If you are getting ready to get on one knee and pop the question to the love of your life, you need to do a few things first: 1) ask for permission, 2) get an engagement ring. Unless you yourself are in the jewelry business, though, you may not know the first thing about what you should look for in a ring. Whether you are on a tight budget or you have a lot of money to spend, this article will go over three tips to use when you're buying an engagement ring. 

Choose Gold

The number one thing you should consider is gold jewelry. The great thing about gold jewelry is that it's timeless, durable, and won't lose its value. Plus, the last thing you want is your fiancé's ring turning green because the metal isn't real. Whether your fiancé likes white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold, there is bound to be a type of gold that is perfect for them; just make sure that it's 24k gold because it will last a lot longer. 

Choose Your Stone

If your future fiancé is more of a diamond person, then you have to choose a diamond that matches their personality. If you don't have a big budget for a diamond, you can choose one that's fairly small and that looks nice on their finger. If you have a big budget, make sure you choose a large diamond that has a clear cut, clarity, and color. If they are more of a stone person, you can choose a rare stone for them instead of a diamond; this is a fun way for their ring to be really unique and show off their personality. 

Go to a Pawn Store

You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a ring to let your lover know how much they mean to you. If you don't have a lot of money in your budget, consider going to a pawn shop like Morningstar's Jewelers & Pawnbrokers and looking at their diamond and gold rings; you may be able to find the perfect thing for a fraction of the price. Plus, if you shine it up, it will look just like new. 

You want everything for your engagement to be perfect but that doesn't mean that you have to go broke to do the job the right way. Use the tips in this article to make your significant other feel special and show them how much you care.