[gaia]

I agree with what a lot of people said. But I have to add a VERY IMPORTANT Point. You're a student. You're on a budget. You really should consider buying online. You'll save a lot of money. I did. My husband and I ended up buying our rings online (edit)(engagement and wedding ring for me, wedding band for him) and we saved hundreds of dollars by buying online instead of at a store at the mall.
I also agree with other people that you should not go into debt for a wedding ring. Good luck!

[Guest]

With the certifications to support my 'hobby', I could bore you with details, but I will try not to do so. My thoughts:

1) Take him shopping at the local mall. Look at rings in the window, enter a jewelry store only if HE
wants to do so. For some men, it's a lot like shopping for Lingerie...They like the look, they're just not crazy about the shopping.

2) Share with him your likes and dislikes..as to shape, size and color. Are you a "bigger less quality" kind of woman or a "smaller more quality" kind of woman?

3) Do not encourage him to go into debt in order to buy you an engagement ring...what's your hurry?
Financial issues are the NUMBER ONE reason why marriages end in divorce in the U.S....#1 !!

4) Encourage him to buy the stone seperate from the setting...for many reasons. Jewelers of all kinds, at every level, are at a HUGE advantage when they sell you a ring that has a stone already set in it.

Yeah, I know, the jeweler down the street is a family friend, is fair, honest and would never do...

The online 'store' with the color and the river in its name is a good place for him to START doing his homework. He may end up there for his purchase or he may not.

Next to choosing you, doing this, is probably the third most important thing he will do in his life, after marrying you and becoming a father -IMO, so he doesn't want to screw it up.

YOU need to be real honest and put the dots real close together, so your future fiance sees your message clearly. Don't assume that he knows what you want. Educate him on what you 'hope for' and then allow him the once in his lifetime opportunity of asking you for your hand in marriage.

It doesn't get any better than that, does it?

If you're interested, I have a couple of threads of a similar nature in this forum. I asked for people's opinions and I received them. You might find them helpful too.

I wish you the best (him too).