Popping the Question is the easy part. Finding the ring ring is the challenge.

Guest Blogger Profile: Jewelry & Style Expert Michael O’Connor

Asking your girlfriend to become your wife takes a lot of guts, right? So why does it require nerves of steel to find the perfect engagement ring? Well for most guys, this will be the first big “investment” in a piece of jewelry and let’s face it, it’s not like looking up the “blue-book” value on a car where things are spelled out. It can be much more confusing when it comes to finding the right ring and the right style for her without feeling like you’re going broke.  Well here are a couple of thoughts that will help you make some good choices and still have enough money to take her to dinner to celebrate!

The first thing to consider is that nobody ever bought a car with the expectation of “till death do us part”. Most people hope a car will give them years of great service, but nobody expects the car to last for a lifetime of daily driving. An engagement ring needs to be thought about as something that must stand up to a lifetime of daily wear. This means that your thinking needs to start “from the ground up” or in this case from the mounting to the diamond.  The mounting will bear the brunt of daily wear, need to hold your expensive investment in the diamond securely for life and keep that diamond looking as good in fifty years as it does the day that it’s purchased. This is where you really can’t afford to skimp. The first tip is to set a budget that is appropriate for you and stick to it.  Whatever budget you decide reserve 20% for the mounting leaving 80% for the center diamond. The second tip is to get the best setting that you can. In my opinion, that’s platinum. Platinum may be more expensive than gold, however, the advantages of having an engagement ring set into platinum make it worth the extra. Platinum is extremely durable as a metal. Therefore, it will hold the diamond (your 80%) more securely for life. Additionally, unlike other jewelry metals, it is more durable and won’t wear down as easily. That means, less long-term maintenance on the setting and ensures that the piece will stand up to daily wear for life. Finally, platinum is a naturally white metal, unlike white gold that is really yellow treated to look white. Therefore it will keep your diamond looking great and won’t fade or loose its color. Best of all, you don’t have to empty your wallet to afford the best where platinum settings are concerned. High-end designers are creating platinum settings that start at about $1,500.

Penelope Cruze and her engagement ring

Next you’ll need to consider her personal style. A quick tip is to look at the celebrities that she likes and admires. Many celebrities are getting engaged lately and that can give you a great clue on the style she might like. For example, if she admires Emily Blunt’s style you may want to consider a similar ring to the one she received – classic round center with a modernizing collar of diamonds around the center. If she admires Molly Malaney from “The Bachelor” she might prefer a more romantic setting with micro-pave diamonds around it. If she prefers Penelope Cruz’ style, think about a colored gemstone center instead of a diamond (Penelope’s ring has a sapphire). This is a great way to help you determine what ring she will be thrilled with.

Buying an engagement ring doesn’t need to be complicated and it doesn’t have to break your bank. Go to a quality jeweler you can trust. Determine your budget. Apply the 80/20 percentage when it comes to the setting and the center stone. Get a platinum setting to ensure a lifetime of wear and security, and choose a style you know she admires by using her favorite celebrity’s style. Using these steps can almost make is almost as easy as figuring out your next car purchase.

—–

Special thanks to Michael O’Connor for providing this post

Tags: Emily Blunt Engagement Ring, Engagement Ideas, Engagement Ring Guide for Men, Penelope Cruz Engagement Ring

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 1:34 pm and is filed under Engagement Rings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.