When I realized that picking a ring out for my girlfriend who would wear this particular piece of jewelry forever, was the next step in our relationship, I got very intimidated. So, I’ve decided to put together the knowledge I accumulated from the internet and my own experience to act as a basic guide for those who don’t know squat about engagement ring shopping.
My first word of advice, which is probably a very obvious thing, is just to ask your girlfriend to see if she at least can give you a hint, a clue, anything to point you in a given direction! I’m so happy that Brooke didn’t tell me to just surprise her. She had a few guidelines for me to follow, including the type of stone she wanted, the color of the band, and the cut of the stones she was and was not about.
Either way, if your girlfriend wants you to surprise her, it might just be because she also knows little about rings and maybe you both need to get some basic knowledge on the topic first before you commit to just anything. I personally benefited from looking at a few different kinds of rings to figure out what exactly I’d be okay with wearing forever, given that I have never been a ring person to begin with.
What Ring Band Should You Get?
One of the easiest decisions to make first is about the color of ring band. For the most part, what you will find is gold or white gold. The white gold is basically the silver colored one. I honestly did not realize this. Again, I’ve never really had an interest in rings until engagement came upon me.
If you notice she is using a lot of jewelry that tends to be silver in color over gold, then you probably want to be looking at bands of white gold. But honestly, just ask to see if she 100% has a preference already so that you can start taking notes for yourself.
The next thing to decide on is if the band will be the basic solid band or if there will be a bit more pizazz to it. For example, some rings look braided or like a twisted vine. Additionally, some rings have stones embedded into the band itself in addition to the main stone. These can be quite dazzling, but keep in mind, the tiny stones in the bands that you will come across come with a warning.
Those smaller stones are more prone to getting knocked out of their home and lost to the world. Depending on the company you purchase from, some of these rings can still be very viable options and will not easily lose stones. However, this depends on how the stones are embedded and if it is a reputable company. Just remember, the more tiny stones you have on the band, the more chances of losing stones.
Prong, Paved, And Channel Settings
I just want to touch on the element of adding extra stones to the ring band. Just because there is an increased probability of losing smaller stones on rings, you do not need to throw away any consideration you had. Instead, realize that the way that the stones are embedded into the ring makes a difference.
Brooke and I both have a prong setting for our tiny stones. This keeps the stones much more secure in their place and therefore gives us more peace of mind than if we went with Paved or Channel settings.
Pavé-set (paw-vay) setting is where the ring band is essentially paved with tiny stones. Much of the stone is exposed which gives less security to the stones.
In a channel setting, the tiny stones are embedded in a pathway along the band. This offers a little more security for the stones.
The prong setting for our main and side stones was ultimately decided on because it offered the toughest security to keep are little stones in place.
I’m by no means trying to sell you on pronged rings, but what I’m really trying to enforce is that the security of the stones within your rings might be something you hadn’t thought about and might want to take into consideration as you do your searching.
What Kind Of Stone Should You Pick
Again, personally, I would make sure to see if your love has a stone preference. Several friends of mine who have gotten married have opted away from the traditional diamond ring and instead chose opal, sapphire, etc… Some have found some even more interesting rings made of various rocks or even wood. It’s just a good reminder that these will require the wearer to be a little more careful with it since it can be damaged much easier than the traditional gold/diamond combo. Nonetheless, these alternative choices look AMAZING and I wouldn’t discount them if you are really into them. Just be aware of the risk that comes with each type of ring.
For both my partner and I, we like the diamond. So now I will begin explaining the types of diamond cuts briefly because if you are indeed considering diamond, there are a few styles that each look quite different from the other. So, let’s go over it.
Types Of Diamond Cuts
There are actually several shapes and styles of diamonds. There are round, oval, and princess cuts (square), triangular ones, rectangular ones, and even a heart shaped. The list is actually longer, but this is just to give you a better idea of what you will see and need to decide on. The most popular choices seem to be round and princess. In other words, the circle and the square.
One you have narrowed shape down to one, maybe two shapes at most, you will want to know that there is such thing as a halo ring. A halo ring is another style of ring where whatever cut of stone you choose, you can opt to have it surrounded by many tinier stones, producing this “halo” effect. Some people love it, some people don’t. It’s another thing you may want to consider running by your soon-to-be wife just in case she is like “nope” to the halo. (My gf said “nope.” That’s why I caution about this.)
Does Stone Size Really Matter?
I would say yes, size can matter. You can basically get the stone as small or as big as you want, depending on the size of your budget. However, keep in mind that your girlfriend might not want a ring that is too big, especially if she is not a big ring wearer to begin with. She might worry about it getting snagged on things. Regardless, I don’t like to believe that the amount of love you have for your partner is directly correlated with the size of the stone you put on a ring band.
We all want to give our loved ones the world and will work to make it so, but as always, don’t let this be stress you out to the point where getting engaged doesn’t sound like that much fun anymore! You have found YOUR PERSON! That is such a HUMUNGOUS BLESSING! It’s honestly amazing that we are even on this planet in the shape of a human being with the ability to love and have emotions. So, put love before everything else and remember that the ring is a symbol of the blessing, not the blessing itself.
Last Words About Choosing A Ring
This article is intended to give my fellow sisters who don’t know sh** about engagement rings a basic starting guide of knowledge to lead you to a decision. Keep in mind that with any rock, there are scales of luster, shine, hardness, and other features that you may want to think about. You may want to consider clarity and synthetic vs natural diamonds and other gems.
Also, you will want to look into the companies that you consider buying from. You want something of great quality and legitimacy. Make sure you receive a certificate with the ring you pick out and have a professional run through the details about the ring so you know a little bit more about the quality of the ring before you make the final decision.
I wish you the best of luck and I know that as long as you ask yourself, “What does SHE want?” Not what you would like, and really imagine her wearing it each and everyday, it should all work out. Be honest with yourself and try to intuitively feel if the ring you are considering fits your girl’s vibe, her air, her energy. Essentially, make your final decision from the heart and you won’t have to worry much about her being disappointed because YOU chose it, not anybody else, and that’s pretty special.