Written by Zoe-Louise Thomlinson, Twitter: @ZoeThomlinson

Finally deciding that your partner is the one can be a wonderful, life-affirming experience. Asking them to marry you is often one of the best moments of your life. However, one thing that makes the decision more stressful than it already is picking the engagement ring. It can take a lot of time and work to finally find the perfect engagement ring you can be sure your partner will love. However, following these steps will help you to streamline your decision, and make choosing your partner’s engagement ring a much easier task.

Identify Your Budget 

Set out how much you ideally want to spend on your engagement ring. Consider how much you will want to spend on the wedding, the honeymoon, and everything else to figure out how much you can spend on your engagement ring. Your partner might not want a too-expensive engagement ring, and you can tailor your budget in accordance with this. However, your partner may have their heart set on a particular piece of jewellery- in which case, you should consider just how much you will be able to reach this. By setting out budgets, you will be able to direct shop attendants with how much you can spend. This can be a really useful tool when looking at buying an engagement ring.

Do They Even Want A Ring?

In recent years, the traditional engagement ring has fallen out of trend slightly. Not everyone wears rings, or can’t because of their jobs. Therefore, if you suspect your partner might not want to wear a ring, you can look at other options. Nice engagement necklaces or earrings may be an option if your partner can’t wear a ring for work or simply doesn’t wear rings. Making sure you explore these options will make sure your engagement goes well.

Choosing The Metal

This is one of the most important factors when choosing an engagement ring. A lot of the time, people pick one style of jewellery metal and stick with it. For example, a person that always wears silver may want a silver engagement ring so that it doesn’t clash with the rest of their wardrobe. If your partner mixes metals, it might be worth having a look at both styles to find something that will suit them. If this is the case, perhaps look at the colours of gemstones or cuts of jewellery they go for to be able to get a better understanding of their taste. Understanding what your partner will be likely to like will make picking an engagement ring much easier.

Know The Carat You Want

For most people, the size of the ring doesn’t matter. However, knowing an estimation of the carat you want to go for can help a lot in your search. You will be able to direct the jewellery shop attendant to the rings that are more in your budget or style choice. Having an estimation of the carat size will only help you when you’re looking for that special ring.

Get Measured

Knowing your partner’s ring size can be difficult. If they are aware you are going to propose, going and getting your fingers measured for your wedding bands can be a good way to find your partner’s ring size for an engagement ring. However, if they want the engagement to be a surprise, perhaps you could get one of their rings measured to see the size they normally wear. Try to get the ring size right- so that you won’t have to get the engagement ring re-sized after you propose.

Minimalist or Extravagant?

Paying close attention to your partner’s taste will only help when picking out an engagement ring perfect for them. Is your partner a minimalist? Do they prefer classic cuts, smaller gemstones, and simple colours? In this case, it might be better to look for engagement rings that are more delicate and classic, to suit their more minimalist style. However, if your partner has a more ornate and elaborate taste, it might be better to look for rings that reflect this. Rings with multi-coloured gemstones like opals, or flamboyant metalwork might suit your partner better. Try to show who they are through this ring- they’ll want to wear it for the rest of their life!

Knowing Whether Your Partner Follows Trends

Does your partner follow trends, or do they like to have a fixed sense of style? Looking into your partner’s personality further may reveal the engagement ring they might like more. For example, if your partner is big into sustainability and eco-living, a vintage sapphire engagement ring may suit them better. Vintage jewellery is better for the environment, and diamonds are notoriously bad for the environment. However, if your partner likes all new, it might be better to get a ring made bespoke for them. Knowing your partner well will direct you where to look for their engagement ring.

An engagement is one of the happiest periods of a couple’s life, and only precedes something even better- marriage! Knowing how to make your engagement ring reflect your marriage, and how much you truly know your partner, will only set you up for a great married life.