You want your proposal to be a surprise, but you also want to make sure that you choose a ring that will knock their socks off. How can you find the perfect engagement ring without letting your partner know your intentions? Get your search started with these five easy tips.
1. Talk it Over
Getting married is a huge decision. Before you buy an engagement ring, make sure that you and your partner are on the same page. Discuss your future and make sure that you both have the same idea in mind. You want them to be surprised by your romantic proposal, but not surprised by the idea of getting married.
2. Set Your Budget
Once you know that your partner is on-board with the idea of getting married, set a budget; not just for the engagement ring, but for everything that is involved with the wedding. You don’t want to spend all of your money on a ring and end up not having enough to pay for the wedding of your future fiancé’s dreams.
3. Consider Their Style
Engagement rings come in all shapes and styles. You want to make sure you choose something timeless that they will will love forever. How do you know what style to go with? Start by studying the jewelry that they wear — it will give you a good idea of the type of engagement ring she would love. Also consider the following:
- Is your partner traditional or modern?
- Do they like vintage styles?
- Do they use their hands to work? If so, you want to choose a ring that won’t get in the way.
- Would they value the quality or the size of the diamond more?
- Does they prefer silver or gold?
4. Familiarize Yourself with Metals
Engagement rings are made of various types of metals. They come in different colors, strengths and prices, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with them so you make the right choice. Here’s a brief rundown of the most important aspects of engagement ring metals:
- The term “karat” is used to identify the balance of pure gold to metal alloy. The higher the karat of the metal, the more pure gold, which means a richer gold coloring (and a higher price tag.) For example, 14 karat gold is a mix of 58 percent gold and 41.7 percent metal alloy, while 18 karat gold is a mix of 75 percent gold and 25 percent metal alloy.
- White gold is simply yellow gold that has between mixed with different types of metal alloys to create its silver coloring. Eventually, a tinge of yellow will show through white gold.
- Platinum is rarer and stronger than gold, which makes it more valuable and more expensive. This metal is silver in color.
5. Learn About Precious Stones
Engagement rings can be made of various types of gemstones, including diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds. Though diamond is the most popular stone for an engagement ring, your future bride might like a different stone.
You also want to learn the different shapes of gemstones. Each shape has a distinctive look. Some of the most popular gemstone shapes include:
- Round
- Princess
- Cushion
- Emerald
- Oval
- Asscher
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