It’s great that you’ve found the love of your life and decided that you’re ready to pop the question, but now you’re tasked with the all-important responsibility of picking the perfect engagement ring.

Many guys, especially those with little knowledge or experience in buying jewelry, find choosing an engagement ring to propose to their partner a highly stressful experience. Not only are you ultimately going to be parting with a lot of money, there are various other factors to take into consideration when shopping for an engagement ring such as the color, size, shape, and cut.

So, if the stress of choosing a faultless engagement ring is putting you off getting down on one knee, read on for our top stress-busting tips.

Tip #1. Give Yourself Time

Rushing around when choosing an engagement ring is never a good idea. Since engagement rings cost a lot and your partner is likely going to be wearing it on her finger for the rest of her life, it’s important to give yourself plenty of time to research, shop around, and make the right choice.

If possible, wait until you’ve finally found your perfect ring before start planning your proposal; this way you can focus on one thing at a time and will be under less pressure if there’s no rush to be all set for a planned proposal date.

Tip #2.  Ask

It’s simple really – just ask your partner what she’d like from an engagement ring! If you want your proposal to be a surprise, then there’s no need to let on that you’re planning to get down on one knee soon. Plus, it could take months for you to find a ring you know your significant other will adore; that’s plenty of time to plan a surprise proposal.

Or, if you really don’t want your partner to have any sort of clue as to what you’re planning, then you could ask a friend or family member with asking them and reporting the answer back to you.

Tip #3. Go Ring Shopping Together

Yes, really! Engagement ring shopping together is becoming more of a popular thing these days. And, it makes sense as when you shop together, you can decide on the perfect ring as a couple, whether you’re looking for traditional diamond halo engagement rings, or want something a little bit more unconventional.

In addition, ring shopping together means that you’re more likely to find good deals and bargains, and there’s no chance of your partner not being happy with a ring that she’s helped to pick herself. On the downside, there’s no element of surprise involved when you choose together.

Tip #4. Ask Her Best Friend

This one is a bit risky if your partner and her best friend are known for sharing everything with each other, but for the sake of not ruining such an amazing surprise, most best friends are willing to keep the details to themselves (at least until you’ve proposed).

If you know that s/he’ll be willing to keep your secret, you can ask your girlfriend’s best friend to help you narrow your search down. If you’re lucky, they might even be able to pinpoint one particular ring for you that your partner adores.

Tip #5. Check Out Her Jewelry

Paying more attention to the type of jewelry that your partner currently wears is a great way to give yourself a better idea of the style she will prefer the most for her engagement ring. For example, if she tends to purchase more conventional jewelry types, a diamond is probably your best option. On the other hand, if she likes quirkier, more unconventional pieces, then shop around for something different.

Even if your partner doesn’t wear a huge number of rings, study the type, style, color, and carat of her current jewelry to decide on an engagement band that fits her look.

Tip #6. Get Advice

There’s no need to go it alone when shopping for an engagement ring. With plenty of places to turn to for advice, you can find tips and tricks everywhere. Search online for tips from bloggers and real-life couples, or turn to your jeweler for more information on choosing the right cut. You could even draft in the help of a family member or best friend (preferably one who’s successfully chosen an engagement ring for their own partner) to help you make the right choice.

Tip #7. Do Your Research

When it comes to choosing an engagement band, you’ll have a huge assortment of different styles, colors, shapes, gemstones, and cuts to choose from. So, it’s no surprise that many hopeful bridegrooms find this aspect of popping the question a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack!

Before you set out on a quest for the perfect ring, turn to the internet where you can get clued up on all the different types of engagement rings. This way, it will be easier to filter out the styles you know your partner won’t like and narrow your search.

Tip #8. Have a Firm Budget

Knowing exactly how much you’re willing to spend and being sure that you can afford to do so takes a lot of the stress out of picking an engagement ring.

Once you work out exactly how much you can spend, you can narrow the rings you look at down to ensure that they fit your budget. This will not only save time, it can also help you to resist the temptation of overspending. After all, it’s nice to be able to splash out on an engagement ring, but if she says yes, then don’t forget that you’ll have a wedding to pay for, too.

Tip #9. Get a Customized Ring

Remove the ‘choice’ factor and instead, design a custom-made ring that’s completely unique. Not only is this hugely romantic and sentimental, you’ll also be able to get exactly what you want, without the stress of trawling the high street to find it.

Handmade and custom engagement rings are rapidly rising in popularity; after all, who wants the same engagement ring as somebody else?

Tip #10. Shop Online

There’s a reason for all those memes online about guys in shopping malls! If you’re not a fan of hitting the high street, then we have good news for you – there are plenty of online stores today where you can find engagement rings in all styles that are suitable for any budget.

Even better; online rings can often be much cheaper, and you can find a plethora of deals that aren’t available in-store. All the shopping can be done from the comfort of your own sofa and you don’t even have to turn the TV off. Winner!

Tip #11. Get the Size Right

Not knowing your girlfriend’s ring size could result in you buying her a ring that ends up cutting the circulation off to her finger. So, don’t make the mistake of guessing when it comes to ring size – it’s very hard to tell just by looking, even to a trained eye!

One of the simplest ways to discover your partner’s ring size is to take a ring from her jewelry box (preferably one that you know she wears on her ring finger, rather than her middle finger) and take it to a local jeweler who’ll be able to tell you what size the ring is. If the ring you’ve used does indeed fit her, then voila, you have your size.

 Tip #12. Pick the Right Metal

The metal that you choose for an engagement ring is an even more important decision than the stone. With platinum, silver, yellow gold, white gold, and even rose gold to choose from, it can be hard to decide which is best.

In general, platinum is the best choice to make since this metal is high-quality and hypoallergenic, meaning it won’t cause any nasty reactions, even if your partner has sensitive skin.

Tip #13. Get to Know Your Gemstones

Being familiar with the type of gemstones available will make your search for the dream ring much easier. Whether you want to play it safe and opt for the traditional diamond or add a splash of color with an emerald, sapphire, or ruby, it’s good to know exactly what you’re looking for.

If you’ve got your heart set on a diamond ring, but want the unique and fresh look of many colored gemstones, you might want to opt for a tinted diamond, which comes in a range of shades from pink to black.

Tip #14. Relax!

Lastly, relax! Choosing an engagement ring for your partner can only be as stressful as you allow it to be. Remember that there’s no need to worry about meeting unrealistic expectations and the price tag on a ring doesn’t represent your feelings! An engagement ring is a personal, special gift that should above all be chosen with love.

Picking the perfect engagement ring doesn’t have to be stressful! If these tips help you, please tell us all about it in the comments!