Five things you need to do before getting an engagement ring

The engagement ring is by far the most important part of a proposal. 

It encapsulates your history and future, the depths of your devotion, love and commitment to the person you’ll be spending the rest of your life with. 

Getting an engagement ring is no small task, but it can definitely be made easier if you have these five things in check. 

If you’re planning to keep the whole proposal as a surprise, including the ring, I suggest you forego a bit of that surprise element and ask what kind of ring she would like.

If she’s not sure where to start looking and need some inspiration, I suggest going on Pinterest or Instagram where there are plenty of images as well as educational information on the different styles and cuts. 

Allow her to take time to explore and figure out which ring she likes best because there are just too many to choose from!

Just imagine everything going so well – you get down on one knee, she says yes to the immortal question but just as you are about to slide the ring onto her finger, you realise that it won’t go past her knuckle. 

Now we don’t want that do we? Knowing her ring size is crucial, don’t let months or weeks of planning go to waste just like that. 

Different countries have ring sizes of different units, hence the safest way to go is to measure in millimeters. Here’s a quick way to find out her ring size – grab a piece of string and wrap it around her ring finger, mark down where it reaches a full loop and then measure the length of the string with a ruler. 

This is probably the most overlooked or neglected thing to do since it depends on what your partner is like. If she is someone who is really close to her family, this might be something she appreciates. 

While different people have different practices and ways of doing things, I believe asking and having your significant other parent’s blessings is important. 

Not only will that put you, the person proposing, at ease, it also reassures your partner and shows that you are taking this seriously.

Getting an engagement ring is a huge investment for many. Thus, it is important to know your budget and work well with it. 

For starters, you need to know your financial capability. Here are some things to think of that may help you determine your financial ability – your current income, your expenses, your savings and your potential income. 

Once you get that sorted out, you would be more or less aware of how much you can afford to spend on the engagement ring. With that, it is time to have an honest conversation about expectations and finances with your partner. 

Talking about the cost of a ring is not the most romantic but it is important for you so that you can look for the ring of her dreams while keeping the price within your budget.

Round cuts are more common in Singapore. But with so many different styles, cuts, grades of diamonds and well, alternative to diamonds, it might be hard to find the ring your partner wants.

For certain designs and cuts that are more uncommon in Singapore, you may have to cast your nets beyond the sunny shores of our country to explore more options in order to get your partner her dream ring. 

And that is why my friends, research is so very important. 

That said, all relationships have ups and downs, but a healthy communication style will make conflicts easier to deal with. Take time to listen and communicate with your partner, maybe even go ring shopping together, so as to achieve a unanimous agreement. 

Good luck!