Engagement Rings for Men

Shopping for an Engagement Ring

The first dilemma when shopping for an engagement ring is, should the groom-to-be choose the ring himself, or should the couple shop together? Some prospective brides will be thrilled with anything their fiancé picks out. Most however, would prefer to have some input into this most important choice of jewelry decision.

There are many considerations that go into choosing an engagement ring that require both parties input. Will the engagement ring match the wedding ring? And if so, will the husband’s wedding band also match?

If you want to surprise her, pay attention to her preferences before you shop. Does she always wear yellow gold, or does she prefer silver? Are her jewelry tastes classic, or would a custom design thrill her more? Is she a woman who adores diamonds, or does she love sapphires or emeralds? Be aware of any sensitivity issues. Some women can only wear gold that is 18k or more.


Budget

It is important to set a limit on what you can afford to spend before you shop. This should be discussed with your partner. The decision should also include the amount to be spent on the wedding rings and other wedding jewelry as well. At one time the tradition was to set aside two months salary to purchase an engagement ring. Nowadays this isn’t always practical

Engagement rings may cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars or more. It is important to remember that a bigger, better ring does not ensure a better marriage, so get a ring you are comfortable with budget wise. Some jewelry stores may offer financing options. Estate sales are also good sources of wedding jewelry.

One suggestion to keep the cost of an engagement ring down is to consider a style that can be altered or restyled later. Some designs allow additional diamonds or other gemstones to be added when finances permit. Also take into consideration that white or yellow gold is less costly than platinum. Titanium wedding rings are also in fashion.


Diamonds

The traditional stone for engagement rings and wedding rings that have stones is a diamond. There are 4 steps known as the Four C’s that should be used when choosing a diamond. The first step is the color - the clearer the diamond is, the greater its value (and price tag). The exception is rare colored diamonds. Next is the cut - stones are proportioned and faceted to maximize beauty and enhance sparkle. After that is clarity - this refers to any internal flaws or inclusions within the stone. The fewer flaws a diamond contains, the more light it reflects. The final C is for carats - diamonds are sold by weight or carats. This determines the price along with the other C’s.

Part of the four C’s for diamonds to really be aware of is the cut, or the shape of the stone. Diamonds come in six basic shapes. The brilliant is the most common. Other shapes are oval, pear, marquis, emerald cut, and heart shaped. The cut of the shapes also affects the sparkle of the diamond.


Settings

The choice of the metal is the next step in choosing and engagement ring. Most are made in either gold or platinum. Gold can be 24K, 18K, 14K or 9K to name a few, which determines how pure the gold is. The higher the number, the purer the gold in the jewelery. It can be white, yellow, rose or a combination. Platinum is sometimes selected instead of white gold, however it is significantly more expensive.


Ring Design

Other considerations when choosing engagement or wedding rings are somewhat more practical. The ring should be easy to slip on and practical to wear. It must hold up to everyday wear.

Consider the bride-to-be’s job. Does she use her hands a lot? Will a certain setting be hazardous? The higher the setting of the stone the more often it will catch on things. Some work environments are more destructive on engagement and wedding rings than others, especially factories that use abrasives and offices where there is a lot of paper used.

The ring should hold its gemstones securely. There’s nothing more upsetting than flashing your engagement ring only to find the “rock” missing! Settings with six prongs or claws are more secure than those with only four.

Finally the most important factor is –does the ring look good. Some women have small, delicate hands. Others have larger stronger hands. When all is said in done the choice of whether the ring looks good, is up to the wearer.

Now that the engagement ring has been chosen the wedding planning really begins. The wedding bands must be selected if they haven’t been chosen to match the engagement ring. Other wedding jewelry such as necklaces, and earrings should be considered. Perhaps the bride fancies wearing a wedding tiara on this memorable day! Next there’s the invitations, the wedding gown, the wedding cake…all from the choice of one simple ring.