How to Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring for You
A proposal is a uniquely beautiful thing. Whether it’s planned to a tee or a moment of complete spontaneity, there’s no recreating the sheer joy that follows – though that joy can follow you around for months and months, in the form of the engagement ring now adorning your finger. That engagement ring is a symbol, and a powerful one too – but it doesn’t carry quite the same rules-based import that a wedding ring might. That is to say that your choice of engagement ring can be much broader than you might initially think.
This is particularly true in a world where fashion moves so fast there’s barely such a thing as a ‘trend’ or ‘era’anymore. We’re past datedness – and we’re able to think about the rings we wear to commemorate love as extensions of ourselves as opposed to culture. All of this is to say that your choice of engagement ring should reflect nothing else but the shape of your love story. And here’s how you can ensure that happens.
Look for Clues in Personal Style
When you’re buying engagement rings, you’re normally buying for two. After all, proposals aren’t often a joint planning activity. As such, you have to make decisions for both of you – and those decisions ought to reflect the style preferences you both have. Remember, these rings don’t need to match exactly; you can satisfy your own style wants and needs, as well as those of your partner.
In order to do that for your partner, though, you need to get acquainted with the specifics of their style. Use their wardrobe as a treasure trove of clues. Their existing jewelry and clothing choices can be extremely instructive for picking out which metal to go for and what kind of setting would suit, as well as the overall design of the ring. If this sounds a little much, maybe you can reach out to a trusted friend for some clandestine shopping.
Choose a Design That Fits Everyday Life
It’s easy to lose sight of real life when you’re lost in your own love story. This isn’t a rude awakening, but rather a gentle reminder that whatever engagement ring you decide to pick will be a ring your spouse-to-be wears every day. Meaning it’ll meet exactly the same working conditions that they do. With this in mind, variables like setting height, band size, and ease of cleaning can have major impacts on how easy a ring is to wear day-to-day. A big setting won’t work if your spouse is wearing gloves all day, for instance.
Set a Comfortable and Realistic Budget
It’s hard to talk about buying rings without inevitably coming across an ugly word: budget. Money’s tight, especially now – and we often don’t have the resources to buy the rings we’d really, really like to buy. As such, setting a budget early can make it so much easier on you when you get to narrowing your options down. Base this budget on your real income, as opposed to taking out credit. And bear in mind you are also going to have an entire wedding to pay for!
