Every girl dreams of the perfect proposal – and usually that perfect proposal includes fantasies about the perfect ring.

Guys, we know the pressure’s on. From all those wedding magazines “casually” lying around your house, to the incessant nagging and even to the ultimatums (if you don’t propose by the end of the year, it’s over!)…we get it. It’s time. You want to make her happy – and you DO love her. You know you want to spend the rest of your life with her. The natural next step is popping the big question.

But wait a minute – you need a ring! What do all those C’s mean again? How big of a ring should you get? Why do rings fluctuate so much in price? And where should you get one from?

Well, we’re here to help. Let’s flush out all those details right now – before the end of the year gets here and that ultimatum kicks in.

Marquise Cut – Oval with pointed ends

Round Cut - This is the most popular cut and looks just like it sounds

Princess Cut – This is a square-shaped diamond and also a very popular choice.

Asscher Cut - This is a square shape that appears octagonal because of all its facets.

Emerald Cut – This is rectangular with cropped corners.

Cushion Cut – This is a cross between a rectangle and an oval (aka antique cut).

Pear Cut – This is a round diamond with a point on one end

Heart Cut – This diamond is in the shape of a heart – how romantic!

There are also the 4 C’s to keep in mind when shopping for a diamond:

Carat - This is used to describe how big a diamond is. The bigger the carat, the bigger the diamond!

Cut – These are literally the different cuts (or shapes) of a diamond. See above for descriptions of all the different cuts.

Clarity – This describes how many inclusions or flaws a diamond has. The higher the clarity, the more brilliant (and sparkly) the diamond. Your jeweller will give you more details about all the different levels of clarity there are.

Color – This refers to the color of a diamond. Contrary to popular belief, diamonds come in many different shades. However, white diamonds are the most popular when it comes to engagement rings.

Now, the scariest question – how much should you spend on a ring? The old assumption is that a man should spend at least 3 months’ worth of his salary on the ring. This is no longer the case. A more practical rule of thumb these days is to go with what you can comfortably afford. Decide on a budget you feel good about and then go shopping. Remember, that ring on her finger could be the down payment for your future home together! And besides, you’ve chosen a gem. She knows the size and price of her ring doesn’t correspond to how much you love her.

If you’re looking for an engagement ring, we’ve got a few places in Southgate that you can visit: Birks, Peoples, Mappins, Premier Jewellers, Michael Anthony, Ben Moss Jewellers and King’s Fine Jewellery all offer great options at varying price points.

Feel better? Good. Now that you’ve got a ring, you can focus on making the proposal a perfect memory.

We love a good love story. Congrats to everyone who gets engaged this Valentine’s Day – we wish you all the best in your future life together.

SG