Guys Guide to Choosing an Engagement Ring & Getting a Size
Most men are at least a little nervous choosing an engagement ring, it’s only natural. Engagement rings are like tattoos, a bad one will haunt you forever and could ruin a relationship. With that in mind, we decided to provide some insight into buying an engagement ring. A short online course: Buying an Engagement Ring 101.
We are going to address the three most common questions men ask when shopping for an engagement ring.
- Should I go engagement ring shopping with my girlfriend?
- How can I guess my girlfriend’s ring size without asking her?
- How do I pick the right engagement ring style?
Engagement rings represent a commitment; it’s about thinking long-term. The best ring is one that she will love, will age well and won’t break the bank. Money is a key factor when choosing an engagement ring, but it shouldn’t be the only focus. After all, you are going to have to spend money on the bridal shower venue, and of course, the wedding venue.
Shopping for An Engagement Ring with Your Girlfriend
Best-Case Scenario – Browse with her, online or in person, but go out and pick it yourself. You still want to surprise her with your choice, and the style you picked. Put some time between when you shop and when you propose, at least 3 months.
Worst-Case Scenario – Ask the store’s return or exchange policy.
Do your best to maintain some element of surprise and choice because you want to give her a story to tell at the engagement party.
How to Guess Your Girlfriend’s Ring Size Without Asking Her
Oh boy, here we go. This is one of the most daunting tasks you have ahead of you, or at least it seems that way. There were probably guys back in the early 1900’s sweating this same problem of choosing an engagement ring, maybe even all the way back to the caveman days. “How find ring size without ask?” That’s exactly how they spoke too, trust us.
REMEMBER: It doesn’t have to be a perfect fit, she won’t mind getting it resized, just try get it close.
Here are 4 sneaky ways to get your girlfriends ring size without asking:
- Half a size smaller than your shoe sizes.
Find out her shoe size and subtract a half. So, if she is an 8, her ring size is a 7.5. Easy right? This is only an average, so this does not work for all women. But this should be your first option if you really want to surprise her.
- Go into Her Jewelry
Put on your detective hat and look at her jewelry box for other rings. Don’t take any rings if you can help it, instead place the ring on one of your fingers and make a note of how far it goes up your finger.
- Check Her Gloves
This works for our fellow men in the colder parts of the world. Check her glove size and use that as a reference.
- Deploy the Informants – Family & Friends
Ask family and friends to get that information for you. You want to entrust this to someone subtle and someone who won’t spill the beans. Only an option if you have a good informant.
Choosing an Engagement Ring Style
Ask any guy who has bought an engagement ring and they will probably tell you all about the Four Cs. It’s a term that has existed for years to help struggling gentlemen choose an engagement ring that will impress their lady.
These 4 factors are used to determine the grade of the diamond, used by jewelers every day. So, you know you can trust it. We have listed the 4 Cs in order of importance. Take a look at this diagram that explains the Four Cs of diamonds.
- Cut
The cut of the diamond is directly responsible for the sparkle, and sparkle matters; sparkle is king, sparkle is what you’re looking for here. The cut refers to the angles and hard edges and how they line up to each other and to the rest of the diamond. It has nothing to do with size or shape. This is a great diagram to understand diamond cut.
- Color
Traditionally, the less color the better. Most people try to buy diamonds that are as transparent as possible. But this is related to preference and not quality. Some diamonds have a “yellowish” color embedded within them. Yellow does not mean inherently less quality, but it might mean less “perceived quality” because most people think that clear diamonds are more beautiful. It’s completely up to you.
- Carat
Carat is a middle English word from French that was used a unit of weight. It really isn’t a measure we use anymore except referring to the weight of an engagement ring diamond. The higher the carat the bigger the diamond. That is important to some but not to others.
- Clarity
This refers to the tiny imperfections in the diamond. Though most are not even noticeable to the naked eye. This is the least important factor to consider when choosing an engagement ring.