The classic engagement ring is composed of two parts,  a diamond and a setting. For the best value, find the  setting she'll love then devote the remainder of your  budget to a beautiful, certified diamond. How much should I spend? This is an emotional event, and a purchase that will last a  lifetime. The two-months salary convention is a common  starting point, but we believe that regardless of the amount you budget, your most important considerations should be  quality and value.

How to chose an Engagement Ring?
Discovering what kind of ring she likes can be a challenge if you want to keep your proposal a secret. We'll give you a list of all the points you'll need to know before you begin shopping, as well as some secret methods for discovering her ring size as well as her taste in engagement rings.

Chose from these setting styles:

Most popular engagement ring  setting. The prongs position a center diamond to catch the most light.	Side diamonds or gemstones adds additional sparkle or color. Channel settings protect side stones from abrasions by keeping them flush.	Classic ring that's truly unique and created by you. The three-stone ring has one diamond for the past, one for the present, and one  for the future.	If you'd like a  wedding band to wear on the same  finger with your engagement ring, consider settings with wedding bands designed to match.

To chose the ring metal, consider the differences between platinum and 18k gold :

Metal	Character	Price	Care/Repairs
Platinum	Enduring. Platinum is the strongest, most  pure metal. It will  last a lifetime.	More expensive. Platinum is rarer than gold. Platinum jewelry is composed of 90-95% pure  platinum.	Infrequent/more difficult. Strongest jewelry metal Resistant to damage Won't wear away Develops a satin finish Difficult to polish, repair Won't tarnish
18K Gold	Classic. 18k gold is the most common engagement ring setting.	Less expensive. 18k gold is composed of 75% gold and 25% metal alloys to give it strength.	More often/easy. Softer, malleable metal More easily damaged Will wear away over years Easy to polish, repair Won't tarnish

How do you choose a ring she'll love without her knowing?
How do you know if she'll like the ring if she doesn't pick it out? If you consider her tastes and lifestyle, you'll be sure to make the right choice.

1. Take a good look at the color of jewelry your partner wears. What color is the metal?
2. Ask her friends or mother if she has mentioned a preference for a particular type or style of ring.
3. Is she very active or not used to wearing jewelry? If so, consider a cathedral or contour setting, which will protect a diamond from rough treatment.