepare, so be sure to plan ahead!

We did all of this shopping on June 8th! And he didn’t propose until TODAY, July 31st! We were prepared but MAN holding this exciting news inside has been TOUGH!

In addition to a great ring, he chose a really great girl! So excited to have you in the family, Sascha!

Stay tuned for the details from when he popped the question!

Without further ado…the ring! AND our engagement ring shopping guide!

P.S. If you can’t make it in person, Diamonds Direct also has virtual appointments! Great for staying safe during this pandemic while still getting personalized service!