While your love cannot be defined by a material object, engagement rings and wedding rings sets symbolize your commitment and eternal love. Shopping for the perfect ring requires much thought and consideration, and often takes more than one trip to the jewelry store. To speed up the process, and reduce your level of stress – turn to the tips below.

Determine Your Budget
An excellent place to start is by determining your budget. Your wedding ring is an investment, in both finances and your partnership. Engagement rings are available for all budgets, but the average ring costs 2 to 3 months’ salary. Financing is available in most jewelry stores, but you may want to save up – or set aside your next bonus check to ensure you have a nice down payment.

Determine Her Ring Size
Determining her ring size is a bit trickier than you might think. Pay attention to the rings she wears on a daily basis, and to which one she wears on her left hand ring finger. Try to sneak one of her rings away for a few hours while you head to jewelry store to determine sizing.

Ask for Help Determining Her Style
While you are sneaking a peak in her jewelry box, snap a few pics so that you can get a better idea of her style – but remember that diamond engagement rings are often more formal than everyday rings. Your best bet is to reach out to a friend or family member who knows how to keep your impending proposal a secret. If you are lucky, she has already discussed her ring dreams with one of her friends.

Learn the Basics of Diamond Shopping
Expect to be overwhelmed by your options, but ease your stress by learning a few basics before you head to the jewelry store. For starters, learn a bit more about the 4 C’s:
• Cut – what shape diamond does she want, and how many diamonds total?
• Color – white diamonds aren’t the only option, in fact diamonds come in every color of the rainbow
• Carat Weight – carat weight is directly related to the size of the primary diamond, if you have multiple diamonds you will have an overall carat weight and an individual carat weight
• Clarity – clarity refers to how “perfect” the gemstone is under magnification. Even if the inclusions aren’t visible, she may prefer a rare beauty.

While this may seem self-explanatory, the varying options in each of the 4 C’s will drastically affect the cost of the ring.

Consider Other Gemstones
While diamonds are available in all colors of the rainbow, a diamond engagement ring is not your only option. Consider rubies, emeralds, and sapphires– either as complementary gems or as the centerpiece. Depending on your bride’s sense of style, you could forgo diamonds altogether.

She Will Need a Wedding Band Too
While the engagement ring is your top priority, you will also have to select a wedding band. Some rings are sold in sets, some can be mixed and matched – and all options can be fully customized. Weigh the pros and cons of a plain wedding band so that you can invest more in the engagement ring, but also consider the stylistic benefits of a complementary design.

Know Your Precious Metals
While the diamond, design and setting is certainly top of mind – don’t forget to consider the precious metal the band and setting is made from. The most popular choices are:
• Gold
• White Gold
• Rose Gold
• Platinum

Don’t Forget You
Many couples opt to have a common theme in their rings, at the very least having the same precious metal. That being said, since many men wear little to no jewelry, there is often a bit of flexibility when it comes to selecting the wedding band you will wear. Also determine how much you want to spend on your wedding ring.

Think Ahead
While your current focus is on getting an initial “yes,” also think ahead a bit to whether or not you plan to give the gift of jewelry for anniversaries. A popular trend is to invest in additional bands to celebrate milestone anniversaries. While you certainly wait to select those upgrades, consider if the current ring is easily complimented.

Select a Trusted Jeweler
There is a reason that Kranich’s Jewelers has been in business since 1903 – it’s because we are a trusted Pennsylvania jeweler. While it might be tempting to go with a less-known or even an online-only jeweler, you want to protect your financial investment by selecting a jeweler who you can trust to be honest about cost, quality, service and ongoing needs.

Take Your Time
Shopping may not be your favorite pastime, but don’t feel obligation or pressure to find the perfect ring on the first try. If you are lucky, a ring will capture your attention and simply feel right from the second you lay eyes on it – but you may need some time to think it over. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get it right before you plan your proposal.

Understand Your Jewelers Return & Exchange Policy
Just in case you don’t get it right, you need to know that you can return or exchange the ring you purchase. At Kranich’s, we want both you and your bride-to-be to be happy, which is why we offer a 30-day return policy on all of our in-stock jewelry – restrictions apply for special and custom orders.
Family owned and trusted since 1903, Kranich’s Jewelers is home to the largest selection of diamonds and fine jewelry in the region. Whether you’re shopping online or in-store at one of four locations, you can expect great value and honest service when you’re shopping our selection of engagement rings. Shop our selection today, and discover why so many of our customers become customers for life after working with Kranich’s Jewelers.