Did you know that 33% of couples shop for engagement rings together? While that makes things much easier, it takes the element of surprise out of things, as well as some romance.
Perhaps you want to make your proposal the most special thing in your significant other’s life. But just looking at the sheer amount of engagement ring choices out there is stressing you out.
Is your head swimming with a bunch of ideas for the best engagement rings, but you’re unable to make a choice? Then keep reading. We have 7 tips to help you pick the right one for your loved one!
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Figure Out Your Budget First
Before you can even think about purchasing a ring, you need to figure out how much you can spend first!
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to spend 3 months’ salary on an engagement ring. Instead, go with what you can afford, taking into account that if she says yes, you’ll have lots of other wedding expenses to worry about, as well as a honeymoon to pay for!
Make sure you won’t go into debt when buying an engagement ring and that you’ll have plenty of money left over for all the other nuptial goodies. When you set a budget first, this can help you narrow down the right engagement ring to buy.
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Consider Your Significant Other’s Style
One of the most important things you need to consider first is your loved one’s personal style. It’s no use to buy an engagement ring that’s trending in style now if it doesn’t speak to her!
So consider what she wears in normal everyday life, as well as at work and when in social settings. What fabrics does she prefer? And what colors/patterns does she lean toward?
Based on that information, you can choose an engagement ring that’ll perfectly complement her style in any setting!
You can also take a look at the jewelry she wears now. For example, if she wears smaller pieces, then dainty engagement rings might be the way to go.
Otherwise, you can have a chat with her friends and family to find out more about what she prefers.
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Consider Your SO’s Lifestyle Too
You might think that an engagement ring is absolutely gorgeous, and your SO might too. But if it’s not right for her lifestyle, then it’s still a bad choice in the end.
For instance, does she use her hands a lot for both work and her hobbies? Then you probably don’t want to get a ring that has gemstones in prong settings. Otherwise, they can get caught on things, or worse yet, they can fall out!
On the other hand, if she likes to do art or gardening, a solitaire engagement ring is actually a good choice. It’s very easy to clean!
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Research the Cuts
You might think that engagement rings only have round cuts for the gemstones, but you’d be wrong! There are all sorts of cuts, such as:
- Radiant
- Marquise
- Princess
- Heart
- Emerald
- Oval
- Pear
- Cushion
Not only do these look different, but they also have different price tags as well! The cheapest cuts are pear and marquise, while round cuts are the most expensive. This is because they allow for the highest degree of sparkle!
So take a look at which cuts you think suit your SO the best. And then delve into the costs to see if they’re reasonable for your budget. You just might have to ditch round engagement rings and consider other cuts.
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Think About What Size Gemstone(s) You Want
Traditionally, engagement rings feature one big gemstone in the middle as a statement piece. You can always go with that if you feel that’s in line with your loved one’s style.
But there are other styles to consider. For example, you can get one bigger gemstone in the middle and then have smaller ones surrounding it. Or you can go with just smaller ones lining the band.
The size of the gemstone(s) will affect what kinds of cuts you can get, so again, you’ll want to do thorough research and see what combinations work.
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Diamonds vs Other Gemstones
Speaking of gemstones, most people will go with diamonds, as this is tradition. But if your girlfriend is someone who likes going against the norms, you might want to think about other stones she might like.
Some popular alternatives include:
- Emerald
- Sapphire
- Ruby
- Opal
- Morganite
- Tanzanite
Do note that some gemstones aren’t suited for daily wear. So if your significant other leads an active lifestyle, you might have to cross these stones off the list.
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Also Research the Metals
Lastly, you’ll want to take a look at what metal you want for the band. The 2 main choices are gold (white, yellow, and rose) and platinum.
Platinum is more expensive and requires more maintenance. So if you like its look but want to spend less, and your SO is low-maintenance, a good alternative is white gold.
To get an idea of what’s out there before you commit to a ring, check out what Dreamlandjewelry.com has in their selection!
Choose From the Best Engagement Rings
There’s no doubt that there are tons of engagement ring styles and designs out there. But by eliminating some from the equation, you’ll be able to pick the best engagement rings to suit your soon-to-be fiance.
So start early in your search for the perfect ring. By allowing yourself some extra time in this important search, you’ll be able to weigh your options more carefully. As a result, you’ll end up with a ring that’s not only stunning, but not so bad on your bank account too!
Need more wedding tips for after she says “yes”? Then take a look at the rest of our blog page!
