The holiday season is one of the most popular times of the year to propose. In fact, Christmas Eve is the most popular day of the year to get engaged. Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve are also very popular. In fact, about one-third of all marriage proposals happen in the time between American Thanksgiving and Christmas. This makes sense, since a lot of people have more time off of work at this time of year, giving them more time to celebrate. Plus, the winter is beautiful!
If you’re planning on proposing this holiday season, you’ll need to be prepared. Here are some tips for finding a great engagement ring for your holiday proposal.
Ring Styles
There are a lot of different ring styles to choose from. If you go into any jewelry store, or check out an online jewelry store, you’ll likely find hundreds and hundreds of different styles and perhaps even more. You’ll find classic solitaire styles, vintage rings, more modern looks, halo rings, rings with side stone accents, and much more.
Visit the engagement ring styles section of our site for more information.
As for what style of ring you choose, that will depend on many factors, including your budget and your personal preference. Remember, this ring is for her, so you’ll definitely want to take her personal choices into consideration.
What type of style do you think she would like? To help you figure out what she would prefer, look at her existing jewelry. Do you spot any trends? Is it all modern-looking or does she seem to prefer more classic styles? Is she into more elaborate designs or simpler ones? You can also tell a lot about her preferences by looking at her overall style. What does she like to wear and what does her style say about her personality? By taking some time to study her likes, dislikes, and preferences, you’ll have a much better chance of getting a great engagement ring that she\'ll truly love.
There is also the option of custom engagement ring design. If you have your ring custom-designed, you’ll get an entirely unique, one-of-a-kind ring that truly matches your specifications and style.
The 4 Cs
In addition to choosing the style of the ring, you’ll also want to spend some time learning about diamonds. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it seems. One of the first things you’ll want to learn are the 4 Cs:
- Cut
- Color
- Clarity
- Carat weight
All of these factors determine the quality of a diamond and they can be used to compare two diamonds with one another.
One thing that is important to note is that the cut of a diamond best determines its sparkle and, therefore, its beauty. A diamond that is poorly cut will look dull and uninteresting, even if it rates highly in the other categories. On the other hand, a diamond that is well-cut will still be very pleasing to look at even if it has lower clarity and color ratings.
Setting a Budget
You’ll need to set a budget when you’re buying a ring. It’s a good idea to set this budget before you start looking at rings. This can help streamline the process because it helps you focus on rings that you can afford. Otherwise, you could end up spending a lot of time looking at rings that don’t fit in your budget, which not only takes extra time, but it can also lead to confusion and frustration.
When it comes to setting your budget, you’ve likely heard the guidelines of one month’s salary, two months’ salary, etc. These can be good guidelines, but they’re just that: Guidelines. None of these are rules that are set in stone, so don’t treat them that way. Every person’s financial situation is different and every person has their own financial priorities and commitments. Take a look at your own financial situation and then think about how much you feel comfortable spending. Remember, you can always upgrade your ring later on (such as for an anniversary present, etc).
These tips should help you find the perfect engagement ring for your holiday proposal. For more details on engagement rings and how to find a great ring, please visit our diamond education center.
