There’s lots to consider when you’re planning a proposal, and in particular when you’re shopping for an engagement ring. There’s so many styles to choose from, so many options out there to consider. It can feel, at times, like there’s a never-ending amount of decisions to make about every tiny thing. (And, if you’re planning your proposal as a surprise, you likely can’t ask the person you’d usually ask for help!) But, don’t worry – take a breath, because after all: this is supposed to be fun. With that in mind, we want to make your proposal planning as easy as possible, and that includes helping you answer the question “What kind of ring is right for my partner?”
Here are the key things to consider when you’re working out what kind of ring to pop the question with:
What kind of ring would your partner like best?
This may seem like an obvious question, but it’s the most important thing to bear in mind when you’re engagement ring shopping. Your partner will be wearing it for the rest of their life, so we want to make sure it’s right!
The first thing to consider when wanting a clearer picture of what kind of ring your partner would like best is: have they made any comments about what they’d like before? Some couples may have discussed their engagement plans at length, and as part of this discussed their dream ring with some clarity. Alternatively, your partner may have mentioned what kind of ring they’d love in passing. Or maybe a family member or friend has a ring that they’ve always said they’ve loved? These sneaky detective skills can come in really handy…
Even if they haven’t mentioned anything about their dream engagement ring before, there are other things you can look to that will help you decide what kind of ring they’d like best.
Are they a classic romantic? If so, a round cut brilliant diamond in a solitaire setting is a timeless, radiant choice. Or do they have a unique, quirky style, and would probably prefer something that no-one else is likely to have?
This can also influence the stone you choose. If they’re a fan of a classy, classic look, you surely can’t go wrong with a diamond. Other traditional precious gemstones are excellent choices too, such as sapphire, emerald, and ruby. But did you know that you can get different colours of diamonds, too? Though coloured diamonds are rare (only 0.1% of all diamonds, which you can read more about here ), within that you can find many shades. This includes black diamonds, which are a guaranteed head turner.
What kind of rings does your partner already have?
Another thing to take into consideration is the jewellery your partner already has. Do they already have particular pieces of jewellery that they wear every day? Especially with rings, as they’ll be in such close proximity to each other, it’s a great idea to match the metals. For example, if they have a ring that they wear on another finger – perhaps an heirloom – that’s a yellow gold, you may wish to get a yellow gold engagement ring to match.
Some jeweller’s websites, such as Baunat, who we linked above, even allow you to virtually see them on your partner’s hand, so you can see whether they work. Of course, you have to have a picture of your partner’s hand lying about for this to work, but hopefully they’ve posted their nails on Instagram recently…
What kind of ring fits your partner’s lifestyle?
Practicality isn’t the sexiest topic in the world, but when you’re spending a not insignificant amount of money on a potentially life-changing present, you want to make sure you’re getting it right. For this reason, it’s important to think about the lifestyle your partner has, and what kind of ring will work with that.
If your partner works in a physical or laborious job, for example, or frequently has to take gloves on and off, then they may not want a stone with a huge carat that sticks out from their finger, for risk of catching it. This also has implications for which stone to choose: diamonds are, famously, well-loved for how hard they are, which makes them really durable and scratch-resistant.
And of course, engagement rings aren’t all about the stone. Different metals have different features too. Platinum, for example, is the hardest-wearing commonly found metal to make engagement rings from; and silver is the worst, not really suited for long-term everyday wear. Comparatively, yellow gold, white gold and red gold are also excellent choices, though white gold requires maintenance due to its coating and red gold isn’t suitable for those with copper allergies. As engagement rings are to last a lifetime, these considerations are as crucial as the aesthetics when working out what kind of ring to buy your partner.
What kind of ring fits your budget?
Again, it’s not exactly the sexiest, most exciting point to end on, but we wouldn’t be doing our job in helping you if we didn’t mention it! When deciding what kind of ring is right to buy your partner, it’s really important to keep your budget in mind. Gone are the days when it was taken as implicit that an engagement ring would set you back two or three month’s wages; the right engagement ring for your partner is the one that you can afford. If you’ve got any concerns, speak to your jeweller – they’ll want to make sure that you’re happy with your final decision.
Though there’s no one answer to the question of what kind of ring you should buy, we hope this guide has been useful in helping you find yours. Whatever you end up with, we hope they love it – happy shopping!
