As Marilyn Monroe once sang, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” With that in mind, there’s a vast difference between the quality and price of a diamond so do some research before saying “I Do” to your enagement ring.  The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) provides these tips for buying an engagement ring. Learn the four Cs first before falling in love with your diamond ring. Of course, there’s an app for that!

Use a Fake Ring: Use a fake engagement ring for the proposal and take her shopping later.  She’ll be both surprised and excited to pick out the perfect engagement ring.

Mike Vietti, of Washington, D.C., wanted his fiancé’s engagement ring to be a complete surprise but had no idea what she would like. So he decided to use a fake one for his proposal and take her shopping later.

“I thought it was brilliant,” said Emily Vietti. “I love surprises, but I couldn’t imagine wearing something for the rest of my life I didn’t love. It was the perfect solution.”

Consider Her Taste and Style: Make sure the ring fits her existing jewelry collection.  If she likes modern, clean lines or an antique style, then the engagement ring should reflect that.

“I realized all of my fiancée’s jewelry is very clean and simple, like one large pearl on a string or a clean trail of diamonds on a necklace, so I chose a three-stone engagement ring that looks simple but impressive. It has gone over really well,” said Kevin Saghy of Chicago.

Get A Little Help From Her Friends: Her friends know her best and they’ve likely discussed her future wedding plans, favorite designer gowns and the engagement ring.

“My wife found a drawing of the kind of ring she would like and gave it to a friend to hold–under the condition that the friend would not tell her when she gave it to me,” said Andrew Brown of Detroit. “She was totally surprised the day the exact ring she wanted was given to her.”

Shop Together: Shopping for a diamond engagement ring can be an overwhelming experience, so why not take your bride-to-be with you? It can be romantic and provide a wonderful, lifelong memory.

Randy Holmes of Atlanta was overwhelmed by the number of options he faced when he started to shop for his fiancé’s ring, so he asked her to join him. “It was great to have Lauren involved,” he said. “It was romantic and took a lot of pressure off.”

Do Your Homework: Research about diamonds and learn the 4cs before stepping foot in a jewelry store. There’s a lot more to think about than just a pretty engagement ring.  Color, cut, clarity and carat weight play a role into the cost of diamond ring. Plus, you need to see how these fit into your budget.

Erik Mason of Boston did a “ton of research” on diamonds before he even set foot in a jewelry store. “I think most guys believe as long as they’re familiar with the four Cs, they’re all set,” he said. “I was surprised to find that was only half the story you should be thinking about.”

Mason spent almost five months learning about the four Cs—color, cut, clarity and carat weight—and how that translated to his budget and girlfriend’s taste. He used online resources, visited retailers and flipped through fashion magazines to get a sense of what she liked. “I got a great learning experience and another connection to our marriage through a spectacular piece of symbolism I truly understand inside and out,” he said.

Author: Stacy Lawrence

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