Choosing an Engagement Ring

One of the biggest decisions a man will make is choosing who he wants to spend the rest of his life with, another decision that can be just as important is which ring he will present to do it. There are many factors to consider when purchasing an engagement ring, for some people the traditions weigh more heavily than anything else. Some families take pride in passing a single ring down from one generation to another as a family heirloom. Others think that engagement rings should be the biggest part of someone’s fashion trend, something that’ll catch eyes, turn heads and keep their friends talking. No matter what influences you there is much to consider before investing in an engagement ring.

One of the biggest traditions that have been passed down through time is how engagement rings are bought and presented. What some people don’t realise is that the tradition goes further than dropping to one knee and popping the question. Another heavy tradition that follows an engagement ring is the amount of cash spent on the ring; most men are expected to spend two months salary on the ring. This rather specific amount of cash is meant to show the woman and her family, that the man is able to save money for things he cares about and shows his dedication to supporting the woman and saving for a house in the future. Also if the couple falls upon financial issues having a ring of such value would give them something they could possibly sell so they can continue to sustain themselves until they get back on their feet.

In today’s society much of the tradition that follows the engagement ring has lost value, most couples agree that less valuable but more fashionable rings are the way to go. In this case there are a number of options for a man to consider, which of course all depends on the woman’s preference. A man can tell which kind of ring a woman will like judging by what kind of jewellery she already wears. If she wears very little jewellery, or very plain jewellery, then a smaller ring with a single gemstone is probably more her style. If she wears a lot of jewellery or large flashy charms and necklaces then she’d probably like a ring with smaller gems around the band or a cluster of flamboyant gems.

Another thing to consider would be the type of stone to have the ring centred around. Today’s trend favours clear clean cut diamonds, but there are other options. Sometimes a woman favours a large birthstone compared to the diamond. With so many precious gems, all varying in cut and colour it’s important to research all options.

 

Another feature that you will need to decide on is the band itself, the style of the band varies from jeweller to jeweller and bands are usually crafted in either gold or platinum depending on the clients preference. Gold bands go well with most other jewellery, but platinum is harder to scratch and more durable. Also you can have writing along with decorative markings carved into the band.

 

The last and yet most important piece of information needed to purchase an engagement ring, would be the ring size of the girl you intend to give it to. If you don’t know her ring size and would like to surprise her with a ring there’s a few different ways to subtly get her ring size. One of the most common would be to take a small piece of string and wrap it around the inside of one of her rings, placing a mark of some sort on the part where the string touches. Also if you can’t get to one of her rings you could always do the same thing with her finger, wrap the string around her finger until the end touches, and mark the spot where it touches. Then take the string and compare it to one of the ring size counters, which you can find on just about any jewellers website.

 

One popular trend is buying an antique engagement ring as it can often offer more fashion for less money than a modern day ring. View our beautiful selection of antique engagement rings