You have been thinking about it for months and now you know the time is right, the person is right, and it is time to propose. The engagement ring hunt is on and you have to do it right.

What do you need to know?

There is a small list of things you will want to know before you start the engagement ring hunt. You will need to know your girlfriends taste or style. This is pretty easy, as I am sure that there have been plenty of subtle hints that have been dropped over the time you have been dating. Now it is time to tune into to those hints. If you have been oblivious over the past few months, go to the mall and walk by a jewelry store. This will definitely get some sort of dialogue started. If it does not, then it is time for plan B. Ask her girlfriends! They are always a source of good information.

The next thing you need to know is your budget. You must know what your budget is in order to know where to start the search and what you should be looking to purchase.

The fake ring proposal?

Many people have opted to use a fake ring to propose. They will use a ring that contains a CZ or a novelty ring. Once she says “Yes” then you can go shopping together. This seems to be a newer economic trend, and I am not sure how much I subscribe to this method.

How much should it cost?

Do you remember the old saying “An engagement ring should cost as much as two months’ salary?” Baloney! Your ring should cost as much as you feel comfortable spending, whether that is one months’ salary or a year salary. You should not lose the house buying a diamond ring. Buy responsibly! There are some good deals out there if you know where to look. Find out how much you are able to spend and then move on from there.

Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat.

Clarity defines and grades the number of internal inclusions and external blemishes a stone may have. Clarity is important because the fewer flaws the brighter the stone will be.

Diamond Color refers to the interior body color of the diamond.  This varies from colorless or clear to yellow brown and other colors.  The less color in a diamond the more expensive the diamond will be, however if there is a strong intense color like rare reds or blues then they will be more expensive than clear diamonds.  Always view a diamond’s color on a white background, as black background will make any diamonds appear white.

Diamond Cut is not the shape, but how well it is faceted.  Simply put, the better the diamond’s cut the brighter and more brilliant the diamond will be.

Diamonds are measured in Carats and Points. Points are sub units of carats, like inches are to a foot.  There are a hundred points in every carat.  Diamonds are priced in different price brackets, for instance, .50 carats, .75 carats or 1 carat.  Once a diamond crosses over one of these thresholds the price will rise significantly.

There are a few websites that offer free services to assist you even more.  BlueNile offers a great service to help you purchase a diamond and a diamond ring setting.  ADiamondIsForever also offers a very good service when you are looking to purchase a diamond engagement ring.  One of my favorites is the Ritani Concierge Service.  They will walk you through the steps to find the perfect diamond and perfect setting to complete the perfect engagement.  These are just some of the free services that are available and are worth spending the time to explore.

Remember a Diamond is Forever and you want to make sure that the special moment is perfect is every way, so do your homework and buy the perfect ring.