So, fearless man who is getting serious, the time has come for you to pop the question. If you're thinking of going down on one knee and asking her to marry you in the traditional way, you'd better have the engagement ring handy. You'll be surprised to know, however, that much in the way of marriage proposals has changed over the past decades, and in lockstep, so too have the options when it comes to engagement rings. This is a good place to start learning.

While it's becoming more popular for couples to decide to become engaged in an off-hand manner and then venture down to the jeweler to choose the engagement ring together, many women still feel there's something special about wearing a ring that their beau has chosen especially for them. Accordingly, you'll want to make the right choice when it comes to an engagement ring.

Making the Right Choice of Engagement Ring
Before you can even consider looking at rings, you need to find out a few basic things about engagement rings in general, but most importantly, the potential preferences of your girlfriend:

- What is her ring size?
- Does she prefer platinum, yellow or white gold? Do you know?
- Does she prefer simple styles or would she prefer an engagement ring that will be instantly noticed?
- Do you know what kind of cut of stone she prefers?

By studying the kind of jewelery your bride-to-be (yes, that's what she'll become!) generally wears, you can find out a lot about her tastes. If she wears simple jewelery, this may be a sign that a diamond solitaire may be more appropriate than a flashy engagement ring carrying a cluster of gems.

Be aware of any jewelery she admires, especially engagement rings. If she appears to be particularly impressed by a certain ring, make a mental note of the cut and shape of the stone and the color of the gold.

The ring you choose should reflect her personality—she'll be wearing it for a long time, after all.

Read more about engagement rings from GroomGroove.com:

• A short and sweet guide to diamond rings
• What is a GIA Certificate and do you need one?
• Buying an engagement ring online
• Should the engagement ring be a surprise?
• Two Months Salary!?!
• Diamond Engagement Ring Calculator
• Learn about the metals in a men's wedding ring (Yes, you'll wear a ring, too!)

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