Engagement Ring - Tips for Choosing the Perfect Engagement Ring

An engagement ring is something for life, so choosing the perfect ring can be an overwhelming experience. Choosing a ring to give to your beloved can be as hard as choosing one for yourself which is why many couples these days will shop for an engagement ring together.

There is an old saying that an engagement ring should cost around two months salary. Today this considered somewhat out dated these days so don't be concerned that it should cost you the price of a small house or that you have to make some kind of bold gesture with your choice. Truth is that many brides-2-be are choosing smaller and less ostentatious designs these days because they want a piece of jewelry they can wear everyday. They may also want a ring which matches their eventual wedding band.

Some budding suitors may find themselves lucky enough to have ring belonging to the family which has been traditionally passed down through the generations. However, only consider it as an engagement ring if you intended likes it! And don't even try to give her a ring that once belonged to a former fiancée

If you really want to shop for the ring on your own then make sure you know her style and taste. Does she prefer yellow, white or rose gold? Which stones does she like? Does she like traditional or contemporary designs? If you are in any doubt about the answers to these questions then take female relative or friend of hers along with you.

Diamonds are the most popular stone for engagement rings as it is said to represent everlasting love. But you should familiarize yourself with the three C's which determine the value of the stone

•Cut is the way the diamond is shaped and which gives it its sparkle. Modern diamonds tend to have more sparkle than vintage ones because modern diamonds are more commonly cut by laser than hand which gives them more light reflecting facets.
•Clarity is the flawlessness of the diamond and the determining factor in its value. Most stones will have some imperfections which affect the color however, these cannot usually be seen with the naked eye and only a jeweler with a magnifying glass can spot them.
•Carat is the weight of the diamond. A large diamond is more valuable because they are rarer, however, some smaller diamonds can cost more than a larger one because they have better clarity.

You don't have to buy a diamond though and couples often opt for other precious gemstones instead. Often you will get more stones for your money with gems other than diamonds and some are actually rarer than diamonds. Gemstones are said to each represent a different virtue

•Emeralds symbolize hope
•Rubies symbolize contentment
•Sapphires symbolize balance
•Garnets symbolize truth
•Topaz symbolizes faithfulness
•Opals symbolize love