Don't worry, guys. Buying an engagement ring isn't brain surgery,
although it may feel like you need it before you finally find something. There are three main categories
you need to consider to make this one- in-a-lifetime decision.
Diamond- The diamonds in engagement rings consist of 75% of the entire cost of the ring.
Therefore, it is important that most of your energy and time is spent on researching the perfect
stone. Get familiar to the 4 Cs known as Cut (how the diamond is cut- the better the cut, the more
brilliant the diamond), clarity (how many imperfections are in the diamond), color
(although color is a personal choice, currently the trend is white or clear diamonds), and
carat (the size of the diamond).
Band- You have your choice of titanium, platinum, gold, and silver engagement bands. Most
women prefer the more traditional metal, gold. However, platinum is becoming extremely popular
and slowing replacing the comfy niche gold has occupied.
Setting- Lastly, you must choose the setting- how the diamond is mounted to the band. Keep in
mind that your fiancées lifestyle will greatly determine which setting you choose. An active
lifestyle is not compatible with a prong mounting while flush, channel, and bezel mountings are
more appropriate.
