Why Engagement Rings Shouldn’t Be A Surprise
While some brides-to-be are looking forward to the surprise of a diamond engagement ring, others find the whole process awkward.
If engagement rings are a surprise, what is the purpose of buying an engagement ring? What happens if she was given an engagement ring costing thousands of pounds, but the diamond ring you chose was not what she was expecting? Would you be disappointed when you found out?
In this article, we will look at whether you should buy an engagement ring without input from your girlfriend.
What Is Engagement Ring Etiquette?
One of the first things that many men worry about is what happens to the engagement ring if the marriage proposal is accepted, but the marriage does not take place.
In most cases, etiquette suggests that the woman return the ring if the engagement is broken. In some places, the ring is legally considered an unconditional gift. Still, even in such cases, the etiquette remains the same. The only difference is that the giver of the ring cannot compel the former fiancée to return the ring.
Historically, it has been considered normal for the man to choose and buy the ring, making the ring and proposal a secret. These days, in one way or another, the degree of secrecy is much less. Even when the ring is a secret, many women are careful to drop hints about their tastes so that she gets something like her heart's desire! After all, what man wants to propose to a woman when the answer might be a sad no?
Why Might You Choose An Engagement Ring In Secret?
Even if your girlfriend is expecting your proposal, you might decide to keep the ring a secret from her. Suppose you choose the perfect ring, a ring that delights her and that she will be proud to wear every day. In that case, it will demonstrate just how well you understand her and know her tastes.
Of course, if you go down that route, you should do everything you can to find out about her tastes and preferences. Listen to any hints she drops; look at the jewellery she already wears. Perhaps even ask her closest friends for suggestions.
Shared Choice Or Secret - Which Is Best?
Of course, we cannot tell you what to do! However, we had already discussed becoming engaged. She wanted the whole formal proposal event, and I was happy to go along with her. This meant that the proposal was a formality, but I made it a special occasion. I was, of course, much less nervous about the proposal, which made the event much more pleasant and no less exciting!
We chose the ring together. To be more accurate, she decided, and I paid. On the day that we went out looking for the ring, after a few minutes, I was pretty sure that she had been out to do some scouting around on her own beforehand. Before going out, we had discussed the budget. Fortunately, my suggestion for the budget delighted her, which made the process far more straightforward.
For us, buying the engagement ring together before the formal marriage proposal worked out very well. I'd be happy to recommend making the process joint to anyone who asked me.
My Story Of Buying An Engagement Ring With My Fiancée
We looked around several shops, and she tried on several styles. However, after visiting several shops, we went and had a coffee. While we relaxed a little, she showed me an online diamond jewellery shop on her phone. Conveniently, she was able to show me her idea of the perfect ring. It was similar to several that we had already looked at, but the prices were a little lower.
We did not return to the shops, but later that day, we looked at the online store on a larger screen to better see the details of the ring. Because the prices online were lower than in the high street jewellers', we ended up choosing the style she liked with a larger central diamond with better quality than we could have purchased from the traditional jewellers.
The Voice Of A Jewellery Expert About Choosing Engagement Rings
My opinion is the voice of just one man. Still, Madison Wright, a jewellery designer with her own company Madbaret recently popped up on TikTok recently to suggest that buying an engagement ring should be a joint decision. Opinions by women in comments about the video seemed mixed.
One point on which we differ is that she thinks that the proposal should be a surprise.
One way or another, it seems to me that choosing the ring is an essential aspect of your proposal that needs careful handling. That is true, whichever strategy you choose for the engagement ring and your proposal!
Some Final Thoughts About How To Choose An Engagement Ring
Each couple is different, and there is no single right or wrong way to choose and buy an engagement ring.
One aspect of the purchase that I can heartily recommend, based upon my experience, is this: Whether you eventually buy the engagement ring from a traditional high street retailer or online, you should look at rings online. Do this whether you purchase as a surprise or with your future fiancee. We found that there is a much more extensive choice of rings online, far more than can be found at any regular jeweller.
You can take as much time as you want when browsing online and see a vast range of options.
Many online retailers, including AllDiamond.co.uk, offer a facility to design or specify a custom design as well as their standard offerings. This capability can give the best of all worlds.
We also found that the pricing offered better value than high street jewellers. Your money will go further, and, as we discovered, we could stretch our budget further in terms of diamond size and quality.
Why Should You Trust All Diamond To Provide Engagement Ring?
At All Diamond, we love diamond jewellery. We offer a vast range of diamond rings to suit almost every budget. But the price is not the only factor!
We offer a lifetime workmanship guarantee on everything we sell. To make sure that you are both entirely happy with the engagement ring you choose, we offer a 30-day return and exchange policy.
Our collections of diamond engagement rings are designed, handcrafted and hallmarked in the UK. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us on our online chat system. The chat box is located at the bottom of each product page.
We specialize in providing quality and affordable engagement rings. We can provide you with the most unique and beautiful engagement ring designs at a fantastic price point.
So, please take a few minutes to check our collections of diamond engagement rings and be inspired!
