Know your budget. Are you overwhelmed by the variety of engagement rings available? You need to have a price range in mind. If you know the parameters of a diamond, you can help your jeweler find the right engagement ring that fits your budget.
What kind of jewelry does she wear? Does she prefer classic or modern styles? Feminine or delicate? Does she prefer silver or gold? Does she prefer delicate or generous pieces? Simple or ornate? Know what she likes before you go into the store. You can’t go wrong if you buy jewelry similar to what she likes now.
Find out her ring size. If she wears a ring, borrow one of her existing rings. Trace the inside of her ring onto a piece of paper to create a circle, or press the ring onto a bar of soap to create an impression. You can also put the ring on one of your fingers and slide it down, drawing a line where it stops. Using these measurements, your jeweler can determine her approximate ring size.
If she doesn’t wear a ring, here’s how to estimate: In the United States, the average ring size is 6 (based on the average American woman who is 5’4″ tall and weighs 140 pounds). If she’s thinner or has a finer frame, her ring size might be between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2. If she’s heavier, has a larger frame, or is taller, her ring size might be between 6 1/2 and 7 1/2. It’s always safer to buy a ring that’s slightly larger than your estimated size, because it’s much easier to make a ring smaller than it is to make it larger.
Is she unpredictable? Consider buying a loose diamond. If you choose the diamond first and then get the setting, you can invite her to help choose the style and finalize the details of the ring (always a good idea) to avoid the awkwardness of choosing a ring that suits her tastes better.
Find out what diamond shapes are right for her. If she hasn’t expressed an opinion on this (or admires someone else’s engagement ring), keep a few things in mind when thinking about shape:
- After you get married, she will be wearing this ring all the time. Rings should go with everything from jeans to evening gowns. If you are unsure about her preference for ring style, the smartest thing to do is to go with classic styles. Classics are classic because they have been popular with most people for a long time.
- Cutting styles with fewer facets, such as an emerald cut or a rose cut, require higher clarity.
- In a multi-stone ring, certain shapes work better with other gemstones. Round, oval and marquise shapes are easy to work with. Pear and heart shapes are more challenging.
- If she prefers clean, modern lines, she may favor equally beautiful rectangular or square designs, such as emerald cuts or princess cuts. If she prefers traditional styles, she can hardly go wrong with a round shape. The more bohemian she is, the more unusual shapes she may find favor, such as a trilliant or marquise.
Which setting is best?
Some of the most common engagement ring settings include solitaire settings (above), three-stone settings (left), and side-stone settings (right).
While there are countless choices in setting styles, details, and metals, there are four basic types you’re likely to encounter:
- Solitaire – One gemstone. Still the most popular choice for engagement rings. The setting head is used to hold the diamond in place. The prongs allow the diamond to catch the most light. A four-prong setting will show more of the diamond, while a six-prong setting tends to be more secure.
- Side Stones – Diamonds or other gemstones placed to the side of a center stone to enhance its beauty. Popular side stone settings include the “Clip Setting” (which holds the stone in place by clamping it) and the “Clip Setting” (which allows more light to enter the side stone).
- Three stones – one diamond for the past, one for the present, and one for the future. Usually, the center diamond is larger than the two side diamonds.
- Pave setting – The center stone is surrounded by smaller diamonds to add sparkle and create a magnified effect.
As for the actual setting design, consider her lifestyle and how a particular setting would be appropriate. If she’s more of an active or outdoorsy type, go for a more low-key, subtle, sturdy ring style (one that won’t easily get bumped or snagged on things). If she’s a very glamorous girl, look for a bold setting style, with taller stone outlines, and a ring with more intricate details or a unique theme.
