5 – Practical Tips When Shopping for an Engagement Ring

Buying an engagement ring to surprise your partner with a marriage proposal can be nerve-wracking. But you can make sure you get the right ring, even if you’re worried about getting the proposal just right. Here are some tips to help choose a ring.

Choose something timeless

Diamonds never go out of fashion, so they are the best option when looking for the perfect engagement ring. Although nobody who loves you is ever going to reject a proposal because of the ring, getting the right one makes it more memorable, and she’ll be happier to show it off to her friends and family.

Many modern couples are also exploring lab-created diamonds, which offer greater flexibility in choosing larger stones or more intricate ring designs.

This doesn’t mean you have to buy the most expensive ring. Many moissanite rings or diamond rings are more affordable than you might think.

Getting a ring that will look great decades from now means she can wear it alongside her wedding ring and leave it to future generations if she chooses to.

Getting the right size

If the proposal is a surprise, it might be best to propose without a ring, perhaps with an item that has some meaning for both of you. This will prevent getting the wrong ring size or having to get it resized. Instead, you can both shop for one together.

Alternatively, if you can find a way to discover her ring size without ruining the surprise, then you can get the right size. If she has rings she doesn’t wear often, taking one of these to a jeweller means they can accurately tell you the size.

Deciding on a wedding ring first

It might seem like tempting fate to look for a wedding ring before getting an engagement ring, but these are often worn together. If you decide to do this, it’s best to let your partner choose her own engagement ring, too, as she will want some say in her wedding ring, because she’s going to wear it for a long time.

If you know her style, you can choose an engagement ring that fits her preferences, knowing a similar-style wedding ring will go well with it. Diamonds tend to go well together, with something more extravagant for one ring and subtler for the other.

Setting a realistic budget

Deciding what you can afford to spend and how much an elegant, high-quality ring costs will help you set a budget. This may mean saving up, but it doesn’t have to mean spending thousands of pounds if that’s not within your budget.

Shop around

Shopping around gives you an idea of the prices of similar rings elsewhere, so you know you’re getting the best price. That isn’t the only thing to look out for. The metal and quality of the diamond are important too. Buying a cheaper ring that looks similar to real gold, silver, or diamonds may mean it won’t stand up to everyday wear or cause skin irritations.

Getting the right engagement ring for your proposal means doing a lot of research, but you want to make the moment memorable and show your partner you put some thought into the occasion.