How do you find a perfect engagement ring for a girl?

Question

I am sorry, I have no experience in jewelry for women. I dont want to ask her because this is a surrprise and I dont trust her friends who might be jealous. I cannot afford anything over $00,000. where could I look? my budget so far is $5,000 (I have saved up for months. Does any women know what are popular for women. thank you for your support.

Congratulations? she has not said yes first! LOL

Answer 1

Just go to Kay Jeweller's or Zales... a mainstream jewler that can offer plenty of options and lifetime warranties... look at her current rings and figure out her stlye... it is hard to go wrong! ... even if you get the wrong size you can readjust.... (I am searching for one too)

Answer 2

Don't take her shopping, you said it's a surprise, some people don't read. $5000 is a lot for a ring, you could get her a really nice ring for even half that. Pay attention to the jewelry she wears now, is it mostly yellow or white gold or silver? If yellow then buy her a yellow gold band (though they are seriously out of style right now, if she wears yellow gold that's what you should get her) or if she wears white gold or silver, go with the more popular white gold or platinum band. Decide what's important to you, the bigger the diamond or the better quality. You can actually spend the same amount on a 1 carat diamond and a 1/2 carat diamond depending on the quality - so again, if it's a big rock you are looking to get, go with less quality (trust me, no one really knows or looks that hard anyway) but if it's quality, you'll spend every dime of that $5000 and may only get a 1/2 carat. Next decide if you want a solitaire - one single diamond on a band - or if you want what's called TW - total weight which would have a stone in the middle and smaller stones on each side that makes up the total weight of the carat. That's a lot of information, and seriously, it's hard for another woman to pick a ring out for your girl...every woman is different, but one thing I do know, we all love getting engaged! No matter what ring you get her, if she loves you, she'll love it. Congrats and good luck.

Answer 3

First..Congratulations..(On making the decision for this big step ..lol)
Solitaires are always popular...simple and elegant..also the 3 stone style is VERY popular right now. Look at the jewelry she wears now to find out if she prefers yellow or white gold (If she wears a lot of silver I would go with white gold) With your budget you should be able to get a 1 carat good quality diamond. Most women want a carat and that is not to small or large.
A site I personally have used is www.mondera.com Highly reputable...they have a GREAT price GREAT quality of diamonds to choose from. You can put in the amount and "build" your own ring. Also they have a return policy. I have bought Flawless diamonds from them and they appraised $2500.00 OVER purchase price.
Good Luck

P.S. I would stay away from Zales they mark the wholesale price up 300 - 500%. I wanted a Flawless diamond ALL the C's perfect cut..color.. and as I said (after MUCH research) I found Mondera and HIGHLY recommend.

Answer 4

Well you can buy a nice ring for $5,000! If you really want it to be a surprise and you want to pick it out I would suggest that you maybe just think about or take notice of the type of jewelry she wears. Does she wear gold jewelry or white gold? Is she a small girl b/c if she is u might not want to get something too huge or it might look too big on her. Does she like newer looking jewelry or antique looking? They make some beautiful jewelry now that has an antique look to it. When u go to stores ask the sales people what the popular styles are now. I'm sure whatever u get her she will be happy w/.

Answer 5

Any reputable place will let you return or exchange and engagement ring, so ask first before you buy, and if they won't, move on because the vast majority of places will. Go with something classic. Most women like a round cut solitaire because it looks elegant with everything, looks the biggest and sparkles the most. Go with a platinum or white gold band. And after you propose and show her the ring, tell her you want her to have a ring she really loves. Tell her you picked what you thought she might like, but the two of you can take it back and find what she really wants if she cares too. That way you don't have to propose empty handed, and she can still get whatever she wants.

Answer 6

First, congratulations! Awesome, dude!

As for the ring, you have to buy it, but she has to wear it for a long, long time. Even if you decide to upgrade down the road, that isn't going to be for a while. Just like a husband, the bottom line is that she's stuck with it, for better or for worse. Between those two options, I would personally choose "better". All things considered, isn't it better to let her choose the ring? Why leave such an important decision up to someone else who she will probably end up hating?

I like the idea of giving her an empty box or a cute "ring" (e.g. string, toy, homemade trinket, etc.) as a temporary, then taking her somewhere for the real thing.

Answer 7

That is So hard because every girl is different. You could go with your heart. I think if you go shopping and find "the one" you'll know!!! Look to see what she wears now: white or yellow gold, fancy or more low key, big or small and that will give you some ideas. It means a lot to us knowing that our man spent a lot of time and energy into picking us out the perfect ring. If you would like to her to help pick it out you can propose with a ring from a bubble gum machine and then as a date go pick out a ring together. Good luck!! I'm sure you'll do fine!!!

Answer 8

I just picked out a ring (actually taking the father to lunch in about an hour to get his permission). My budget for a ring was $5,000 but I was willing to go up to $8,500 if I follow the salary rule. If you want to stay in this price range do NOT go to Tiffany. I wanted to get a 1 carat colorless solitaire. Tiffanys basic cut at 1 carat with their WORST stone is around $13,000. I finally found a G colored stone .73 carat for $7,900. For that money I can get a much more beautiful ring anywhere else.

I did know my girlfriend liked a ring from Macy's (princess cut 1 carat) and she pointed it out to me. I went their and it was $11,000. I personally did not like the princess cut and got a round cut instead. The price was the same, BUT I got lucky with a sale. If I purchased the ring while I was their but couldn't pick it up till March 8th (their beginning of bridal sale) I got 35% off AND if I opened a Macy's card account I got an additional 15% off. Now a $11,000 ring is UNDER my budget. It is a "E" diamond with a VS2 rating...beautiful ring.

I don't want to steal your thunder with my story above, but take my advice. NO TIFFANY...get a much nicer ring somewhere else for your budget . I only went to Macy's becuase I knew my girlfriend liked a ring from their. I got lucky with the sales.

Answer 9

Whoa! That's a lot of clams! The average price for an engagement ring is around $800. Just look around, and see what you think is pretty and will suit her. What's popular may not suit her. For example, the fad right now is white gold and platinum - but classic is yellow gold. I have a solitaire with shoulder stones, and love it. It didn't cost the world, but it came from the man who gave me the world!

Answer 10

Cartier...

Tiffany's.

See what is in at the moment and then go to a more reasonable store and have them set one similar for you at half the cost. Most of what you pay in those places is the name anyway.

It's not always the size of the rock either... It's the color and the quality to those in the know.

$5,000.00 will get you something very nice, and hopefully as beautiful as your lady.

She's lucky to have your concern over this issue. Congratulations and good luck!

Answer 11

I would look at her other rings for an example of what she likes, or if she has ever mentioned what kind of cut she likes best??? Does she want round, princess cut, pear, oval, emerald...these are very importannt to a girl. Also some girls dont like solitare rings and would rather get a smaller diamond with diamond accents around it. If you dont want to ask her maybe her mom would know what kind of ring she likes.