News Today!!: Your Guide to Engagement Rings

You’ve realized “she’s the one” and are ready to pop the question. Now, you just need the ring that will define the moment. With the vast array of options, shopping for an engagement ring can be an overwhelming experience. This engagement ring guide will take you step-by-step through the process. In the end, we want to make sure you choose a ring she’ll love, while leaving you comfortable about your purchase.

Set Your Budget

As this is a purchase that will last forever, the most common question is the curiosity of how much to spend on the ring. While the old "three months’ salary" advice may be a useful starting point, it is important to set a budget based on the characteristics of the ring that are the most important to you. You can spend less and still find a terrific ring, or you can spend more and splurge on size or quality. With our enormous inventory, Amazon.com can help you find a beautiful ring that is within your budget. Shop engagement rings.

Know Her Style

While some couples choose to shop for rings together, some “proposers” hope to keep the special moment a total surprise. Discovering her dream ring may be challenging, but there are important points to keep in mind that will allow you to choose the one that will leave her breathless. To start, study her style of jewelry: Does she mainly wear traditional or romantic pieces, make a statement with modern styles, or wear more practical and subtle accessories? Also pay attention to the metal color of most of her jewelry styles. Friends and relatives may be able to provide more insight and advice, just be sure they can keep a secret.

Choose A Diamond Shape

When shopping for an engagement ring, the best place to start is by choosing the ideal stone shape.

While diamonds are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, by far, the most preferred isround-brilliant. With its 360 degree symmetry, it gives off the most sparkle. Princess shapesare the second most popular choice, with their clean square lines, modern look, and beautiful sparkle. Other choices include the regal-looking marquise (which has the advantage of lengthening the finger), the classic emerald cut, and the radiant cut (a blend of emerald and round-brilliant). The oval diamond is an elongated variation of the popular round brilliant, while the asscher diamond resembles an emerald cut, but with a squared shape and unique blocked corners. Other fancy shapes, such as pear, heart, and cushion, complete the list of possibilities.

Beyond The Four Cs

The four C’s are the factors that determine the value of a diamond. Below is a quick summary of our Diamond Cheat Sheet which explains what each of them mean and why they matter.

Carat

The weight of diamonds is measured in carats, with one carat being equivalent to 100 points. Larger stones are often more highly valued but size shouldn’t be the only consideration. Cut, Color and Clarity all greatly affect the brilliance of a diamond.

Cut

The cut of a diamond influences the way it reflects light, which in turn determines its brilliance. Even a diamond with a perfect color and clarity may appear lifeless if it does not have a good cut. Well-cut diamonds allow light to enter the stone and be reflected around the mirror-like facets before exiting through the top. Depth and angles are big factors that affect the cut. Amazon.com offers diamonds with rankings from the Gemological Institute of America, which ranks diamonds as Excellent, Very Good, Good, or Fair; as well as the American Gem Society which ranks diamonds as Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good or Fair.

Color

It is difficult for the untrained eye to notice variations that may be visible in color unless stones are compared side by side. Most diamonds are graded on a scale using the letters of the alphabet. Starting with the best grade, letter D diamonds are colorless and tend to be the most expensive because of their rarity. Diamonds ranging all the way down to the letter Z show a more common very light to light yellow color.

Clarity

No two diamonds are alike and can often be distinguished by inclusion marks that are often invisible to the naked eye but can be spotted under a jeweler’s microscope. Clarity is determined by the presence of these inclusions with fewer inclusions meaning better clarity. Diamond clarity ranges from Flawless with diamonds that show no inclusions or blemishes all the way to I1-I3 Included diamonds that are obvious under 10X magnification and may affect transparency and brilliance.

For more information, visit our Diamond Learning Guide.

Choose The Setting

Once you’ve chosen the stone, browse setting options that will define the look of the ring. Settings can be simple or elaborate, holding diamonds flush within the ring band or mounted high above it. It can highlight the diamond in a simple way, or it can shimmer with accent stones or fancy metalwork. Some of the most popular and classic diamond settings are thesolitaire, the cathedral, the three-stone, and the channel.

