Choosing the “right” engagement ring can be a difficult decision. After all, she is going to wear this ring for the rest of her life, so you want to make sure she loves it! Whether you want your proposal to be a surprise, or you want her to be involved in the decision, here are some of the main things you'll need to take into consideration:

Choose the Right Metal

Safari Diamond offers its ring settings in high quality platinum, 18K yellow gold or 18K white gold. Here are some comparisons between the two types of metals to consider:

Type	Strength	Price	Characteristics
	Enduring Platinum is the strongest, most pure metal. It will last a lifetime.	More expensive. Platinum is rarer than gold. Safari Diamond’s platinum jewelry is composed of 95% pure platinum.	Strongest jewelry metal Resistant to damage Won't wear away Develops a satin finish Difficult to polish, repair Won't tarnish
	Classic 18k gold – whether white or yellow - is the most common engagement ring setting.	Less expensive. 18k gold is usually composed of 75% gold and 25% metal alloys to give it strength.	Softer, malleable metal More easily damaged Will wear away over years Easy to polish, repair Won't tarnish

For safety, all diamond engagement rings at Safari Diamond are set with the strength of platinum prongs.

Choose the Setting Safari Diamond offers a variety of engagement settings to choose from. Here's a summary of the four most popular styles today:
	Solitaire Settings This is our most popular engagement ring setting. The prongs position the center diamond to catch the most light. All of our diamonds come with your choice of 18K yellow or white gold or a platinum six prong solitaire setting.
	Settings with Sidestones A setting with diamonds or gemstones adds additional sparkle or color. Channel settings protect sidestones from abrasions by keeping them flush. The bar-channel setting allows more light to enter the sidestones, and creates a scalloped edge of brilliance.
	Settings with Matching Bands If you'd like a wedding band to wear on the same finger with your engagement ring, consider settings with wedding bands designed to match..
	Three-Stone Settings For a classic ring that's truly unique and created by you, choose all three diamonds to be set in a three-stone setting. The three-stone ring has one diamond for the past, one for the present, and one for the future.

Choose the Right Ring You Know She’ll Love

How do you know if she'll like the ring if she doesn't pick it out? If you consider her tastes and lifestyle, you'll be sure to make the right choice.

1. Take a good look at the color of jewelry your partner wears. What color is the metal?
2. Ask her friends, mother, or other female family members if she has mentioned a preference for a particular type or style of ring.
3. Is she very active or not used to wearing jewelry? If so, consider a cathedral or contour setting, which will protect a diamond from rough treatment.