After you’ve been dating a person for a decent amount of time, the topic of marriage is most likely going to cross your mind. When you know your partner is the one, it is time to set out and purchase an engagement ring. Of course, this isn’t as easy as it might sound. Selecting the right engagement ring can be a process, and it is one that a lot of people are not sure about. There are a few considerations when picking a ring, as well as some mistakes to avoid.

Give yourself a moment to explore some of these tips on how to pick the best ring for your engagement. With a little help, you should be able to find a perfect fit.

Understand What You Need

The worst thing you can do is go to a jeweler without a plan of action. Simply needing an engagement ring is not enough to get you off the ground. Before you even set foot in a physical store, brush up on a few of the basics surrounding engagement rings. Are you going to go the traditional route of using a diamond or similar precious stone? Do you know the difference between one diamond shape and another? These bits of information can get you far when starting your search.

Rushing the entire process is going to lead you down a lot of dead ends. You’re most likely not rushing your wedding, so you should definitely take some time when selecting the best possible ring. You might even find it helpful to talk to your partner a bit before you shop for a ring. Find out what he or she wants since this is the person who is going to be wearing it. If you want the proposal to be a surprise, see if you can ask a friend or family member to covertly get this information.

Financial Considerations

There are a lot of myths surrounding engagement rings. The biggest of these rumors are usually related to how much a person should spend. In the past, it was common for people to spend roughly three-months’ salary on this purchase. Times have changed, of course, and this is no longer a standard that most people are held to. How much you spend should come down to how much you feel comfortable with. You’re going to have to spend money on a wedding after all this, so try not to go overboard.

Discovering the right retailer is going to also require a bit of research on your end. You might already have a place in mind, but not everyone is going to be able to think of the right jeweler without help. It can be helpful to ask around, checking with family and friends about recommendations. Try and keep your options local, as you probably are going to need to make a few visits to the location as you move through the process of picking out a ring your partner will love.

Your Partner’s Needs

Is your partner someone who works with his or her hands a lot? How does he or she feel about rings? Before you buy something, you need to think about the opinions and lifestyle of your significant other. If he or she is someone who will likely not spend a lot of time wearing an engagement ring because of preference or work, then you definitely don’t want to spend a small fortune. Giving yourself time to think about what your partner would benefit from can be a super helpful step.

Getting engaged can be very exciting. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to find the ideal ring for your partner.