How Long Before a Proposal Should You Buy the Ring?

You can spend hours choosing the perfect engagement destination, selecting just the right time, and making sure your appearance is swoon worthy. But you know that the spotlight will always be primarily on the engagement ring! It’s the one jewelry item your significant other has dreamed about her entire life. Meaning that there can be quite a lot of pressure in picking “the one” out of all the options for engagement rings for women.

That being said, you may wonder how early in advance you need to start engagement ring shopping? What is the ideal interval between purchasing the ring and proposing? If you’re thinking of popping the question in the near future, we’ve got the basics on the timeline for buying an engagement ring. Follow the points mentioned below to find the answer to everything you need to know!

The Ultimate Engagement Ring Buying Timeline

There is an ideal time to purchase an engagement ring. You don’t want to shop too early because you’ll have to keep the ring safe and hidden for quite a while. Shopping too late isn’t the best idea either, as some things, such as customization, can’t be rush-ordered. The first step is usually starting with your proposal date.

Step 1: Pick a Proposal Date

You might be able to choose a date all on your own, or you may have to work with friends, family members, a photographer, or whoever else will be involved in your special moment. Choosing a proposal date is important because it will be a guide for all of the next steps in purchasing an engagement ring. Once you have your proposal date, you’ll want to mark your calendar for three to four months in advance; this is when you will want to begin shopping.

Step 2: Begin the Search

Three to four months is ideal because you won’t have to rush your ring research. It is truly mind-boggling how many engagement ring options are available. Unique engagement rings, custom engagement rings, gemstone vs. diamond rings…you name it, you can probably find it. Equally as expansive in choices are retailers. You can choose to shop online or visit a brick-and-mortar jeweler.

You can generally expect to take anywhere from five days to a week or two to do research. Unless you know exactly what you’re looking for, you’ll have to mull over design style, gem choice (which includes cut, color, carat weight, and clarity), material, the correct size, and whether or not you want personalization. In addition to the ring itself, research the retailer. Check out their ratings, reviews, and policies so you can confidently purchase your engagement ring.

Step 3: Narrow It Down

Once you’ve done your research and you’re pretty confident in your choice of retailer and ring design, it’s time to explore the jewelry more closely. You may want to visit certain jewelers to check out the options in person. This can be especially helpful if your significant other wants to try on different styles. Some retailers, like With Clarity, will ship a couple of ring choices directly to your home. So you can see them in person, and your partner can see how they fit and feel.

Step 4: Customization (Optional)

There are a variety of ways to customize a ring. At With Clarity, you can build your ring from scratch, weaving your unique personality and love story through every feature and facet. Alternatively, you may only want to add an inscription or engraving or choose a specific gem for a pre-made setting. Depending on what level of customization you require, this process can often take 3+ weeks, so be sure to factor this into your timeline.

Step 5: Finalizing and Placing the Order

Once you’ve finally found the perfect engagement ring, all that is left to do is finalize and place the order. Double-check that you have the size right, re-read any inscriptions to ensure the characters are correct, and review their ordering timeline once more. This way, you’ll be sure her dream ring will arrive in time for the big day! In many cases, this can take anywhere from one to four weeks.

Engagement ring shopping doesn’t have to be overwhelming as long as you plan ahead. Even if you have a crunched timeline, many jewelers will work with you to meet your deadline once you explain the situation. However, jewelers aren’t miracle workers, so we suggest not expecting an overnight turnaround

Tips for Engagement Ring Shopping

Along those same lines, these important tips will help make your engagement ring-buying experience smoother.

Don’t purchase in haste. There is no right or wrong time to buy an engagement ring, but taking your time can help decrease your stress and ensure you’re purchasing the best ring for your future bride.

Only shop at reputed brands. This is especially true with online retailers. Highly rated brands like With Clarity allow you to try replicas of two of your favorite engagement rings so you can see, feel, and buy it only once you’re one hundred percent confident.

Enjoy the process. We want the engagement ring buying experience to be as comfortable and convenient as possible. Our in-house gemologists can help you through the entire process. Right from helping you pick the right carat weight to customizing a ring and everything in between. Don’t you wish finding a soulmate could be that easy!