Statistics to help you choose you the right engagement ring

Planning to pop the question this Valentine’s Day and you are a little confused regarding how to go about it, let us help you out with some good old advice. It is a famous adage “Do in Rome as the Romans do” so it is always best to know and tow the trend. So before you start to look for the right ring for your partner we will give you some well researched facts about engagement rings sales in the year 2011.

The research shows that there has been a decline in the average dollars spend on the engagement rings and bands in the last couple of year and not the average engagement rings cost somewhere around $5,200 on the ring while in 2008 couple used to spend $5,800 for their engagement bling.

Coming to the size of the centre stone generally people are opting for 1-ct size of the centre stone irrespective of the color and the total carat weight of the ring did not exceed 1.4-cts. One more clear preference that came to light in the survey was that the most popular ring metal was white gold with as many as 73% of the participants opting for it the other preferred metal was Tungsten with 27 percent of grooms choosing this metal.

As for the shape of the centre stone, the most popular round shape had the maximum numbers of taker with 53% while princess shape was the next best polling figures of 30%. As for what is the ideal posture while proposing, the survey shows that 77 percent of grooms proposed on bended knee and most of them almost 71 percent had even asked the permission of the bride’s parents. These chivalrous mannerisms have definitely shown an upward trend since 2008.

When these respondent couples were asked if they designed their rings with a jeweler or made some custom changes to an existing design less than half approximately 41 percent replied that they chose to add personal elements to the Ruby Engagement Rings. Replying to the question if this ring was a complete surprise to the bride, most of the couples said that no matter where rings are purchased, brides are helping to select their rings. If we put this statistically a majority of brides almost 65 percent are at least somewhat involved in the ring selection. If we segregate on the levels of involvement nearly 31 percent were very involved in this process and they shopped the ring with their groom. A trend that saw a decline in these years was brides visiting a retailer in-person without her fiancé which was now at 21% instead of the previous 30 percent for brides who got engaged in 2008.

If you are a kind who does not like to compromise and prefer the ruby jewelry, then the trends show that average engagement ring cost in this segment is around $13,500 as for the ring carat size it is 1.5-cts for center stone and the total weight of the ring is more than 2-cts.

Another fashion observed lately is the proposals are increasingly becoming public affairs. Though the percent is still under half at 47% but that is a significant rise from 32% in the year 2009. Reports are that 43 percent of grooms meticulously plan the proposal down to the last detail.

Customization is even more popular with the luxury ring-buying segment; more than half (59 percent) chose to incorporate custom-design elements.

No matter where rings are purchased, however, brides are helping to select their rings. The majority of brides (65 percent) are at least somewhat involved in the ring selection, with nearly 31 percent being "very involved"—meaning, they shopped for and/or purchased the ring with their groom. Additionally, 21 percent of brides will actually visit a retailer in-person without her fiancé, a decrease from 30 percent for brides engaged in 2008.

The survey took place in February 2011 and was administered by Digital Research Inc.

There is still a debate whether the engagement rings should be a complete surprise, or should the woman who is going to wear it also have input on the ring style. If you go out to find what is the general response it is mixed. But a general trend that even though most of the ladies love a surprise, but when it comes to the ring very few of them want it to be a complete surprise.

More than half of the women in general want to have their opinion asked before deciding on anything in short even if the proposals date, time and place can be a surprise but the ring should be chosen with her consultation. So, all you GUYS out there are treading a very precarious road, you have to make the proposal a surprise but at the same time Have your girl pick the ring of her choice. So, let us help you out with some good old advice.

Ask you lady love to browse the jewelry site and pick up a couple of settings that she likes the most. Make it as informal as you can, even you can even sit with her when she is doing this and share your thoughts about each setting so you may get an idea about her choice. If you want it to be a surprise don’t give her the idea this ring is for her. Instead tell her that you are helping your friend in choosing his engagement ring. If you get to know her favorite setting the battle is half won. Now the centre stone again is a BIG THING!!! But don’t rush it immediately let a few days pass then you can again start of a casual conversation regarding gemstone engagement rings. Try to find out “If she shares the view that diamonds are girl’s best friend” or she likes Duchess of Cambridge’s Sapphire engagement ring. Some girls even have a special liking for ruby engagement rings or may be the emeralds.

Now you know the setting as well as the stone now comes the shape. Very few girls are very particular about the shape mostly they are more worried about the SIZE. So, try to make BIG!!! For doing this you can go for a ring that has a centre surrounded by a 'ring' around it. This gives an impression of a big ring though the individual stones are smaller. Also you can go for a fancy cut like an Emerald cut that give an illusion of bigger stone size. Avoid the diamonds on the shank because they are hardly long lasting (she has to wear it for a long time) and another drawback is if you have diamonds on the shank resizing the ring is difficult.