Regardless of your budget, shopping for an engagement ring is never easy. It doesn’t matter if you have a $1,000 budget or $100,000 – you still need to carefully look at certain factors before making a decision. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Buy a jewelry she likes.

You might wonder, how exactly will you know what kind of jewelry your girlfriend likes? The best thing you can do is to listen intently every time she talks about jewelry, especially diamond rings. Every once in awhile, she will give you hints like “I absolutely love Jenny’s vintage engagement ring!” or “Why would John give her a pink diamond ring?”

2. Every diamond ring is different.

Guys like us may not realize that all jewelry are not the same. They’re not merely hard sparkling rocks that you put on her finger. They vary in quality so before you decide, you need to familiarize yourself with the 4Cs – cut, clarity, color and carat so you’ll get more value for your money.

3. Buying a custom engagement ring is a good idea.

You may have the notion that customizing the ring is going to be expensive but this is not always the case. Sure, it’s so much more convenient to just buy what’s available at the store, but wouldn’t it be nicer if you can give her a ring that truly embodies your soon-to-be fiancée or perhaps signify something that means so much to the both of you? Besides, you can easily get a few quotes from several jewelers to find out if you can afford it.

4. You need to have a realistic budget.

Unless you are going to give your girlfriend a ring that doesn’t have real diamonds in it, you have to face the fact that buying an engagement ring is going to cost you a significant amount of money. But unless you have a set budget, you could end up spending twice or thrice what you can afford. Make sure you have a price in mind and don’t be afraid to tell the jeweler your limit. Let them know that you are not going to deviate from this amount otherwise they are going to try to sell you the more expensive rings.

5. Get advice from your engaged or married friends.

Ring shopping is not something us guys do all the time, right? It’s not like buying a pair of shoes in which we already know what to look for. So naturally, you’re going to have a difficult time on your first ring shopping trip. And that’s exactly why you should ask for support from your buddies who have already been engaged or married. They can give you sound advice on what you should and shouldn’t do, and they can even go shopping with you or at least point you to the right stores.

Make your engagement the perfect moment for you and your special someone. Give her the most beautiful diamond ring you can afford.