Selecting and purchasing an engagement ring isn’t just an emotionally fulfilling decision, it’s also oftentimes a very big financial decision, and that’s why it is important to do your homework and avoid a few common mistakes that can dull the sparkle not only of your ring but your ring shopping experience.
Before you go to your local jewelry store, here's a look at what not to do when it comes to buying the perfect engagement ring for your future wife.
The Most Common Engagement Ring Mistakes Men Make
Here are some of the mistakes that men make most often when shopping for and buying engagement rings, plus tips to help you avoid them.
1. Not Thinking about Her Lifestyle & Tastes
You have to take the time to think through ring styles. While this advice could be said for all jewelry shopping, it's especially important for the most important jewelry she'll own: her engagement ring.
What kind of jewelry do they already wear? Favorite colors? Have they mentioned a preference or aversion to gold, silver, platinum, gemstones, etc? A setting they adore? Do they love ornate, flashy designs or enjoy keeping things a little more simple? Noting their preferences and applying this to your engagement ring selection will eliminate disappointment.
And don’t forget to take into consideration the lifestyle that they lead, as well. Are they extremely active? Do they work with their hands or does their occupation require frequent handwashing, expose them to chemicals, or will wearing a certain kind of ring or setting create a hazard for them? The simple things, such as slipping your hands in and out of pockets or being an avid backyard gardener are all important things to consider as you set out on your search for the perfect engagement ring.
2. Not Setting a Budget Or Focusing Only on Dollar Signs
Having a budget set aside for your engagement ring will not only allow you to narrow down your search and be more pleased with the selection available, but it will also empower you as a couple to take the next big beautiful steps into your future together with less financial strain and uncertainty.
Your financial situation, just like your love, is unique to you two, and therefore old standards like spending a three-months salary on a ring may not serve your budget or your financial capabilities appropriately. And there may be situations where going a little over budget might mean the difference between an engagement ring that will delight and enthrall for a lifetime, and one that is simply “okay.”
3. Guessing Ring Size
With so many easy ways to obtain the correct sizing for your engagement ring, guessing is one of the easiest mistakes to avoid. Getting certain styles of rings resized may not only be costly but time-consuming or in some instances, impossible! Imagine the disappointment you’ll feel when your loved one isn’t able to wear their engagement ring prior to the big day, or even going sans-engagement ring on your wedding day as a result of an improperly sized ring.
You can avoid this mistake by using a ring that they already wear for sizing, the string tie method, or many others, and give yourself the gift of certainty!
Another way that you can avoid the purchase of a wrong-sized ring is by trying them on in person, with the love of your life at your side. This is especially helpful in circumstances where the engagement isn’t a surprise, and is one of our favorite ways to work with our clients.
4 . Not Giving Yourself Enough Time
There is a lot to do, and seemingly never enough time to get it all done. Your engagement ring will be with you for the life of your love, and likely become an heirloom that will remind future generations of your commitment and journey together in life.
So needless to say, don’t wait to start planning, and certainly don’t wait until the last minute to start shopping for and making that engagement ring purchase! You can avoid the hassle, the fluster, and the shock of not being able to have the ring you want available in time for your proposal by beginning your selection adventure in advance.
5 . Not Planning for the Future (of the ring!)
An engagement ring is generally going to be a little bolder, a little more flashy, a little more “ooh and ah!” than a wedding band or ring, and therefore it’s going to require a little bit different treatment. Life and things happen, and when it happens to your engagement ring, you won’t be happy!
Don’t underestimate the value of insurance. Ask about the warranty, the quality, and the service plan that comes with your engagement ring, and also take the time to understand any actions on your part that might void either. It goes without saying as well, that deciding to work with a reputable jeweler, who understands your needs, budget, and what a quality engagement ring is in the first place, will infuse a lifetime of value into your purchase.
The cut, the quality, the setting, the band material, and the skill of the jeweler or high esteem of the manufacturer of your ring are all important factors to consider, and worthy elements to prioritize when you are beginning to look around for the perfect engagement ring.
A final thing to consider is the wedding band. Will your engagement ring clash with, nestle with, stack on, or be worn alone? You may want to consider how you want your engagement ring to live out its long life on your loved one’s hand in advance, to make the transition from “engaged” to “happily ever after” a little bit smoother.
We hope that this list will give you the little bit of advice that you need to embark on this most exciting and lovely time of your life and that you will love your engagement ring all the more for it!
Looking for an engagement ring in the Nashville, TN area? We have a beautiful showroom in Franklin, TN! We also have two other locations, in Huntsville, and Florence AL to serve you as you embark on your legacy of love.