Finding the ring she’s dreaming of can be a difficult task.

Valentine’s Day is a day when lovers profess their passion and commitment for one another, and for many, the ultimate expression of this is a romantic proposal of marriage. Of course, few Americans would dream of asking their sweetheart to get married without a sparkling diamond engagement ring, the enduring symbol of everlasting love. Of course, love is an ephemeral concept that’s impossible to put a monetary value on, but the same could never be said of diamonds. So how can a hopeful husband-to-be make sure that the all-important glittering rock is perfectly matched for his perfect match?

Philip Press began his jewelry career at the age of 15 as an apprentice to a master European craftsman and platinumsmith. Now 37, Press is chief designer of Renaissance Platinum and CEO of Philip Press, Inc. in Los Angeles. As Hollywood’s premier platinum jewelry designer, he has many loyal clients, including leading celebrities and discerning jewelry aficionados. His handcrafted Renaissance Platinum line has been featured in countless fashion and entertainment magazines as well as other national and local media outlets. Here he offers a basic guide to buying a diamond engagement ring:

• Today’s woman.
  There may have been a time when the average American woman was happy with whatever ring her fiancée slipped onto her finger, but those days are long gone. In Press’s experience, a modern woman knows exactly what she wants her engagement ring to look like, and she expects to wear that same ring on her finger.

• Some friendly spying.
  One common way for a gentleman to give his sweetheart what she wants is to question her friends. Chances are she’s talked about her ideal ring, and some sly snooping with her gal pals can reveal her desires. Of course, there’s always a chance that a man could get at one of the details wrong.

• A mutual choice.
  A better way of getting a perfect ring is for the man and woman to actually visit jewelry stores together and openly discuss what the ring should be like. Of course, many people are uncomfortable doing this, and it tends to eliminate the element of surprise that so many men and women want out of a romantic proposal.

• A stand-in.
  These days it’s very common for a man to either buy or borrow a very simple diamond solitaire ring from the jeweler, and use this to make his proposal. Once they’ve gotten to "yes," the happy couple can then return to the store and have a permanent ring custom designed to their specifications. This solution preserves the element of surprise and guarantees that the woman gets to wear a ring that she truly loves.

Renaissance Platinum
www.platinumrings.com

Diamonds.net
www.diamonds.net

Diamond Review.com
www.diamondreview.com

Diamond Cutters International: Diamond Education
www.diamondcuttersintl.com/diamond_education/index.html

Buying an Engagement Ring
www.pricescope.com/ring_edu.asp

Diamond Engagement Rings Guide
www.thediamondbuyingguide.com/diamondengagementringsguide.html

Next: The Cut of a Diamond