Traditionally, you wear your engagement ring and wedding ring together on the fourth finger of your left hand. As far as how to stack them, tradition holds that you’ll wear the wedding band inside the engagement ring so that it’s closer to your heart (aww).

The most important characteristics you should see while buying engagement rings are the diamond’s cut, color, weight, and clarity. These characteristics determine the worth of your diamond, both price-wise and appearance-wise.

Engagement rings actually date back to ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman times, but the modern engagement ring consisting of a diamond or other gemstone became a trademark for engagements in the Western world in the mid-20th century. Read more about the history of engagement rings.

Engagement rings vary greatly in terms of price. The main factor when it comes to the price is the stone. Diamonds come at a cost, so depending on the type and size of the diamond, a ring can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousand or even tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. The sky is the limit for engagement rings, as the center stone is just one of a ring’s potential features. Just don’t be fooled by the 6 myths about engagement rings that you probably believed.

Other features include side stones, which can be larger than an average center stone, intricate diamond-studded bands, and bands from precious metals. There are all kinds of speculations regarding what a ring should cost from a few months’ salaries to whatever is in the bank. The smartest answer is a delicate balance between the bride-to-be’s dream ring and a realistic sum that won’t keep the couple in overdraft for the next few years and be a cause for strife and friction.

Traditionally, the engagement ring is given when the man proposes. Of course, this scenario cannot and need not occur in every situation. Some couples prefer to shop for the ring together, while others choose to purchase the ring when the budget allows it. The engagement ring ceremony, like the ring itself, is extremely individual and personal and it should be up to the couple or ring giver to decide when the right time should be.

Traditional is a very strong word since every religion, culture, and even family has its own customs. Nevertheless, there is almost a global idea of what a traditional engagement setting should look like. This idea of course changes with the times. For instance, decades ago the typical setting was a white gold setting, which later on changed to a yellow gold setting, and of course went back to white gold, with an addition of platinum, rose gold, and pretty much whatever one’s taste happens to be. For example, today, yellow diamond engagement rings have taken on a major role in the world of absolute must haves. The round shaped stone has been a very common shape for the engagement ring, as has been the pear shape, and princess shape. Cushion and Radiant shapes are beginning to pick up more and more. Less traditional rings are the vintage and retro style rings, which have made a comeback and may very well be the next “traditional” ring one day.

Choosing an engagement ring is an important decision, so it is understandable that it may be accompanied by a myriad of questions. The most important thing to remember is the nature of the ring and the reason behind it. Focus on whom the ring is for and where it is coming from. A ring that is in style may not be for you, and a pricey ring may be what you think you want but it might just cost you your relationship. Be honest and reasonable when selecting a ring and don’t forget to have fun with it!

Technology is moving at a crazy pace, with new innovations happening every day. Scientists have now worked out how to replicate the exact conditions that happened below the ground more than a billion years ago that led to the creation of diamonds. They have done this by taking a small mined seed crystal and growing it in special chambers infused with Carbon gas which helps the small crystal grow into a larger diamond in a matter of months, so creating a laboratory-created diamond.

Whether or not you are looking at a mined diamond or a created diamond, will come down to whether you would like a significantly larger diamond for the same budget (around a 40% bigger diamond) that is created with a sustainable and socially responsible method or a diamond that was created below the ground a billion years ago. You can find out more about created diamonds here.

There are a couple of popular methods when it comes to sizing an engagement ring. The easiest method is pinching a ring that she wears on her ring finger on the other hand. The second is looking at her hands. The average finger size for most ladies is L to M. From there you can go one size on either side of that if you think her fingers are a little larger or smaller than standard. It is always better to go a touch more significant to make sure it goes on, for the proposal. You can see some more tips on choosing the perfect ring size here.

This is a personal question. It depends on how long you have been together and how specific your partner has been in the hint dropping department. Most partners will love the fact that you have gone to the effort of choosing something for them. However, if your partner would like to be involved in the process of having their engagement ring designed, you can still maintain an element of surprise by proposing with the diamond. Your jeweller should be able to have everything included in the price so your partner need not be any the wiser and just enjoy the experience of having the engagement ring designed with sipping champagne or have a glass of whisky.