If you’re like most men, you don’t have the faintest idea of where to start when it comes to shopping for an engagement ring. As you begin to calculate the information you’ll need to gather just to get started (her ring size, her likes and dislikes, the type of diamond, the type of setting, how much you can afford to spend, the list goes on and on…), you begin to feel lightheaded. But why are you putting yourself through this torture? Just so she can get the surprise of her life? You’d be better off making her laugh with a fake ring (courtesy of the Cracker Jacks box) and announcing that you intend to take her shopping for the ring of her dreams. Here are some reasons to let her pick the ring.
1. Sizing – Nothing will spoil your romance faster than a ring that doesn’t fit. If it’s too small, she won’t even be able to get it on, causing her to question how well you know each other. This is a situation best avoided. And if it’s too big, she could accidentally lose it before she has time to get it properly sized.
2. Preference – There is a lot that goes into choosing a ring that she’ll wear for the rest of her life, so why not let her pick it out? Do you really want to learn the ins and outs of diamond-buying (the four Cs) and then try to figure out if she likes princess or round cut, and whether she would prefer a larger carat, better clarity, or an unusual color? And that’s just the diamond. You also need a setting so she can actually wear it. No, the smarter move is to sit her down at the computer and let her browse while read the latest Sports Illustrated.
3. Price – No matter how small the diamond, you are going to shell out some serious money on this piece of jewelry (as well you should) and you want it to count! You don’t want to spend into the four-digit category only to see her face fall in disappointment when she sees the ring you picked. Ensure a smile by allowing her to get exactly what she wants. This is not only a better investment of your money, it is probably a far wiser investment in your future.
You may sacrifice the element of surprise by letting her shop for the ring with you, but you will save yourself a lot of time, effort, and potential heartache by trusting your lady to choose her own ring. It’s a fair bet that she has something specific in mind anyway, and in the long run, whatever makes your future wife happy is going to make you happy, too.
