A Man's Guide to Selecting the Perfect Diamond Engagement Ring

Choosing a diamond engagement ring is an occasion that is fraught with stress for many men.  The paradox lies in selecting the ring of her dreams while keeping the upcoming proposal a secret – a nearly impossible task for a mere mortal.  Here are some tips for selecting the perfect diamond engagement ring while keeping the details of the proposal a secret. 

Does your girlfriend wear more gold or silver jewelry?  Does she choose simple, elegant jewelry pieces or flashy, eye-catching items?  If you haven’t been paying attention, now is the time to start.  

Most women will drop hints about their preferences if they suspect you’re even thinking of proposing.  If she leaves jewelry catalogs or bridal magazines around the house, check to see which pages are dog-eared when she’s out of the house.  If she stops at a jewelry display to exclaim over engagement rings, make a mental note of the shape of the diamond and whether the band is platinum or gold. 

If you can’t locate the ring size on the inside of the band of her favorite ring and are afraid she’ll notice it’s missing if you take it to the jeweler, put it on your own finger as far as it will go, mark the spot with an ink pen, and head to the jeweler for help determining the size.  Make sure you choose a ring that she wears on her ring finger!

It’s not realistic to expect that your soon-to-be fiancée’s sisters or female friends won’t tell her your secret. Even if they merely hint at the upcoming proposal, you’ll be under considerably more pressure if your girlfriend knows what’s coming. Due to solidarity, you have a much better chance of maintaining secrecy if you get information about her ring size and preferences from the other men in her life.

Once you know what the engagement ring should look like, you can concentrate on the four Cs of diamonds: color, cut, clarity, and carat.

If all else fails, a diamond solitaire engagement ring is definitely the best option.  Because this is the traditional engagement ring setting, they immediately identify your beloved as betrothed.  They are not only beautiful but luxurious and are the perfect ring for her to show off to her family and friends.  When purchasing a round diamond solitaire, pay particular attention to the setting; four prongs show more of the diamond, but six make the stone more secure.  If the solitaire is too simple a design for your girlfriend’s personality, consider a setting with one smaller diamond on each side to enhance the center diamond.  If your girlfriend is more contemporary than traditional, she might prefer a solitaire in a shape other than the traditional round, such as princess (square) or pave (numerous diamonds placed close together).      

Your investment is in the ring itself, not just your future together, so be sure to protect your investment with jewelry insurance.