The time has come and you want to ask her to marry you, but need some assistance picking out the engagement ring. You are not alone in this quest as many people seek advice on this same topic. The following 10 tips will make selecting your engagement ring easier:
1. Know your spending limits by deciding what your budget will be. The average amount to spend is 1 to 3 times your monthly salary. You can start saving a portion of your paycheck every month.
2. Assess her jewelry style before you go looking at rings. Is there a pattern in the jewelry she currently wears? Does the jewelry she wears have a modern style, classic and streamlined style, or more intricate and vintage looking style?
3. Decide on a metal type. The best way to do this is to take a look at other jewelry pieces she owns. More importantly, look at what she wears on a regular basis. If she wears a white gold bangle bracelet and white gold solitaire pendant every day, know that her preference is for white gold. Once you have the metal type and style figure out, it is time to start looking at actual rings.
4. Begin by looking at engagement rings that are within your budget. Be aware of the following elements which may affect the pricing of a ring: brand name (sometimes you pay a premium just to buy from a specific brand or designer), diamond quality (color, clarity, carat and cut) and lastly the diamond size.
5. When it comes to the size of the diamond keep in mind that diamond rings are sold according to the total diamond carat weight. As a diamond gets larger in carat size, the price per carat also goes up. You can get a 2 carat 3-stone diamond ring for less than if you bought a 2 carat solitaire diamond ring because the 2 carat total diamond weight is made up of 3 smaller sized diamonds vs. one very large center stone. This is part of the reason the 3-stone diamond ring has gained so much popularity. It is often a much more adorable option.
6. Diamond Shape: Decide if she likes a round, princess, baguette or emerald shape. If you are unsure, go with a popular brilliant, round shaped diamond.
7. Setting choices: Here is a description of each type of setting: prong setting (the most popular type of setting, typically has 4 or 6 prongs. The high position of the diamond allows maximum exposure to the light from top to bottom), channel setting (stones are aligned girdle-to-girdle along the groove and secured by hammering the upper sides of the channel walls), pave (stones are set side by side in small openings on a flat surface and secured by raised overlapping spurs, finished by creating a bead like appearance) or bezel (diamonds are set inside the mounting with the outer metal slightly over the edges of the stone to create a strip which holds it in place).
8. Ask the opinion of her close friends and family. Chances are if you like a specific ring, they will like it also, improving the chances that she will love it too!
9. Knowing her preferences ahead of time can ensure the ring you end up proposing with will be a gift that is sentimental and something she will never forget. If the topic came up in conversation, take the opportunity to listen to her comments and don’t be afraid to ask some questions.
10. Now that you bought your ring you can relax. However, don’t get too comfortable because now it is time to start planning the perfect proposal!
