You’ve been with someone you love for quite some time and you are just about ready to pop the big question. But you need to set the perfect mood, pick out the right time, play the right music and of course: choose the perfect ring. But with such a huge variety and tips coming from all sides, it can all feel a bit overwhelming. So here is a compilation of all the most important things you need to know and how to pull it off perfectly so that your loved one ends up with the perfect ring on their finger.
Find out the size
The first thing you need to do is know the correct size of their finger. Getting the wrong one can result in the ring not fitting or worse – them losing it because it fell off. There are a few ways to find out the size. First, there’s straight-up asking them. Yes, this will 100% take away the surprise, but for some people that isn’t as important. Then, there’s the option of hiring help. Get a close friend of theirs to find out however they can: they can make them put on some of their rings and see where they fit, they can take them shopping and try on rings or they can flat out steal one of their rings, go get it measured and put it back once they know the size. But if they don’t usually wear rings, you can try to measure the circumference of their finger while they’re sleeping and calculate the size from there. Keep in mind that if they have meatier fingers, you might have to go half a size up, so that they can comfortably get it on and off.
Pay attention to the metal and style
Here is where knowing your partner comes in. What is their favorite metal to wear? Are more of their earrings gold or silver? Or perhaps they prefer steel? Are they someone who likes a lot of bling or do they prefer something subtler and more muted? All of these things are clues towards what they consider perfect engagement rings would be. Once again, you can enlist the help of a friend to question them on this and find out what they want, but you can also just pay attention to the things they tend to wear and point at when you stop at a store. Don’t be so obvious to stop in front of a jewelry store and ask them to show you what they like, but perhaps find a window that has both watches and jewelry and then pretend to look at watches but keep an eye on what jewelry they are gravitating towards.
Be rational with the budget
The whole “three salaries” rule was invented by greedy businessmen to overcharge for diamonds – which are in abundance. The ring is a symbol and the price should also be symbolic. Forget about expensive diamonds and realize that a thoughtful engraving in the back of the ring is a lot more meaningful and important for the person than a diamond. If you can afford to splurge – by all means, get them whatever you want – but if you are on a tighter budget, get something from the heart. Don’t fall for the “pay later” schemes where they will have you paying off the ring until your future kids are in college, just get something you can realistically afford. You do still want to stick to a good metal, like silver, gold or steel, because you want the ring to last.
The right packaging
A big part of the engagement is the delivery. If you want to keep it classic, just get a nice small velvet box that you can easily fit in your pocket and take out when necessary. But you can also make it something more unique and memorable. People have put rings in everything from desserts (put it in a protective layer first!) to champagne glasses and even puzzle boxes that your significant other needs to figure out how to open to get the ring. You can also use something you both love, like a favorite TV show or movie and make a themed box or setting to give the ring.
No matter what ring you choose and how you give it, if the love is real – they will say yes. But going the extra mile and actually getting the perfect ring will just show even more of your dedication and make the moment all the more special.
