How to Choose an Engagement Ring: 8 Tips to Consider

People dreamily recount how their partner proposed for the rest of their lives. They also show off the ring that came with the proposal. Your partner deserves the best, but you shouldn’t feel stressed when it’s time to visit a jewelry store. Learn how to choose an engagement ring without a single moment’s hesitation. Your partner will adore whatever you get for them because your choice will ultimately be thoughtful and gorgeous.

1. Define Your Budget

Starting any shopping experience with a budget is an excellent way to avoid overspending. Tradition states that a person must spend the equivalent of three months’ worth of their salary on their partner’s engagement ring. The good news is that 61% of people don’t think that’s possible in the modern economy. Your partner likely doesn’t either.

Decide which budget’s right for you based on how much you’ve put aside in savings or how much you can save before you want to propose. You might propose sooner rather than later if your partner has already mentioned their upcoming dream date. As long as you know your spending limit, you’re one step closer to getting the perfect ring.

2. Look Through Your Partner’s Jewelry

If your partner already wears jewelry — especially rings — browse their collection while they’re busy with something else. Take notes on their preferences regarding details like:

• Specific metals
• Metal hues
• Gemstones

You can’t expect a person’s sense of style to stay the same forever, but checking out what they like to wear now will give you a roadmap. Bring your notes with you to your first jewelry store. An attendant can help you find options based on what you saw in your partner’s jewelry collection.

3. Find the Sizes per Carat Weight

Your partner’s ring size will be the width of the band. Diamonds are another story. Diamond sizing comes in carat ratings and one carat has a value of 100 points. If you get a one-carate diamond, that’s a 100-point diamond.

You might wonder why you should care about carats beyond each ring’s price point. The carats indicate the size of the ring, which makes it easier to browse options online. A diamond with a 0.10-carat rating would be three millimeters (mm) wide, while an eight-carat diamond would be 13 mm wide. Pick a size based on your budget and your partner’s current ring style preferences. It’s a crucial step to consider as you learn how to choose an engagement ring.

4. Consider Your Partner’s Sense of Style

What fashion aesthetic defines your partner? Which styles have they stuck with the longest? They’ll likely go through different fashion phases throughout their life, but you can pick a ring that’s most similar to what they usually wear. It doesn’t have to match every outfit. It just has to fit your partner’s personality.

5. Decide if You Want to Get Insurance

When you eventually choose the perfect engagement ring, a jewelry store attendant will likely ask if you’d prefer to protect it with insurance. An insurance plan is an extra cost in addition to the ring. Purchasing a policy depends on your budget and the price tag on your partner’s future ring.

Many insurance companies require a ring appraisal before starting a policy with a new client. Engagement ring appraisals average between $75-$100, so it’s another cost to factor into your budget. It’s an important step to take if you’re investing in a costly ring that would be challenging to replace if your partner lost it.

6. Avoid Something Super Trendy

Some jewelry trends result in accessories that don’t last long. The thin band trend encourages people to get big diamonds on the tiniest bands possible. It might create an optical illusion that makes the diamond look bigger, but the band can easily bend or break. If you spend any time checking out current jewelry trends, evaluate if they’ll result in long-lasting jewelry before purchasing anything according to a specific trendy style.

7. Match Your Partner’s Values to Their Ring

A person’s values define everything about their life — even their accessories. If your partner has sustainable values, they might want a lab-grown ring rather than a mined diamond. Diamonds uncovered through mining produce 2,630 kilograms of mineral waste per carat. Comparably, diamonds grown in a lab create 0.6 kg of the same waste for every carat.

Keep an eye out for both kinds while you’re comparing potential rings. A jewelry store attendant can answer any questions you have about the sustainability behind the rings you think your partner may love.

8. Watch for Matching Wedding Bands

It’s easy to get super focused when you’re making a big decision, like buying an engagement ring. Try to remember that your partner will also eventually need a wedding band. The hexagon diamond you know they’ll adore will need a wedding band that curves around each pointed edge. Wedding ring sets should always fit snugly together.

Your bands won’t stack correctly on your finger if you don’t get a band that matches the engagement ring style and shape. Some stores sell matching wedding bands with engagement rings so you don’t have to come back twice. Watch for those opportunities to simplify the process if your budget allows.

Pick the Perfect Ring for Your Partner’s Style

Check your calendar — it’s time to start visiting jewelry stores soon. Now that you know how to choose an engagement ring, browsing the various styles and metals shouldn’t feel overwhelming. You could even sneak a few pictures to show your partner’s best friends and get their thoughts before making your final purchase.