If you went ring shopping with SO

prodigalgirl

... did you find a particular ring that you loved or just a basic style?  Did you want your SO to do the choosing or did you tell him what you wanted?

We went ring shopping earlier this month.  I thought I'd just have two qualifications (no princess cut and no yellow gold) and that's pretty much how it ended up, although I did LOVE the emerald cut and he said he saw my face light up with that one.

I like that he wanted to see me try some on, but I'm happy that he'll be doing the choosing.  Now, I just have to wait and see what he chose.

He has already figured out how he'll propose and has done some preliminary prep work for it.  He's convinced I'll be surprised, but he has told me it will happen at the beginning of next year sometime.

I'm excited, but fine with waiting.  I love him so much and am enjoying our time as boyfriend/girlfriend before it gets too hectic and crazy with wedding planning.

Anyway, I'm still on a sort of "high" from ring shopping and wanted to hear your experiences =D

KatyRoseM

When we went he told me he was looking for his brother.  I kept pointing out rings my FSIL would like, and I hate.  He got that and tried to guess what I liked from what I said I didn't.  In the end he picked one out, but didn't buy it, after he proposed we went in, and he asked me to pick the one I liked, I picked the same one. 

catemeg

We were planning on just looking at styles, sizes, etc. so that he could pick a ring.  We went to a bunch of different stores, and he got really good at picking out rings that I would love, and immediately recognized when there was something about it I wouldn't like ("No, that one won't work.  She doesn't like the diamond set too far off her finger, so something a little lower."  or "She really likes that milgrain design!  The band isn't too thick, either.")  So I am sure that if he decides to pick something out, I'll absolutely love it.

However, we did find one ring that I just can't stop thinking about, and another that I really loved.  In the end, we sort of left it that he could buy either of those rings (or something similar) and I would be one very happy girl.  He may buy one of those two, or he may pick something else, but if I had to guess, I'd say he'll buy the one setting I can't stop thinking about!

Also, he was super cute when he made a comment about how he couldn't afford much right now, but that someday we'd trade up.  I stopped walking suddenly, and he turned to look at me, and I told him that the styles we had looked at are my absolute dream ring, completely aside from any budget, and that if he had all the money in the world I'd still want that style.  And that I will never trade up - that he's welcome to buy me other jewelry, but I only want one engagement ring for life!  He got all mushy... made me smile!

tafft1

We did go together - He was the one who actually found the setting among hundreds from the first pick - needless to say we came back to it in the end When we were discussing ring shopping I asked if he thought it a good idea for me to try things on when I was out - He agreed and I am glad I did , because though I had styles I loved on paper - on me hands most of them looked terrible!

So because of this he wanted to be there with me - and I had no problem with this and it turned out he knew my style right away , so I had no worries there. Where we went - Shane Co. - you choose your setting and diamond and it was a wonderful experience. This way we didn't have to settle and got an amazing ring too.

He ended up picking out the ring and diamond with me there and put the deposit down , but still surprised me with a proposal a month later. I am all for going together if nothing more than seeing in person how things look / show your SO what you like and looks good on you as well. It is an exciting time..enjoy it

zipis1

We went to get an idea of what I like, as I'm very particular about jewellery (I custom made my class ring and I still wasn't wild about it, that's how picky I am) and wasn't sure what I would want in an engagement ring. Good thing, too, as what I thought I would like - marquise cut -  I ended up hating for an e-ring.

However, we did find one that I fell in love with, which my mom later pointed out looks almost exactly like her old one. I don't know if BF will ultimately get that exact one or something similar. That much is up to him.

jemmini6

BF and I have talked about the basics.  He knows I like princess cut, white gold, and either a plain solitaire or a solitaire with small simple accents.  We've browsed a little at jewelry stores, but mostly online, so he has a visual of what I'm talking about (he doesn't know anything about jewelry) The actual selection of the ring will be up to him, though.  I'm sure I will love anything he picks out (he surprised me with a necklace and earrings for Christmas that I absolutely love, and that was without any suggestions)

bsidebella

We shopped only once so that BF could get a taste of what my style of jewelry was, since he was clueless. All he knew was no yellow gold. I'm picky but I'm not picky at the same time. I thought I would be more involved with the process but that was not the case.

I didn't know when or where he planned on buying a ring, but he ended up having it custom made by his aunt. I have an idea as to what it looks like but he won't show me the real deal, even though he has it in his house. He wants me to be surprised, but I'm kind of scared!

Elle1036

Yeah...  He knew better than to try to pick something out himself.  I'm not exactly big into jewelry, and I have very few pieces that I like so he didn't want to take the risk.

We did some basic research online first...  cuts, sizes, setting types, and then went to a few places to see what would look best on my hand.  In the end, we decided on a custom design so that we could combine a few concepts.  Thankfully, he was content to let me handle all communication with the jeweler.  So while the ring itself won't be at all surprising, when and where I get it will be!

leia1979

About halfway through the process I was about ready to say "I give up, you pick one."  We looked together and after about six stores and looking at tons of rings online, I managed to find only two I liked. I guess I'm picky.  BF wanted to make sure I got what I liked, so he let me decide and we were both there when the order was placed.

He is still going to pick out a less expensive version, possibly to actually propose with and for those times I don't want to wear the real ring. I'm curious to see what he picks. It will either be comically huge or something cool.

