5. CHOOSE A SETTING AND A BAND
OK, by this point, you've pulled all your hair out and you picked out the ice. Now all that's left is to decide on the setting and the band. Fortunately, this is much easier than picking out a diamond. Just go with what you think is pretty and what you think she'd like. This is when having one of her friends with you could be particularly handy; she might know her ring style. Some options for the setting include having the diamond jut out or ride low. If it juts out, it might snag on her cashmere sweater, but if it rides low, it's not as showy (and, therefore, what's the point?). Well, we said it before and we'll say it again: go with what you like. Other styles include the cluster, prong-solitaire, bar, gypsy, and channel settings. As for the band, usually it's gold, white gold, or platinum. It's a good idea to see what kind of jewelry she already has so that you can be sure it matches, but if you're completely clueless, silver is a safe bet. (Note: several of our readers have told us that silver looks too cheap. Our response: hey, you can't put a price on love anyway, so why try?)And there you have it! Print this SYW out, take it with you to the jewelry store, and buy the perfect engagement ring. Once again, we reiterate that you don't have to spend so much that you have to sell a kidney. First find the one you like, then see how scary the price tag is, then bargain the jeweler down to a price you can afford (remembering that your first offer should be less than you're willing to spend, so that you can still afford the final offer), then propose to your sweetie!
Have a happy honeymoon!
PS- We're sure it'll last forever, but just in case, keep the receipt. Rings are returnable. Tattoos are not.
