How to Select Diamond Engagement Rings

A diamond engagement ring may be one of the most important and precious pieces of jewelry you'll ever buy, so it's crucial that you know just what to look for when you go shopping for this symbol of your commitment. This can be especially intimidating if you're trying to surprise your bride-to-be with the perfect ring, but if you keep a few things in mind you'll be able to pick through the thousands of diamond engagement rings to find the one that will be sure to inspire her to say yes!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Consider her hands. You want to select engagement rings that will compliment your future bride's hand as she wears it, so think carefully about the dimensions and shapes of your ring choices. Oval and pear-shaped diamonds will help elongate short fingers, while wide, bulky bands will overwhelm small hands and make them look even tinier. A woman with larger hands can easily wear large, bold styles with flashy diamonds, but delicate bands with a small diamond will look even smaller while making her hands look larger.

2. Take her daily life into consideration. Large, heavy rings may not be a good choice for anyone who works with her hands like typists, seamstresses or bakers. High profile, flashy rings may not be a good choice for someone who finds themselves in less than honorable company, such as police officers, security guards or substance abuse counselors. Also, remember that diamond rings with high prongs are more likely to snag on clothing or scratch other people, so they aren't the best choice for everyday wear.

3. Select a stone shape. Though round diamonds are the most popular, there are other beautiful shapes that she may prefer. Pear, oval, emerald, princess, marquis, trilliant and heart shapes are all available.

4. Choose a cut for your diamond. Not to be confused with the stone shape, the cut of a diamond refers to the width, depth and conformity of the facets. This affects the diamond's ability to catch, refract and reflect light. Too shallow a cut will not catch the light enough to sparkle. Too deep a cut will reflect light out the sides of the diamond, making some spots look darker than others. Select a stone with good proportions for the best fireworks.

5. Decide on a material for the setting. There are many more options on the market today other than just plain gold. White gold, platinum, palladium, titanium, and tungsten are all beautiful metals, each with their own unique properties.

6. Pick a setting style. There are literally hundreds of different styles available to create your diamond engagement ring. This will consist not only of the band, but also the prong style. Try out Blue Nile's Build Your Own Ring generator to get an idea of the various styles and how your diamond may look in them (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• If you just can't find the perfect diamond engagement ring, consider buying a loose diamond to propose. Have it tucked in a small, velvet drawstring bag so she isn't fooled by the box. After she says yes you can both shop together for a setting of her choice.
• Beware of jewelers who offer free appraisals with their jewelry, especially if the appraisal is considerably higher than the purchase price. These appraisals are usually not very accurate and are designed to give you the impression that the jewelry is worth more than the price you paid. Your appraisal should come from an independent source.

Resources

• Build Your Own Ring generator at Blue Nile.