Engagement Rings

One of the best things about getting engaged is showing off the rock. Engagement rings are a symbol of love and devotion – and the fact that they look great doesn’t hurt.

Most girls spend a lot of time thinking about what they want their engagement ring to look like. Once a guy realizes he wants to propose, he starts thinking about them a lot more than he probably ever expected to!

With something as important as an engagement ring, it’s best not to leave the big decision up to chance. Your boyfriend will probably ask your sister or best friends to help him shop for engagement rings. As soon as you think your relationship is getting marriage-serious, let your closest friends know what you want (they’re your friends; they won’t judge you). Also, a good idea may be buying engagement ring insurance.

Even if you can’t find one specific ring that you are 100% in love with, it’ll help to lay out the basics: metal (yellow or white gold, silver, platinum), type (solitaire, antique-looking, lots of smaller stones), stone and cut. Yes, clear diamonds are traditional, but many brides today are opting for a gem or color with more meaning to them. Also, diamonds can either be natural or made in a lab. Lab-created diamonds are still real diamonds, and they usually are less expensive and have fewer flaws than natural stones. Many people who choose lab-created diamonds or other stones do so to avoid the ethical conflict surrounding naturally occurring gems (like in the movie Blood Diamond).

Shopping for engagement rings is no small task. No matter what’s there when he opens the box, you’ll love it. If it just happens to be exactly the ring you’ve always wanted, well, that’s just a happy bonus.