Shopping for an Engagement Ring

So you’re ready to finally pop the question, but you have no idea where to start with engagement ring shopping.

Hands down, the easiest way to shop for an engagement ring is to let her pick it out herself. You may think this takes all the mystery, fun, romance, and element of surprise out of the whole proposal package, but it really is the only surefire way to get her the ring she wants.

If you let her pick it out herself, go engagement ring shopping together, and after you’ve been to a few jewelry stores, have her show you the one she wants. You need not buy it right then and there. Put it on hold and buy it on your own.

Another trick for getting a good idea of what she’ll like yet still maintain an element of surprise is to engagement ring shop with her and get a feel for what kind of engagement she likes—simple? big? fancy? yellow gold or white gold? classic or trendy? square-cut, princess-cut, or round-cut diamond?—and a feel for what she definitely doesn’t like.

This way, you can still (later) pick the exact ring out on your own—without her knowing which ring you chose, but you’ll have a pretty good idea of what to look for yourself.

But what if you don’t want your girlfriend to know you’re even thinking about engagement rings? You can still find her an engagement ring she loves, but you’re going to have to put a great deal of thought and some careful consideration into it.

First of all, start paying attention to what kind of jewelry she wears, likes, and dislikes. Every day, look at what jewelry she wears. If she starts rattling on about so-and-so’s engagement ring, don’t tune her out—listen carefully about how she describes the ring and what she does or doesn’t like about it.

It’s important to find out if she’d prefer traditional yellow gold, white gold, platinum, or even something else all together. Also, think about style. Is your girlfriend into contemporary accessories and looks? Vintage? Unique and bold? Simple and basic? Or classic and timeless? She may not even like diamonds, and may prefer a different gemstone.

You can find all this out by paying attention to what type of jewelry she wears most often, as well as what she says about jewelry, rather than by asking her flat out. You can even “trick” her by going to a jewelry store to “look for a watch”—likely she’ll peak at the engagement ring selection.

Other things to take into consideration when shopping for an engagement ring, besides metal band color and style, cut and size of the diamond (or other gemstone) include size of the rock, what you think will look good on her finger and hand, what size of ring she takes, and what type of ring will suit her lifestyle.

Of course, take some time to shop around at various jewelry stores to find the right ring, at a good price that fits into your budget. You may even want to shop online for an engagement ring—a great way to surprise your girlfriend, and also great for convenience and selection.