If you’re going to get engaged in the coming year, you may well want a peek into what the most popular engagement ring styles will be for 2010. At the risk of sounding clairvoyant, some of them will be popular simply because they are every year, and 2010 will be no different.

Princiess cut diamond solitaire rings, such as this one, will be very popular for 2010

Princess Cut Diamond Solitaire – This ring, with a square shaped diamond is a neo-classic, and perennially among the most popular engagement ring styles. A simple, Tiffany 6-prong setting on a band of either gold or platinum does a great job at showing off the diamond. The upside is that the ring looks great, but the downside is that you need a comparatively larger stone because it is out there all by itself, where everyone can get a great view of it, and nothing else to draw your eyes away.

Round diamond solitaires will also prove to be very popular in 2010, and should also be on your “must see” list.

Princess Cut Diamond Solitaire with Channel Set Sidestones – This is similar to the solitaire ring above, but has an array of stones on the band, flanking the main stone. The smaller stones are in a channel setting, where they are visible only from the top. The advantage is that the channel set diamonds can be relatively small, yet look very impressive. It is an elegant design that is favored by many women.

The channel set sidestones on this ring add to the brilliance

With this style, you can get a very impressive looking ring for a relatively modest cost, an definite advantage in today’s economy. The princess cut was designed specifically to offer maximum reflectivity and brilliance, so that with one in the center, flanked by a row to either side, you’ll definitely have a ring that you can show off.

Three stone rings such as this one, either with side stones or without, should also be hot sellers for the coming year.

Three Stone Engagement Ring – This will be very popular in 2010 with round diamonds, either with 3 equally sized stones or with a larger diamond in the center. You can have this ring either with the three primary stones only, or with channel mounted side stones to add to the elegance.

Remember, you can make a tremendous impact on the cost of your ring by weighing the effects of the particular diamond on the overall cost of the ring. In most cases, the diamond is the singe larges contributor to the overall cost of the ring. Look at my previous post on how to find affordable engagement rings for some powerful strategies on how to get her the ring she deserves at a price you’ll love.

These should prove to be the most popular engagement ring styles for 2010, but that doesn’t mean you have to run with the crowd!

Finding the Right Engagement Ring is So Much Easier... If you Know How to Look and Exactly What to Look For.

If you’re going to propose to your girlfriend, you’ll need an engagement ring. How to find affordable engagement rings is probably at the top of your list these days. After all, the economy could be better, and even if it was great, there’s nothing like getting a good deal. Diamonds can be expensive, you know.  Here are some ways you can find the ring you’re looking for, without spending a fortune.

Before we look at how to find an affordable ring to wow your sweetie with, you should know a bit about rings and the diamonds that adorn them. There are different quality levels of just about everything in life, and diamond engagement rings are no different. The difference is that diamond engagement rings tend to be more expensive than most other purchases you make. After you know a bit more about them, I’ll reveal some ways to get high quality rings for substantial savings.

No one says that you must have a diamond engagement ring, but those are far and away the most popular. When looking at diamonds, you’ll be looking at several things. The most important are color, carat weight, cut, and clarity.

To find that perfect diamond for her ring that will delight her and keep you in the black at the same time, check out my post on
How to Choose Diamonds for Engagement Rings

Rings are typically made out of 3 different materials; yellow gold, white gold, and platinum. A popular trend is to mix two different metals together in the same ring. Recently, some men have been buying rings made out of titanium for their girlfriends too.

Now that you know a bit more about what to look for when shopping for engagement rings, here are some ways you can get the perfect ring for your girlfriend, without spending so darn much. If you want to spend big money on a ring, that’s fine, but you should still get value for your money, no matter how much you spend.

Here are some tips to get more affordable engagement rings for your girl.

Find an Affordable Engagement Ring – Tip 1 – People want 1 carat diamonds, a lot of people! That makes the price of 1 carat stones go up. Just getting to the magical 1 carat size will cost you plenty. You can get a ring that you can’t tell by looking isn’t a 1 carat ring, but will cost you far less money, by buying a .95 carat ring. That 1/20th of a carat can really decrease the price you pay, so when you’re shopping, look at the .95 carat rings, instead of the 1 carat ones.

Find an Affordable Engagement – Ring – Tip 2 – Pick the right cut, it will make your ring more affordable. Some diamond cuts are more difficult to make, so they are more expensive, plus there are fewer of them around, and that makes for greater expense as well. More affordable cuts are the princess and emerald cuts. Choosing one of these will save you money on your engagement ring.

Find an Affordable Engagement Ring – Tip 3–  Choose a silver ring, instead of the more popular gold band. Not only is silver itself less expensive than gold, but there is a greater demand for gold rings, further increasing their prices. If you have your heart set on an affordable ring, walk right by the platinum and titanium bands. These are the most expensive of all.

Find an Affordable Engagement Ring – Tip 4 – Choose a solitaire. Forgoing intricate designs with multiple stones will save you money. You can get a relatively simple design, such as solitaire flanked by a couple of smaller diamonds, but be prepared to spend commensurately more. The more difficult the ring is to make, and the greater the total carat weight of the diamonds it contains, the greater the hit to your budget.

Find an Affordable Engagement Ring – Tip 5 – Steer clear of the big, chain jewelery stores at the mall. These stores have to pay for pricey mall real estate and large corporate overhead, all of which increases the prices they must charge you for the ring. You can browse through the stores close to, but not in the malls and save substantial funds, or find a smaller, independent store for with reasonable prices.  In addition, there are several very good Internet retailers that can give you very nice discounts on engagement rings. They have excellent selections and fast service.

Obviously, you won’t get to view the rings first hand, but if you know what you’re shopping for, and buy from a reputable company with a good return policy, that is not a problem. One such online jewelery firm is SuperJeweler.com. Their prices and selection are first rate, and they always have sales that can save you up to 60% over what you’d pay at the mall jewelers. They have free, FedEx shipping and a 30-day, no questions asked, money back guarantee, so you have no worries. Click here now to see their selection and see how much money they can save you on your girlfriend’s engagement ring.

Remember, it is important to not go overboard when buying your girl an engagement ring. You do not want to start off your marriage deep in debt from overspending on a ring, especially in this economy. So, buy a nice ring, but please limit it to one that won’t put a huge dent in your finances.