So, you are ready to pop the big question that will change everything. Making the decision was the easy part but before you start imagining the bright future with you fiancée-to-be you have a little shopping to do. Shopping for an engagement ring is actually a very exciting thing but apart from buying a house or car, is one of the biggest purchases in your life. But for many guys walking into a jewelry store and picking the right engagement ring is the tricky part. How much should you spend? How big should the stone be? What shape she likes? If you are one of those guys, you may want to keep reading and use the following helpful tips before you make the final decision.
How Much Should You Spend?
Setting a clear budget is the first and very important thing to consider before engagement ring shopping. There’s this old rule of thumb that a man should spend three month’s salary on the engagement ring. However, if the purchaser is concerned about his job security or is heavily in debt, he should most probably scale back a bit. Be realistic about your finances and set a budget that makes sense for your personal situation. An engagement ring featuring diamond or sapphire is a very safe bet, but if your girlfriend is an unconventional type, she may prefer some other gemstone. If you want to spend less and still choose a beautiful ring, you can compromise on certain features and upgrade in others. For example, you can choose white gold ring rather than platinum, or opt for a less expensive but perfectly lovely moissanite engagement ring instead of a diamond one.
Spy On Her Style
In this modern era, more and more couples tend to ring-shop together but if you are more of a traditional guy who wants to surprise his future bride with a ring she’ll fall in love with you need to make a little research regarding the ring style. First things first, brainstorm about her lifestyle and taste. Is she more of a classic woman or a rule breaker? Ask her cousin or girlfriends for help or if you’re not planning to tell anybody, pay close attention to the jewelry she usually wears. Take a look at her jewelry box, make sure you notice any hints like her comment on her friend’s vintage engagement ring or even her random pin to her inspiration board.
If you don’t have enough information and you’ve already talked about marriage you can even browse rings together on the web. No, we’re not saying you should go together in the closest jewelry store, buy the ring, get down on one knee and propose her, but it may be smart to have a clue about the style she prefers in order to give her something that she’ll definitely like. The design of the ring should be a representation of who she is and keep in mind that she has to wear it for the rest of her life, so choose wisely.
Shape Matters Most, Settings Are Second
Finding out what kind of ring shape your fiancée-to-be prefers is one of the basic things you should take into consideration before ring shopping. When we say shape, we are talking about the basic geometry of the stone. Shape is different than cut which indicates the angles of the facets in the stone. The shape of the ring should be a reflection of the woman who is wearing it. The most popular shape on the market is the round cut, making up 75% of all diamond purchases but is also the most expensive one. The next most popular is the cushion cut, which has rounded corners and larger facets and princess cut that can be square or rectangular. Round shape is for the traditional girl, princess cut has a feminine vibe and cushion cut is for a woman who wants to make a statement and be distinct from the others. However, even though popularity has a major influence in ring shopping you shouldn’t let trends make the buying decisions for you.
The second most important thing when buying an engagement ring is the setting i.e. the frame around the center stone. There are many options to consider here. For example, bezel setting gives a fresh and modern look on a traditional round stone, and a four-prong setting will make an oval stone look even more traditional. This means, that getting the right combination of shape and setting is key, so choose wisely.
Consider The Metal
When it comes to the band of the engagement ring, you should know that there is a variety of metals to choose from. The choice of the metal will affect the overall aesthetic and ring’s durability. The most popular choices for engagement rings are platinum, which is extremely durable, pure and hypoallergenic and gold band, which comes in variety colors like white, yellow, rose and even green and looks very similar to platinum, but it’s less durable and costs about 50% less. Besides these two metals, you might also consider palladium, which has a grayer hue than platinum. Another interesting option for you might be a recycled metal band that can include a mixture of gold and platinum. To get a sense of the metal your future fiancée would prefer, pay close attention to the jewelry she usually wears.
Decide Whether To Go Custom
The hardest part of buying an engagement ring is probably selecting the perfect style and setting. Would your girlfriend prefer something modern or vintage? If you have no clue, think about the clothes she wears the furniture she likes or the art she prefers. The answers to these questions might give you an idea as to whatever she prefers a modern, glamorous, classic, vintage, or nature-inspired ring, or some combination of those. If it’s really important for you to propose your girlfriend with a completely unique ring, you can consider creating a custom engagement ring which will perfectly fit her style. Instead of choosing a conventional shape or color, you can opt for rubies or white sapphires. If your fiancée-to-be loves old books and movies, vintage clothes, and décor, then she’ll probably want a vintage engagement ring as well. Rings from earlier eras come with a sense of romantic history that many women adore.
