Research and Preparation

• 1
  An engagement ring should reflect her jewelry style.Jewelry image by Sergey Yakovenko from Fotolia.com
  
  Find out what your intended might want in a ring. A growing number of couples look for rings together. However, if you want it to be a surprise, try asking her friends or paying close attention to the kind of rings and jewelry she already owns.
  
  
• 2
  Traditionally, the equivalent of two month's salary is about how much you shoud spend on a ring.balancing checkbook image by palms from Fotolia.com
  
  Decide on a budget. The size, type and quality of the ring you purchase will depend on what you can spend.
  
  
• 3). Research the three C's of diamond quality: cut, carat, clarity and color. Here's a short--and quite simplified--lesson: cut influences how the diamond will sparkle, carat indicates the size, clarity describes its flaws, and colors usually range from yellow to colorless.
  
  
• 4
  Wedding rings often match.wedding rings image by Antonio Oquias from Fotolia.com
  
  Consider the wedding rings. Traditionally, his and her wedding bands match, and the bride wears her wedding and engagement ring together. Therefore, it's often convenient to purchase all rings from the same jeweler.
  
  
• 5). Chose a jeweler. A number of different companies host ring design software on their websites (see "Resources" for examples). Research what different jewelers offer, the prices and quality of their product.
  
  

Designing the Band

• 1). Go to the website for the jeweler of your choice. Find the link for designing your own engagement ring.
  
  
• 2
  Gold is a traditional metal for engagement rings.lingots d'or image by dead_account from Fotolia.com
  
  Decide on a metal type. Platinum is the more expensive, but more durable option, with white gold as a good alternative if you want the same color at a lower price. Chose yellow gold only if you're sure she prefers the more traditional metal, as it has become the less popular choice in recent years.
  
  
• 3). Select the setting style category. Most sites include “solitaire,” a band with a single diamond, as well as some variation of designs with two or several side diamonds. Other categories could include settings with colored gemstones and suspended or pavé settings
  
  
• 4). Choose the setting, among a list of options within the selected category. Usually, the prices of the individual bands are noted in the descriptions, and diamonds priced separately.
  
  

Selecting the Diamond

• 1
  The diamond's shape affects how it will sparkle.diamond light effects 2 image by Svenja98 from Fotolia.com
  
  Decide on a shape, probably the most style-defining step in the selection of a diamond. Popular choices include round, princess and radiant, but consider also emerald, asscher, marquise, oval, pear, cushion and heart. Make sure the setting you picked out can accommodate the shape you want, otherwise go back and find another setting.
  
  
• 2). Define the cut, carat, clarity and color of the diamond you want. Most sites will allow you to search for a diamond based on quality specifications and budget.
  
  
• 3). Select the diamond.
  
  
• 4). Specify her ring size. Make sure the assembled ring meets your design and price specifications, and go to the “checkout” to pay for it.
  
  
• 5
  Diamond Ring image by Monika 3 Steps Ahead from Fotolia.com
  
  Choose a shipping option, and enter your personal information to pay for the product.