STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

informal poll: engagement ring shopping?

smash · Dooney & Bourke

one day, about 2 years before he actually proposed to me, we just went into a ring store when we were out walking around so i could determine what my ring size was -- i never wear rings, so i had no idea. when we were there i tried on all different sizes and shapes of rings and i kind of mentioned which ones i liked and didn't like. i'm actually glad we did that because i always thought i wanted a square shaped ring, and those really didn't work for my hand when i tried them on. but i never said "this is the ring i want" and the ring he picked for me (size, shape, setting, etc) was 100% a surprise. i preferred it that way. he did a great job on his own.

congrats on getting closer to being engaged! :)

Alikat · Kate Spade

We went shopping together and looked around. I think that if you have any serious preferences its good for him to know so he can consider them. Also I think rings look way different when they are on your finger than in pictures.

At first my fiance wasn't too keen on my preference of a gemstone engagement ring, which I really wanted. His parents are pretty traditional about all things wedding, so he was worried they might disapprove or think he was cheap or something.

He came around when he saw the stone I have now - its a purple sapphire and has a really cool cut that reflects light very well.

At the time we saw it, I didn't expect to ever see it again - but I was very happy to see he had chosen it when he proposed.

valenciana · Dooney & Bourke

i think we went to a jewelry store and tried on rings maybe once, about a year before we got engaged. i did give DH a little manifesto on what was/was not important to me. i thought i knew exactly what i wanted, but mostly wanted to make sure that he knew what i really did *not* like. i wanted to be surprised, but not disappointed, ya know? so i just sent him an email saying "i like these shapes, i don't like these shapes...i prefer white metals...my ring size is x...blah blah blah" so even though i thought i knew exactly what i wanted, i didn't demand it (just hinted around

), but what i ended up getting is actually much more *me.* i was very pleasantly surprised at how well DH was able to pinpoint my style and not be swayed by trends the way i might have been if i had been more involved in picking out the ring.

Chic · Marc Jacobs

We went shopping twice, once a year before it happened and again a few months before. I never knew when it was going to happen, but I picked out the setting and the round style, but he picked out the size. I had thought I wanted something other than a solitaire but after trying ones with side stones on we decided that a solitaire fit me better.

So exciting for you!

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

thanks, everyone! it is interesting to hear the other processes you all went through.

i have dropped a few hints, as in "i look better in white metals" and "i like your sister's engagement ring." we also had a conversation about this once after watching that sex and the city episode where aidan proposes to carrie and she didn't like the first ring he got her. at any rate, it is exciting to think about. :) i don't think it will happen until after i finish my graduate program in december.

NCshopper · Hermes

DH and I had a really non-traditional engagement. When he proposed he didn't have a ring and the topic hadn't even come up yet. We had been dating for 4 months, so it was a total surprise. He was living in CA and I was living in NC, so we had to do all the engagement ring stuff on our own.

I went to some jewelry shops by myself and with a friend and tried things on to determine what I liked and then told him what I had in mind. It helped to actually try things on to see what looked good on and what didn't. For example, I had my mind set on a princess cut diamond, but when I tried them on, they just didn't look good on my hand.

After trying some pieces on, I told him that I didn't want anything with a high profile or a delicate setting because I'm a total klutz and didn't want to have to worry about losing a diamond. I also didn't want many prongs to snag clothing on and I didn't want anything too ornate, since my tastes are pretty simple. The rest was up to him. And I have to say, he did great. The ring he picked is totally me and it's totally him too. He did good.

thrillme · BCBG

We went online together and I showed him what I wanted... EXACTLY what I wanted.... and you know what he showed up with??

exactly NOT what I wanted but he was right it looks gorgeous on my finger and I have grown to love it.