Have you met that special someone and you’re looking to propose but aren’t sure what to do about the ring? First of all, congratulations on finding that one special person that you love enough to spend the rest of your life together, it’s a big step. Then, it’s time to start thinking about just what you’re looking for in a ring. Are you looking for a men’s ring or a women’s ring? Are you looking for something more traditional or something a little unique? Do you want a large stone, a small stone or no stone? Well, let’s take a look.

Men’s or Women’s Rings

First, you want to look at what type of ring you’re looking for. Rings for men and women are sized different because of the average size of their hands. Of course, you can get smaller sized men’s rings and larger sized women’s rings, but the overall design of the rings is generally different as well. By first narrowing down the type of ring you need you’ve already eliminated half of the different rings that are out there but don’t worry, you still have plenty of variety available.

Ring Materials

Most engagement rings that are actually billed as engagement rings are made with some type of gold, platinum or titanium. These different materials are all high quality and have different levels of durability. A gold ring is likely the most traditional (in white gold or yellow gold) but it’s one of the softest materials as well. On the other hand, platinum and titanium are stronger and more durable. In fact, titanium rings have to be cut with a saw in order to get them off if you ever can’t get the ring off on your own, so that’s definitely durable.

Stones, Yes or No?

Traditionally an engagement ring for women has a diamond in it. Rings for men generally don’t, but that doesn’t mean you have to go along with tradition. You could certainly buy a men’s engagement ring and you can certainly find them with stones of all different sizes as well. But you don’t need to get any specific size and you don’t even need to get a diamond. More and more people are opting for different stones, colored stones, multiple stones or even designs in the ring rather than diamonds. It’s all about your personal preference and style.

Ring Design

There are a lot of different things to think about when it comes to the design of your ring. First, there is the basic aspect, do you want a ring that’s flat all the way around or one that has curls and angles to it? Some people prefer a simple design to their ring while others want a little bit of accent to the material. You may also want to consider a design on the ring, such as a cross, a flower or anything that has a meaning to you and your partner.

Things to Keep In Mind

First, there are plenty of different types of engagement rings out there because every person is different. The type of ring that you and your partner want to use as an engagement ring doesn’t even need to be a traditional engagement ring. It’s entirely up to you what you want to use. It’s also entirely up to you what size the stones are or if there are stones or even who proposes to whom. Tradition is nice, but it’s sometimes outdated, so make sure you and your partner are doing whatever is best for you.

The cost of the ring means absolutely nothing. What’s most important is the love and the thought that is behind it and whatever you spend is secondary to that. That doesn’t mean you can’t spend more money if you have it available, but it means you shouldn’t feel like you absolutely have to spend more money than you have simply because you think the ring should be larger or different in some way. Each engagement ring is about the couple that it represents, so make sure that you’re getting a ring because you love that person, not because it’s expensive or large.

The Best Place to Buy an Engagement Ring

If you’re looking for where you want to buy the ring there are several things to keep in mind as well. First, you want to make sure that the company is reputable. You want to know that you’re getting what you pay for and that the quality is top notch. You want to make sure that you have a company that you can count on to give you exactly what you’re looking for as well. With so many different places out there, having the ability to get exactly the ring you like best is going to be crucial.

Why should you settle for anything that’s not quite right if you know that out there somewhere is a company that can get it exactly right? With any of the companies that we have listed right here, there won’t be any problems at all because they provide you with high quality and excellence. Of course, you’ll want to know a little more about them, right? So we’ll help you figure out just which one is the best option for you and why you want to go there.

James Allen

This company is our favorite because they have a whole lot of great features. One of the best ones is that you can actually customize your own ring. You can get started by choosing a diamond or choosing a setting and then you’ll choose everything else you need. James Allen offer rings in solitaire, pave, channel set, side stone, three stone, tension, halo, vintage and special editions. Then you get to choose the type of metal that you want, whether that’s a 14 or 18 carats white or yellow gold, platinum or rose gold. You can also narrow it down by the price that you want to spend. Then you get to choose the diamond. You get to pick the shape, the cut, the color, carat, clarity and even the origin so your ring is exactly what you are looking for

As you start selecting the different options it will show you specific rings that match what you’re looking for. That way you can see exactly what the ring is going to look like once it’s all put together. Before you know it you’ll have a beautiful ring that perfectly embodies what you’re looking for. If you need anything else, such as wedding rings, loose diamonds or other gemstones or other fine jewelry you can find it here as well.

What’s really unique about this company is that you can actually converse with an expert at any time. Not only can they talk to you about the diamonds and the jewelry that’s being offered, but they can also screen share with you and talk with you about the specific diamond that you’re looking at to help you better understand the features and the qualities that it has to offer. That way, you’re definitely going to understand just what you’re getting and why you want it.

Blue Nile

Blue Nile lets you choose your own ring or choose from some rings that are already ready to ship. You’ll be able to look at all different options for the engagement ring and for wedding rings as well, all made with platinum or 14 or 18-carat gold. That means you’re getting high quality and a whole lot of great features while you’re at it. If you want to pick a ready-made ring it’s super easy and there are options for diamond or gemstone rings. You can also narrow down the options as you go to pick the right one.

Once you pick a specific stone it will give you all the information about it and even let you get a 360-degree view of that specific diamond, which is definitely a bonus but not quite as good as talking with an expert. Even better, Blue Nile a lifetime upgrade program which means that if you ever want to get a new ring you can get 100% of the purchase price of your diamond put toward the purchase of a diamond that is at least twice the cost and you can do it forever.

Brian Gavin

Finally, we have our third pick, which is still a wonderful company and a wonderful place to get the ring that you want. Brian Gavin offer a range of unique rings for engagements, weddings and anything else you might want, as well as offering gemstones and loose diamonds. You can also contact an expert to get more assistance with your choosing process, which definitely helps you narrow things down and understand just what you’re getting but isn’t necessarily related to specific rings or specific diamonds like our top choice.

With their custom system, you can choose between 14 or 18 carats, rose, white or yellow gold, palladium, Gibeon Meteorite, Damascus steel or Mokume Gane. Once you choose the setting that you would like you can choose to either purchase only a setting or to move on to pick your new diamond. Diamonds come in a range of different cuts and fall within any of their signature collections. You can also choose the size, price, clarity, color and more or you can browse the different options of diamonds from a complete list. There are even advanced options for the lab, table percentage, polish, and lab cut grade.

Once you choose a diamond you can even ask an expert, complete your ring, purchase only the diamond or look at similar options. There are even options to look at matched pairs if you would like to purchase more than one diamond that will look beautiful right next to the other in your new ring (or anything else you might want to create with them). With this company, you also get a lab report, which tells you all of the detailed information about your new diamond, whether you purchase just the diamond or the ring as well.

Finding Your Best

No matter what you’re looking for, each of these companies offers a large number of features and options. If you’re looking for more unique options then Brian Gavin seems to have more of these available. If you’re looking for the most options for customization, however, James Allen definitely seems to have the most variety. This goes for the settings as well as some of the information and styles on the diamonds. Not to mention you’re going to have the expert recommendations and feedback on the diamond that you choose. If you’re looking for plenty of options but maybe not quite as many you’ll find that the Blue Nile is our second choice for a reason.

With any of these companies, you’re going to have a ring that you and your partner will definitely be proud of. You’re going to have something that exemplifies you and your personal style and you’re definitely going to have something that you can show off to everyone you meet. There’s no reason to settle for less than the best when it comes to your engagement ring and when you can customize your own ring to your own tastes you’re definitely getting the absolute best. What more could you want for a ring that symbolizes your special day?