The holiday season is almost upon us—and you know what that means, right? It won’t be long before photos of newly-engaged couples are flooding your Facebook feed!
Facebook conducted a study a few years ago that showed that Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day are the two most popular days for people to pop the question to their significant others. And that trend is likely going to continue in 2019.
Are you thinking about getting in on the action by getting down on one knee? It’s important for you to learn how to shop for an engagement ring before you do. It’ll ensure you’re able to find the perfect ring for the occasion.
Here are six tips that will help you shop for an engagement ring your partner will absolutely love.
Begin by Coming Up With a Ring-Buying Budget
Once upon a time, the person buying an engagement ring was expected to spend the equivalent of two or even three months’ salary on a ring. But today, that’s not the case anymore.
There are some people who still abide by that “rule” when thinking about how to shop for an engagement ring. But there are also others who make it a point to buy the most budget-friendly ring they can find to avoid starting off their marriage with a huge mountain of debt.
The average engagement ring costs upwards of $5,700, though. That’s down slightly from just a couple years ago, but it’s still a lot of money for a person to pay for a ring.
Sit down and crunch the numbers so that you can figure out exactly how much you can afford to spend on an engagement ring. By creating a budget for yourself, you can steer clear of overspending on a ring that you’re going to be paying off for years to come.
Try to Get Some Sense of What Kinds of Rings Your Partner Likes
Do you know what kinds of rings your partner might like? If possible, you should try to find out so that you have some sense of what to look for when you start shopping.
There are different ways in which you can bring this topic up without sounding too suspicious. You can:
- Show your partner an engagement ring that one of your Facebook friends just showed off and ask them if they like it (if they say “no,” ask them what they don’t like about it—and subtly slide in a question about what kinds of rings they do like!)
- Jokingly ask your partner which engagement rings they want you to buy for them the next time you’re in a jewelry store together
- Listen when your partner talks about engagement rings when a commercial for rings is on TV
By doing these things, you can piece together which types of engagement rings you should focus on.
Look at All the Different Engagement Ring Styles
One of the things you’re going to find when you begin shopping for engagement rings is that there are so many different styles of them. Some of the most popular styles include:
- Classic solitaire rings
- Halo rings
- Three stone rings
- Princess cut rings
- Side stone rings
Based on what you’re able to find out from your partner, you can narrow down your search by eliminating certain styles. You can also consider which styles you like best since the engagement ring you give to your partner is going to be a symbol of your love.
Find the Right Jeweler to Sell You an Engagement Ring
There are more than 60,000 jewelry stores scattered across the country at this time. There are also lots of online retailers that specialize in selling engagement rings through the internet.
Your goal should be to find the store or online retailer that you want to use to buy your partner’s engagement ring. The store or online retailer should have a large selection of rings available, a ton of experience in the industry, and competitive prices that fit into your budget.
They should also have knowledgeable employees who are prepared to answer each and every question that you have about engagement rings. They should be ready to help you find a ring that your partner will love after listening to you explain what you’re looking for.
Use One of Your Partner’s Rings to See What Size They Are
When you slip an engagement ring onto your partner’s finger for the first time, you want it to fit. You’re not going to be able to take pictures for Facebook if the ring won’t fit over their knuckles.
To prevent this problem, use one of the rings that your partner wears all the time now to see what their ring size is. This will make it easy for you to make the engagement ring that you buy the same size.
Consider Obtaining an Insurance Policy on the Ring You Buy
Even if you don’t have a huge ring-buying budget, the engagement ring that you buy is likely going to be one of the most expensive items that you and your soon-to-be spouse own.
With that in mind, it’s not a bad idea to get an insurance policy for the engagement ring that you purchase. It’ll protect you in the event that the ring is ever lost or damaged.
Check out the different insurance policies for engagement rings and have the ring insured before you even give it to your partner. They’ll appreciate the fact that you thought ahead.
Learning How to Shop for an Engagement Ring Can Make the Process Easier
Buying an engagement ring can be a super stressful process if you don’t plan ahead. By learning how to shop for an engagement ring before you get started, you’ll skip a lot of the usual stress and make the process fun.
You’ll also increase your chances of finding the right ring for your partner. They’ll love how much thought you put into it.
Keep reading our blog to find tips on preparing for a wedding once you’re officially engaged.
