When shopping for a ring, be it for a gift or an engagement, the best advice is to become an educated consumer. Once you set a realistic budget range, shop around and familiarize yourself with both traditional and new styles. Clip out photos of rings you like from magazines and catalogs. Ask the store salesperson to present a selection of rings to try on and to learn what appeals to you in terms of stone cut, shape, and settings.
Full Article: How to Shop for the Perfect Ring