As we round out engagement season and prep for the next wave of proposals, we wanted to help you start your search on the right foot.

We knew we had to enlist some help to give you a comprehensive guide, so we connected with our partner and good friend, Stacy Papp of Bay Hill Jewelers! In today’s blog post, Stacy is giving us the full rundown on how to shop for an engagement ring, what styles are trending, what to look out for when picking your jeweler, and how Bay Hill Jewelers can help you in your journey.

Stacy will take it from here.

Tip 1: How to shop for an engagement ring

First, I should preface that there is no right or wrong way to go shopping for an engagement ring because every couple has different expectations! However, having worked in the engagement and ring industry for over 16 years, I can confidently say the tips I’m giving you today will set you up for the best success in finding the right-fit ring for your partner.

With that said, the first suggestion I have for making your shopping experience less stressful (and to remove any pressure off of you) is to bring your partner on a shopping day! During this shopping trip, you both can vet out the styles you like best. I’ve found this method to lead to the best outcome because you have the benefit of knowing what to look for in the final ring (style, carat, size, and more), but it will still be a surprise to your partner.

Speaking of ring sizes, here’s a pro-tip: establish your partner’s ring size first so they won’t have to return it for sizing after the proposal. Ring resizing can take weeks, and it’s not an ideal situation for your partner to give up the right after receiving it!

It’s also important to go to a personal jeweler. Pick someone who truly cares about helping you craft the right ring and who will be there for you in the future for ring maintenance. Many people find ring shopping overwhelming because there are many choices and there are a lot of factors to consider, but when you have the right jeweler by your side, you’ll feel so much more confident in your choice!

Tip 2: Look at trends for inspiration

The word “trend” has a bit of a negative connotation because people think of a trend as a fad. Or a style that is only appropriate for a specific moment, and then it’s quickly irrelevant.

While that may be true for some styles, trends can be a great way to provide inspiration. You don’t have to make your ring exactly like what you see in magazines or online, but you can use trending rings as a guide to craft a ring that’s unique to your partner’s style.

With that being said, here are some styles that are trending right now:

• Simple solitaries with a small symbol or accent that’s not extremely visible at first glance. Personally, I love a secret halo — and it’s one of our specialties at Bay Hill Jewelers!

• Mixed-cut bands in different shapes and colors. Being open to non-traditional rings with various shapes and colors adds a one-of-a-kind look to your engagement ring. We love how creative our couples get with their unique combinations!

Tip 3: Ask your jeweler about the services they provide

To go off of tip one, you want to pick a jeweler who can be there for you and your partner throughout the entire process. This is important because ring shopping doesn’t start at design and end at purchase. You also want someone who will be there for you for the maintenance phase.

It’s great to have a long-term relationship with your jeweler because you can feel confident that they know your relationship well and that they know how to take care of you in the best way.

As an all-service jeweler, we at Bay Hill Jewelers are here for you for jewelry advice and expertise, stone restringing, jewelry repair, custom ring design, repurposing family heirlooms or jewels, and anything else you need!

Now you’re ready to pick the perfect engagement ring!

We hope that you learned a lot about picking out the perfect engagement ring for your partner with Stacy’s tips! To learn more about how Bay Hill Jewelers can help you, check out their website here and Instagram here! And to continue with engagement education, click here to read about what to wear to an engagement session!