Are you about to propose? Are you getting ready to shop for your wedding bands? If you’re a little overwhelmed with all of the different ring and gem styles, here is a crash course on wedding and engagement ring shopping.
When it comes time to pop the questions or shop for your wedding bands, a little wedding and engagement ring shopping 101 can really come in handy. Unless you are very familiar with jewelry and the ring-shopping process, wedding and engagement ring shopping can be a bit overwhelming. Here is a brief rundown on what you should know about wedding and engagement ring shopping:
Choose a wedding band style that suits your personality and lifestyle—There are countless styles of wedding bands to choose from, and there are no set rules that require you to pick any certain style. The choice is entirely up to you and your spouse-to-be. The main thing you want to keep in mind when shopping for a band style is your personality. You’ll be wearing these bands for the rest of your life, so if you don’t want to wear something bulky or flashy, it’s best to opt for a plain, traditional band style. Choose a style that suits your comfort and your style sense.
Decide how you’d like to propose—If you’re trying to figure out how to choose the best engagement ring, first decide how you want to propose. If you pick the ring, your partner will not have a say in the style or cut, but if you propose and let them pick out the ring, you risk killing some of the romance during the proposal. If you’d like to pick the ring beforehand, consult a close family friend or relative for ring size and style preference. You can even shop for the ring with them to ensure you choose the right ring for your partner.
A few tips on gold, silver, platinum, and gems—No matter what style of ring you choose, keep in mind that the darker the stone, the more expensive the ring will be. Common stones include diamonds, rubies, sapphire, emerald, topaz, and garnet, and you can choose from gold, silver, or platinum. Yellow gold is the most traditional, but if gold is not your preferred jewelry color, go for stylish platinum. As far as cost goes, platinum will be more expensive than white gold, so expect to pay more for this harder metal. Choosing the right metal is one of the first steps in wedding and engagement ring shopping, so try to narrow this decision down before you decide on anything else.
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