Maybe you and your partner have already candidly discussed your future as a couple, and naturally, the next step would be getting the ring. But should this be a collaborative effort? According to our 2017 Jewelry & Engagement Study—for which we surveyed more than 14,000 engaged or newly married people—one in three couples (33 percent) report shopping for the engagement ring together. Clearly, brides are taking matters into their own hands (no pun intended), even if they might be in the minority.
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As far as we’re concerned, this is a decision that totally depends on the couple. If you’re a bride who completely trusts your partner to pick out a ring that fits your style and taste, then leave it at that—he’ll know what to do. But if you’re nervous your partner might go rogue, it might be a good idea to preemptively get involved. In fact, 6 percent of brides in our study wish they would have had more say in the purchasing process.
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It’s also important to note that two heads might be better than one when it comes to making a major decision like this. The majority of grooms in our study (72 percent) reported facing challenges throughout the purchasing journey due to their lack of “ring knowledge.” For instance, 35 percent of them feared they were getting ripped off, and 28 percent felt impeded by their unfamiliarity with diamond terminology. So if you consider yourself a jewelry connoisseur, it might be a good idea to tag along for the simple purpose of helping your partner out.
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Again, this is something that’s up to you (and your partner). Maybe you’re a romantic and want to be totally surprised, or as a realist, perhaps this purchase seems too substantial to leave up to one person’s decision-making. Whatever you decide, if you communicate effectively, you’ll end up with a ring that’s totally you.