One thing to remember when choosing a setting is to consider her hand size. A broader band will balance long, slender fingers, while something more petite will complement a smaller hand. For a flattering result, look for a diamond and setting that are proportionate to her ring size.

A setting can vary dramatically based on the precious metal type that it is crafted in. When deciding on a setting, bare in mind which metal-type and color she may have a preference for. Today, rings are most often crafted in white or yellow gold and platinum metals.

Platinum

Rarest and heaviest precious metal on earth.

-Incredible strength and a natural bright luster.

-Radiant shine brighter than white gold.

-Does not splinter or wear away easily.

18 Karat Yellow Gold

75% pure 24 karat gold and 25% alloy metals of silver, copper, nickel and zinc.

-Alloys add strength to pure gold as it is too soft for everyday wear on its own.

-18k provides lustrous gold color with rich warmth in contrast to brilliant diamonds.

-Slightly heavier weight than 14k gold.

18 Karat White Gold

75% pure 24 karat gold and 25% alloy metals of silver, copper, nickel and palladium.

-Alloys add strength to pure gold as it is too soft for everyday wear on its own.

-Warmer white hues versus Platinum's greyish white hue.

-More expensive than 14k gold but will cost less than a similar setting in platinum.

14 Karat Yellow Gold

58.3% pure 24 karat gold with remaining percentage being alloy metals of silver, copper, nickel and zinc.

-Alloys add strength to pure gold as it is too soft for everyday wear on its own.

-Beautiful luster at great value.

-A popular and durable precious metal for jewelry.

14 Karat White Gold

58.3% pure 24 karat gold with remaining percentage being alloy metals of silver, copper, nickel and palladium.

-Alloys add strength to pure gold as it is too soft for everyday wear on its own.

-Warmer white hues versus Platinum's greyish white hue.

-Beautiful luster at great value that complements the clear brilliance of diamonds.

-A popular and durable precious metal for jewelry.

For more information, visit our Precious Metals Guide.

Determine Her Ring Size

If shopping for the ring together, start off by asking her what her ring size is. We realize that she may not know the ring size for the given finger so we have provided a ring size chart to download and print.

If keeping the proposal a secret, simply "borrow" one of her rings (making sure it’s one that fits the intended finger) and compare it to the size chart, or you can have a jeweler size it. If you can’t sneak her ring away, try slipping it on your own finger, as far down as it will comfortably go, and mark the line with a pen. A jeweler can then use that mark to measure and determine her ring size.

When in doubt, choose a ring on the slightly bigger side as it is easier to have a ring sized down than up.

Ordering Your Ring

Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time—ideally at least a couple of months—to make your purchase. That gives you time to learn about diamond engagement rings, consider your choices, and make an informed decision.

Our job is to make this shopping experience easy for you. We’ll put your mind at ease with our diamond experts who provide over-the-phone help whenever you need it. With on-time shipping including expedited and secure delivery available, we will finish off the process with a ring that will make you proud of your purchase.

Why buy a ring from Amazon?

Because of our lower overhead (we don’t need fancy display cases and velvet-cushioned seating) you’ll save money buying a ring on Amazon.com. You’ll find the same ring you’d buy at a conventional jeweler, for about a third less than their price.

All of our diamonds are graded by highly trained gemologists, providing you with the confidence that your diamond measures up to its stated quality. Because our diamonds are certified conflict-free in accordance with the Kimberly Process, you can buy with a clear conscience.

It is our goal to teach and guide you through the engagement ring shopping process. Without the salesperson’s pressure to make commissions, the online shopping process allows you to browse at your leisure.

Finally, when you buy from Amazon, a name you’ve come to trust for other online purchases, you know you’re getting our 100% satisfaction guarantee.