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Engagement Ring Buying Guide
Could anything be a more subjective, sensitive, and nosiness-provoking topic than engagement rings?  Put one nervous adult in front of a jeweler, tell him (or her) to drop thousands of dollars on an object smaller than a quarter, and heap on decades of pressure to make the perfect decision. Meanwhile, our bride-to-be may have been dreaming about her ring for years or she may not care. When the question is popped, even strangers are going to want to see this rock, regardless of whether the happy couple thinks it's a symbol of anything more than tightly packed carbon.
People may judge your ring for its objective quality, its aesthetic value, or based on their personal need to look down on others. Try not to let it get you down. The only ones an engagement ring really have to please are the two people in the engaged union. That being said, only one of you is wearing this ring; it behooves you to make sure she loves it.
Shopwiki is here to enlighten you and point you towards future wisdom and marital bliss. Have no fear.
The Stone- If you're going traditional, the diamond is the most important part of her ring. Generally, what you should examine is the stone's cut, color, clarity and carat. Read our Diamond Buying Guide for more details you can use before buying a ring.
- Most couples today opt for the now-conventional diamond ring, popularized by de Beers in the 1940s.
- There are lots of other choices -- colorful gemstones are becoming more popular, especially rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.
- Princess Diana's engagement ring from Prince Charles was a blue sapphire ring.
- Emeralds are actually the most expensive stone by weight.
- Opals and pearls are usually avoided because they are softer stones and can scratch.
- Diamonds are a 10 (the highest value) on the Mohs hardness scale; rubies and sapphires are a 9, emeralds are 8, while opals are around 6.
Metal
There are only a few metals available for jewelry : - Silver is inexpensive but tarnishes easily. Not recommended for an engagement ring unless you really can't afford anything else.
- Gold is always a good choice. Look at her wardrobe and the colors she wears often to decide if you want to go with a traditional yellow gold or a more modern white gold band. (Gold also comes in a [{Search: rose gold engagement ring |rose]] color, but rings made from this are rare.)
- If you want to spend a bit more and get a white-hued ring, platinum is another choice and has become very popular in recent years.
- Palladium - from the platinum family is available now as a white gold alternative.
Design and Setting
There's no right or wrong when it comes to choosing the setting and stone design. Just watch out for a poor setting, as it can snag on a sweater or come loose.
Don't forget that our Diamond Buying Guide has pictures of all your shape options. Many ladies have personal preferences for their shape of stone, but many don't. If you can get a sense before hand, you'll both be much happier. This kind of investigating will either take a concrete discussion or lots of not-so-subtle prying. But if you're getting married, you're going to have to have important discussions sooner or later.
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- Solitaire
- A solitaire ring is a ring with a single stone set to best display the stone.
- Popularized by Tiffany & Co., this is considered the "standard" engagement ring.
- Simple and classic, it highlights the beauty of the individual diamond.
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- Three-Stone
- A three stone ring has three stones, traditionally a large middle stone with two baguettes on the side.
- On some rings, these stones are all the same size.
- Some rings have different stones framing a diamond, or diamonds framing other stones -- sapphires are especially popular.
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- Fancy Shapes
- Some rings have multiple stones or bands set with stones.
- Pavé means that a number of small stones have been set close together with little or no metal showing.
- Channel-set means that the stones are fitted into a groove in the ring, sometimes close together.
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The Size
Jokes aside, size matters to a lady. While the stone's size is up to your judgment, taste, and budget, the ring has to fit her finger, or the ring is no good. In other words, make sure you know her ring size. If you're not going to take her shopping with you, you might have to be a little sneaky about figuring this out. - Ask her friends if they know her ring size. (But then your cover may be blown)
- Cutely measure her finger with a tape measure. Maybe get down on one knee to do it?
- Snag a different ring of hers -- one she wears comfortably on her ring finger, preferably -- and either measure it, take it with you to the jeweler, or at least figure out how it fits on you. This way you can show up at the store and say, "Well, I don't know her size, but her favorite ring is just small enough to not get over this knuckle, but it comfortably goes over this one."
- Take her ring shopping with you, if you want to maximize her happiness with the ring and minimize her surprise.
Don't Forget
Whether you're buying online or in a store, get a certificate and a return policy for the ring. You never know if it will have to be resized, returned, or exchanged and you're going to want some claims of its quality for insurance purposes.
Related Articles
External Links
These are just a few of the terms you will encounter when searching for an engagement ring. There are thousands of rings on the market, so how do you choose? The good news is that you are not alone. There are dozens of websites that can help you choose the perfect ring for your sweetheart. Check out these sites for help with buying a ring:
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