Common Mistakes Men Make When Selecting an Engagement Ring

Engagement signifies an important step in a person’s life and is a green signal for some major life changes. Most men, while proposing to their significant other, wish it to be the best moment of their life so far and they try their best to achieve the perfect proposal. 

However, it is very likely that a high percentage of these men have never proposed before and lack the experience to do so. Hence even with all their good intentions, their inexperience may cause some serious damage. There are some basic things that you can bear in mind while going to purchase an engagement ring. Some of the most common mistakes tend to make are listed below: 

• Rushing the purchasing process

Even the least meticulous men tread carefully when they are serious about a girl and are mindful of every decision they make throughout the relationship. However, that changes the minute the relationship progresses to an engagement. In our opinion, this too should not be rushed and thought out just as meticulously as everything else. The best way to choose the right engagement ring is by taking your sweet time in selecting one. Only then can you be sure of your decision. The time you allot for buying the right ring would allow you to explore thoroughly the options you have. It allows you to form comparisons among the different kinds of jewelers in the market as well as to compare the different styles of engagement rings they are selling and the quality of the diamonds. Once you have completely explored the market, only then can you have a better understanding of how certain jewelers can be superior in terms of their service and selection. 

Once you understand the difference between the different types of jewelry you would find it easier to understand their marketing strategies. Some retailers tend to use high-pressure tactics in order to coerce you into buying a highly-priced ring whereas a good retailer would want to work with you in order to help you find the right engagement ring without any marketing techniques.  If you rush the process of buying an engagement ring there is a huge possibility that you may end paying massive amounts for a ring that may still not satisfy you. 

• Not having enough knowledge about diamonds

In order to purchase something, one has to have some background information on the product or at least a basic understanding of the product so that they are not entirely lost while making the purchase. The same holds true for diamond rings. Diamonds can be a bit tricky and extensive to understand, hence you are not expected to have the knowledge of a gemologist in order to choose the right diamond however a little background information about them can certainly make your shopping experience easier. If you do not have any prior knowledge of diamonds it is quite plausible that you may end up purchasing a low-quality diamond at a massive price. You do not need to know everything about diamonds, just enough regarding the 4c’s namely cut, carat, color, and clarity, and how one can be balanced out by the other. The best diamond ring is one whose 4c’s complement each other. You can work with everything you have read about diamonds and with the right diamond jeweler who can guide you in the right way and help you to make a wise decision.

Also read: What Are Black Diamonds and Should You Buy Them?

• Not having a budget

Many men tend to have at least a rough estimate as to how much they would be willing to spend on an engagement ring. However not having a budget entirely can be a huge recipe for disaster. Some believe that it is necessary that they spend at least a minimum of their three months’ worth of salary on purchasing an engagement ring. However, despite this being the traditional code there is absolutely no need for you to follow it. Although it is unnecessary that you spend three months’ worth of salary on an engagement ring it is necessary for you to have some budget. What’s even more important is that you stick to the budget. You may end up spending more than your actual budget if you do not stick to it. It is always advised for you to have a reasonable budget and buy a ring within that budget. There are no rules as to how much you must or must not spend on the ring however it is understandable that you spend a decent amount on it, one that you can comfortably afford. 

• Not considering custom rings

Most people do not go for custom made rings when they are not satisfied with the rings on the display. It is a common assumption that custom-made jewelry is purchased only by the really wealthy celebrities and icons as any celebrity news circling around engagement nearly always involves a custom-made ring. However, you would be pleasantly surprised to know that a custom-made ring is easy to get and pretty affordable too. Moreover, you would be able to get a ring more suitable for your partner’s taste. You could even go the extra mile and get matching rings if that is what you prefer. You could even get a sweet message engraved on the band of the ring, the possibilities with a custom-made ring are endless.

• Are not sure what your partner likes

Some men tend to forget that the engagement ring is for their partner and not for themselves. Hence, they need to know what she actually likes or does not like in a ring. You do not want to have bought a huge chunky ring for her when she prefers a more unique engagement ring. The entire surprise of the proposal may lose its sweet appeal if the ring you buy is far from her ideal choice. In the case when you have absolutely no idea as to what kind of ring, she would prefer you can begin with asking her friends and family while keeping the whole thing discreet if a surprise is what you are going for. You could pay a little extra attention to what kind of jewelry she wears, the metal she uses more, white gold, platinum, or gold. Ensure that she is not allergic to the metal you plan to buy. Lastly, you could even look around different social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest to see if she follows any particular brands from which you could get a hint for her ideal ring. 

• Cover your track properly

Most men end up ruining the entire surprise proposal by dropping off just enough hints to their partner that they are searching to buy an engagement ring especially if you are a person who prefers buying online. While you would research these unique engagement rings for women and wedding rings online you are most likely to end up being targeted by online advertisements. In the unfortunate moment you end up sharing your laptop with your girlfriend then it would not take her long to notice the engagement ring adds and put two and two together. It is better if you do the browsing on your private laptop or any other device and as a precautionary measure, you can use the ‘block cookies’ feature on your browser to ensure anonymous online browsing. 

• Do not guess the ring size!

Some men love to play the guessing game when it comes to guessing her ring size, however, it is not something you should be particularly fond of. It is better if you try to find the exact size of her ring even though most of these rings can be resized at a later point. You can ask her friends for her ring size or even sneak out one of her rings to get the right size, although make sure you sneak out the ring of the right finger since some people have different ring sizes for different fingers. If you are unable to get the exact size of the ring then the safest bet would be to get a ring between the size 6-6.5, it is the average size for women. You could go up or below the scale depending upon how small or large her hands are.

• Not including your fiancé

If you are not going for a surprise proposal, then it is best if you take her opinion and involve her in the process of buying the engagement ring as much as you can since it is going to be her ring. With her opinion in the play, it is highly unlikely that you could go wrong with the ring. Even if you are going for a surprise proposal, you could plan one in such a way that would not require a ring, and then you both could go together at the earliest convenience and buy an engagement ring of your choice. 

• Getting a return or exchange policy

It is always advised that you purchase engagement rings from jewelers who have a free return or exchange policy. It comes the handiest in the situation she does not like the ring. Also, in the cases of purchasing vintage engagement rings or even antique engagement rings, it is best if they have good return policies. 

Also read: The Incomparable Beauty of Black Diamond Jewelry

Conclusion Thoughts

Planning an engagement can be an ardent task however it is also a very vital part of one’s life. Instead of focusing on getting everything right, it is better if you focus on enjoying the moment. Trust your choice and be well informed of the jewelry you purchase. Buy her a ring that is accustomed to her taste also it would do well if you keep in mind that her engagement ring must complement the wedding as well. So, it is better if you choose a design that would not close too many wedding ring options for her.