One of the biggest decisions a man makes in his lifetime is proposing to the woman he loves. Although it is a very exciting moment in a man’s life, it can also be a bit stressful. One part of the experience that seems to stress out men more than it should is picking out the engagement ring. After all, most men do not have a lot of experience selecting pieces of jewelry. For men who are unsure about how to select the right Engagement Rings, here is a guide to help them through the process. 

Finding Her Favorite Style 

Before a man starts shopping for engagement rings, he needs to know what type of ring his girlfriend prefers. The best way to go about this is to ask her friends and family for recommendations. Women love to talk about jewelry, and almost every woman discusses with her friends the type of engagement ring that she would like. Just be sure that the friends who are consulted will be tight-lipped about the upcoming proposal to avoid ruining the surprise. 

Know the Four C’s 

 The most important part of shopping for Engagement Rings is to understand how the diamonds are rated. This means understanding the four C’s. The first C is clarity. The clarity of a ring refers to how many flaws are found on the stone. Stones that are flawless will have no inclusions, which is the technical term for flaws. As stones improve in clarity, they become more expensive. 

The next C is color. The color of a diamond will be given a letter grade. The clearest and most expensive stones will be rated D, E and F. Cut is the next C to understand. This is the shape the ring is cut into, including cuts like round, heart, princess and pear. It is very important that men find out what cut of ring his girlfriend prefers before he starts shopping. 

The last C is carat. This is the C that most men already know about. Carat refers to the weight of the diamond, and the price obviously rises as the stones get bigger. 

Picking out the Ideal Ring 

The general rule of thumb is that men should spend two or three month’s salary on engagement rings, but men should not feel constricted by this number. A man should spend what he can afford to on the engagement ring without going into debt. As long as he takes into consideration his girlfriend’s engagement ring preferences, she will be sure to love the ring that he picks out. It may take some time to find the perfect ring, but the search for the perfect engagement ring is well worth the effort.