The Engagement Ring: The Most Important Questions and Answers

The engagement ring expresses your passion for your wife and your desire to share the rest of your life with her. As a result, the engagement ring should be selected with caution in order to be unique. We tell you what to look for, whether you want a diamond or not, whether you want something plain or flashy, whether you want something pricey or inexpensive.

Can I purchase the rings before or after the engagement?

Traditionally, the engagement ring is bought by the man before the engagement, but if you are totally unsure about which ring to choose, you can buy the engagement rings after (however, we will show you many tips on how to choose the perfect engagement ring in this article). As a man, you don’t necessarily have to have a proposal ring, however, nowadays there are usually rings for both partners as they symbolize togetherness.

If you’ve already agreed that the engagement rings will also double as wedding rings, you can surely bring your buddy shopping with you. You will actually pick the rings together after the formal engagement. However, you won’t be getting down on your knees and sticking out the box with the engagement ring to your girlfriend as is customary (and almost every woman dreams of this romantic experience).

Costs of an Engagement Ring: How much money do you need to budget?

Most of you are probably aware of the American tradition of an engagement ring costing at least two months’ salary of the guy. Since the engagement ring is often worn during the wedding in America (the simple wedding ring is then normally worn in conjunction with the engagement ring), the high price is perhaps justified.

If you are still a student or if you are financially very tight, then you can certainly find beautiful friendship rings (from about 80 euros) as an alternative, which will please your girlfriend. However, if you have a permanent job and it fits into your budget, then your future wife will definitely be happy about a high-quality engagement ring (from about 300 euros).

How do I secretly find out my partner’s ring size?

To find out the right ring size for your girlfriend, there is the following possibility: You can find a detailed post with different methods here!

In summary, you can ask your girlfriend’s sister or best friend if she can borrow a ring from her inconspicuously for a pretend occasion (but she should make sure that this ring is really worn by your girlfriend on her ring finger). Or you could secretly get a ring from your girlfriend’s jewelry box if you have access to it.

How to secretly find the right ring style for my girlfriend?

Here, of course, a look in the jewelry box also helps. Are there flashy rings in it or rather just plain ones? Are most of the rings made of gold or silver? So you can get a rough idea of what your girlfriend likes.

You might even stroll by a jeweler’s window at random the next time you’re in town; maybe your girlfriend can tell you which ring she thinks is fantastic. You will also learn a lot about your sister or best friend by using this method.

What material should be the engagement rings?

Of course, budget comes into play here as well as preferences. Trends like rose gold should be carefully considered if you are happy with it in the long run.

Materials like 333 gold and silver are much cheaper than platinum, and most of the time you won’t be wearing the engagement ring for that long (unless you plan to get married in a few years). However, if your girlfriend is prone to allergies, platinum is definitely worth the money. We can advise against the very hard material tungsten for rings because the material is so hard that desired changes (e.g. ring enlargement) cannot be made (which would be a real pity if the engagement ring does not fit 100% after all).

If the engagement rings will be used later as wedding rings, then you should of course choose high-quality materials such as 750 gold, platinum, or palladium. You can find a more detailed article on this topic here.

Large or small gemstone (diamond) on the proposal ring?

You should also be aware of the woman’s interests in this situation. Some ladies like it to be understated, while others like to flaunt their expensive jewels. Is your girlfriend into shimmer (rings with large stones) or sporty (rings with tiny or no stones)? Typically, a big diamond is set in an engagement ring because it is an absolute eye-catcher and appeals to almost any woman.

Do engagement rings usually have engraving?

Not necessarily. But a nice “I love you” or both names would also offer and please the partner. The date of the engagement could also be in it, but then the engagement must also take place exactly on this day – in case of illness or other unforeseen changes, if you have to postpone the engagement, this is rather unfavorable. Or you can take the date when you kissed for the first time, for example.

Caution: If an engraving is to adorn the engagement rings, then these are personalized and excluded from the exchange! Alternatively, the ring box can also be personalized with a personal engraving. Just ask your jeweler if this is possible.

How do I incorporate the presentation of the engagement ring into the marriage proposal?

For the delivery of the engagement ring, of course, there are many options. If the marriage proposal is made with the typical question of all questions, then it is of course very classic and romantic if you get down on your knees, open the ring box and then ask your girlfriend. You should make sure that the box is a nice and high-quality box since you are also presenting it to your partner.

As soon as your girlfriend says “yes”, you take the engagement ring out of the engagement ring case and put it on the ring finger of your future wife. You should also give the ring to your partner in a rare and exclusive manner, such as placing it on her finger when she is asleep or having it served in a champagne glass in a restaurant. Of definition, the imagination is unrestricted here.