If you’re in a serious relationship and are sure you’ve found the one you want to spend the rest of your life with, it’s time to start looking for the one perfect shared prong diamond ring. What you’ll find out once you start your search is that the styles are endless, there are now dozens of designer collections to choose from, and in addition to your local neighborhood jewelry store you can also find engagement rings at “destination” stores that specialize in engagement rings, mass merchants who sell wedding ring sets, and online retailers. I’ve worked in the engagement ring industry for nine years and have consulted countless family members, friends and couples with their searches. Here are the top five things you need to know before you buy your engagement ring:

Make sure the ring has a thick metal shank and is stamped with the metal mark, for example PT or PT 950 for platinum or 18K or 14K for a yellow gold or white gold ring. The metal should be polished and should not have any porosity or rough casting spots.

Buy Something She Will Like

Easier said than done? Not really. Before you start to look for the ring, take a look at the types of jewelry your intended already wears. Is it yellow gold? Or does she prefer white gold? If she always wears silver, then she is a white metal lover, and would probably adore a platinum 5 stone diamond rings. However, if your budget will not stretch to platinum, then consider buying a white gold ring instead. Do not buy a white gold ring if you only ever see her wearing yellow gold jewelry!

Keep It Simple

If you are really unsure whether she would like a cluster, a trilogy, a channel set diamond band or a twin stone ring, stick with a classic solitaire. After all it has been the most popular style for engagement rings since the mid 1960s or thereabouts for a reason! Make sure you buy a good diamond and that the band is the right color metal and she will love it.

Buy It Online

Shopping around can be an exhausting business but it is essential to do up-front research when buying shared prong diamond ring. The internet is a goldmine of information and it is easy to shop around and compare prices from the comfort of your own laptop. Furthermore, many jewelry outlets are often able to offer great bargains for diamonds bought online, which means that you can buy a better diamond for the same money. And that has got to be a bonus!