GreenPepperBurger

We browsed in a few stores. I kept gravitating to the more expensive ones (not because I think BF should spend a certain amount, I just naturally have expensive taste without even knowing the price tag!) He really didn't have an opinion on any of the rings - he just wanted to see what I liked. I tend to go for a princess cut with a diamond pave band.

loves2shop4shoes

We went shopping together.  Several times.  I thought one carat was a nice size, but I was fine with smaller.  I don't believe in anything over 1.5 carats...it's WAY too flashy IMO.  I hated everything except the cushion cut on my finger.  I also was REALLY picky about settings.  Not too thick of a band, not too thin.  On some bands I'd like the sidestones, on others I hated them.  I liked diamonds all the way around the band, but they had to be channel set, otherwise it looked too gaudy.  I also wanted to make sure the band would be flat enough that a wedding band would sit flat against it and I wouldn't have to get one of those curved wedding bands.  I'm very, very particular about what I like.

FI was terrified that I wouldn't like whatever he got me.  So, he made sure I was there when he bought the ring.  Poor guy.  I picked out the stone and I picked out the setting, but I never saw the ring actually set until he proposed.

It's even more beautiful than I imagined it would be.  And the most beautiful part?  I get to marry the man of my dreams.

catemeg

Thinking about it, I believe my Mom has been a big influence in my tastes for both engagement rings and wedding dresses.  She's got a .75 carat ring with some pave side stones, and I really can't picture having something much bigger or a solitaire or anything with large side stones - I love the pave!!  And her dress was a-line and lace, and that's the only thing I can picture myself in (when I actually go wedding dress shopping, we'll see if that's still true!)

sapphirebaby926

DH and I went ring shopping together and while the goal was to help him with a style that I liked we ended up finding the exact ring I have now.  I tried on several different styles that I thought I liked but they didn't look right on my finger. He actually ended up buying it that day and proposed about 2 months later

courtneylynnd

I told him what I wanted so he got that one but in a bigger size. It's currently on layaway. Wish I had it already!

mellimel19

We've gone together. I don't want to pick the actual ring myself, we just wanted to get some ideas of the styles I liked and what looked good on me. I didn't really have any set criteria other than that I wanted white gold, I like side stones, and didn't want the diamond to sit too high on my finger. I also wanted us to go together because when it comes to an engagement ring I prefer something that is not too blingy, unlike some of my everyday jewelry and costume jewelry.

JeanninePC99

Mine had been working off of some random comments I made over a year ago about rings when he went shopping. 

In my family, couples have always shopped for rings together, using a "family jeweler".  Unfortunatley, they're all in NYC and we're down in Virginia, so that wasn't going to happen.

We went to the jeweler where he buys gift sfor me (I have a thing for David Yurman).  The jeweler was a total doll and realized that what he had been looking for in past visits and what I was attracted to were not close.  She took notes in a little notebook. 

I know the post-shopping high very well!  Enjoy it!!!

brilibby4

We picked out a ring together and he went back and bought it.  The actual proposal was a surprise though.

deburnin

BF and I have gone ring shopping together. First time we went I think it was more of him trying to make me feel better because I was having a REALLY bad week. I found absolutely nothing that I liked. I'm really super picky when it comes to jewelry. 

I went browsing online after that and found an ArtCarved one that I liked the look of and we went to try that on. I *loved* it. We went to a few other places and nothing compared to that ring and I think BF agreed. Earlier this week I tried the solitaire version of the ArtCarved ring and loved that too. I really couldn't choose between them. I think it's mostly the band that I love because it's so unique. BF took the owner's card and said that they'd be in touch.

He won't give me any feedback on what he thinks of either of the rings. He says that's for him to know and me to find out. Boo.

Cosmocity

He was deployed when we first started "looking" so I sent him links. Once he came home I sort of did one of those "oh, while we're in the mall lets pop in Helzberg" tricks I gave him a million different things I liked and only a few I didn't. He ended up picking the PERFECT ring, but honestly, I think I would have loved any ring

jeanacorina

We looked around A LOT online. I showed him several styles I liked, and then we went to a few stores to try rings on. I liked cushion-cut moissanite, with small side stones and yellow gold.

He ended up going by himself and spending 8 hours in a store. He picked out a .75 carat princess cut, with tiny baby diamonds set in the yellow gold band.

It wasn't at all what we talked about. But really, if you took me into a jewelry store blindfolded, spun me around, and then took off the blindfold and said "PICK ONE IN 30 SECONDS OR LESS!" this is the one I would have chosen.

It's what I said I wanted before we ever started looking. It sits a little higher that I would like, but that's not as bad as I expected. I thought I'd be catching it on everything and putting someone's eye out, but that's not the case.

Chasity08

I went with my FI to pick it out. It was fairly easy for my FI to pick one out however, because I already had a ring that I had gotten myself that I loved and was pretty much the only style ring that looked good one me. Why, you may ask? Because I have sausage fingers. That's right. Sausages attached to my hands. Sad...haha. But I am in LOVE with the ring he picked out (aka triple the size I had gotten myself but in the same cut!) and I think he did a fantastic job. And that's all that really matters =]

hollyb78

We've been shopping together. I've told him that I'll love whatever ring he chooses, but he is adamant about getting a ring that I want. We've been to several stores, and always end up looking at similar rings. So now he has a good idea of what I like and don't like, and he's focusing more on getting a good quality ring with good quality diamonds.