Preparing for a proposal? Here’s all you need to know
You’ve met the love of your life and you’re ready to pop the question. So, first things first, congratulations!
But, now comes the next big consideration - how will you propose?
We understand that there is no wrong or right way to propose to your significant other, and however you decide, we’re sure it will be a beautiful and loving reflection of your relationship. However, there are steps you can take to ensure you have the right means to propose with. Here are our top tips that are guaranteed to help make the moment memorable.
1) Finding the right size
One of the most important things to get right is the size of the engagement ring. You want to ensure it fits your partner perfectly, but how to do it discreetly? Well, you don’t need to be James Bond to pull it off.
The best way to get the right ring size is to sneak a look at your partner's jewellery and find a ring you know that they wear on their ring finger. If you don’t have a ring they wear on their ring finger, you can use one they wear on their middle finger on their left hand and base your sizing off that. Your two options when you find a ring is to take it to a jewellers or size it up yourself by using a ring sizer tool to measure the diameter of the jewellery. If you don’t have any means of measuring, you can draw around the rings on a piece of paper - it sounds simple but it’s much more accurate than simply guesstimating.
Rest assured, if the sizing does not go to plan, you can always resize your ring after you’ve bought it and proposed.
2) Buying advice
Another important tip is to book in to see an advisor. A jeweller will be able to offer you a plethora of experience and guidance to help you find what you’re looking for. During your appointment, the advisor will talk you through all of your available options and answer all of your questions and queries.
We guarantee that booking in with a jeweller will have you much more relaxed as you’ll leave with a much clearer idea of the style of ring you want to buy, the amount of money you want to spend, and everything in between, so when it comes to the final purchase, you can be confident in your choice.
Did you know, we offer a free, no obligation consultation service in-store with our jewellery experts, which you can book online today?
3) Know your styles
When shopping for an engagement ring, you’ll soon realise that there are an endless amount of styles to choose from. And if your partner hasn’t hinted or alluded to any desired styles, then you may find yourself frantically Googling for days on end before you even make it to the jewellers.
If you’re in this position then our advice is to take a step back and think about your partner’s current jewellery collection, and then narrow your search to styles that best fit within it. While it’s easy to get distracted by the biggest diamonds and most shiny rings, there is no need to look at these as options if they are not what your partner will like.
An engagement ring is something that will be worn day in and day out for a lifetime, so it is essential that it be in a style that can be paired with current jewellery pieces and outfits. For example, if your partner’s usual sense of style is quite minimal and timeless, then simple, classic engagement ring design, such as a solitaire, might be best. Alternatively, if your partner is interested in vintage fashion, and their jewellery and clothing choices reflect this, then an antique-inspired engagement ring would be the perfect fit.
However, if your partner has been very clear about what they would like, your choice becomes much easier. Just remember to stick to what they have said!
4) The 4Cs
Learning about the 4Cs will help massively when it comes to selecting your gemstone. The 4Cs refers to a diamond’s cut, colour, clarity, and carat, and will determine its overall quality and value. The model was originally created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), but is now used across the globe, ensuring standard and consistent diamond certifications.
For example, if sparkle and shine are most important to you, then you’ll want a cut and clarity that offers this in abundance. If you want a ring that has a vintage appeal, then you’ll want to prioritise colour and cut. However, if diamond weight is important, then you’ll be focused on carat size.
Each of these diamond characteristics is measured using specific scale and grading system. As these are not so commonly used in everyday life, it’s advised that you become familiar with what the various numbers and letters associated with the scales mean.
If you’re unsure about any of these, an appointment with our advisors will help you understand so you have a better idea of what sort of stone you’re looking for.
5) Budgeting & finance
One of the most daunting hurdles to face when choosing an engagement ring is the cost. Fortunately, with the vast amount of engagement rings on offer, there are options suited to all budgets. However, as you’ll get to know once you understand the 4Cs a little better, higher quality diamonds can set you back more.
Therefore, we always recommend setting a budget. Rules of spending a certain number of month’s wages on a ring are nothing but hearsay, and you are free to spend whatever amount of money you can afford. While this might mean the best quality diamond might be out of budget, you can choose certain characteristics that you are willing to compromise on in order to find the perfect ring and the right price.
For example, the clarity of a diamond refers to whether there are any inclusions or imperfections in the stone, and how visible these are. But to the naked eye, a ‘flawsless’ diamond, might look just as perfect as a ‘very slightly included’ diamond, but at the fraction of the price. So, while the diamond might not be flawless on paper, it is stil of a high quality and will look just as good in your engagement ring.
Another way to keep costs down is by opting for a lab grown diamond engagement ring, rather than a natural diamond ring. As the name suggests, lab grown diamonds are man-made stones, created in a controlled laboratory setting, instead of mined from the earth. Although this is the only difference between the two, and chemically, optically and physically they are the exact same, they are much more readily available which bring their price down. Essentially, you can find a beautiful lab grown diamond engagement ring for almost half the cost of the same ring with a natural diamond, without compromising quality.
It’s also important to consider your payment options when shopping for an engagement ring. While some have spent years saving for the special piece of jewellery, others might find themselves in a different position, where accessing a large fund for one purchase just isn’t feasible. Fortunately, many jewellers offer financing options to help avoid one big costly purchase, and some will even offer a discount on a wedding ring if the engagement ring is purchased from them. However, it is best to plan ahead with the latter, so you know that both your engagement ring and wedding ring are styles your partner would like to wear together.
At Rocks, we offer financing on all engagement rings bought from us, so you can rest easy and enjoy the process of finding your forever jewellery.
6) The finer details
Finally, once you’ve settled on the perfect engagement ring, all you need do is focus on the finer details to make sure the proposal is as perfect as possible.
Be sure to nail the romantic location so that the setting is memorable and meaningful when you look back on your proposal. Often it helps to tell your close friends and family so you can have special ones there to share your moment or to even help ensure everything goes to plan. You may even want to hire a photographer to take professional pictures that you’ll cherish forever.
Hopefully, by now you’re armed with all the essential tips and tricks to securing the perfect proposal. Now all that’s left to do is propose!
If you have any further questions regarding choosing an engagement ring, do not hesitate to get in touch with our expert team to book a private consultation and talk through your options, including our bespoke ring building service, in a relaxed and safe setting.
