One of the most important purchases you're ever going to make!

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With many things in life, experience is key, but when it comes to shopping for engagement rings, it's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing. This is where practical advice and insider tips are really helpful, and we're sharing lots of them right here.

No matter how well you think you know your other half's style, engagement ring shopping can be quite daunting. It's tough to know where to start and how to ensure that you're getting good value for money. But don't worry, follow our engagement ring shopping tips, and you'll soon have everything you need to pop the question.

Photo by Syona Photography via One Fab Day

But first, a word of caution!

Before you get started, consider whether your other half will appreciate having an engagement ring chosen for them. Countless brides have told us that they are absolutely smitten with the piece of jewellery that their partner picked out, but this isn't the right route for everyone.

An engagement ring is a lifetime commitment, and it's only natural that many people will prefer to choose their own. If you're not sure how your other half feels about the subject, you could always ask a friend or relative to subtly prompt them on the topic, or play it safe with a token ring, and choose the actual ring when you go engagement ring shopping together at a later date.

Photo by Ashley Carlascio Photography via One Fab Day

Engagement Ring Shopping Tips: Before You Go Shopping

1. Ask yourself what style of ring your partner would like. This could be antique, vintage, classic, contemporary, ethically-sourced, or non-traditional. The best way to do this is to look at their favourite pieces of jewellery for inspiration, as well as their wardrobe and home décor. If they're obsessed with the 1950s, for example, consider visiting a few vintage jewellery stores. If your partner's favourite possession is a pair of Tiffany & Co. earrings, on the other hand, you know they'll appreciate a classic style. Try our What's Your Engagement Ring Style Quiz here.

2. Look to their jewellery collection to figure out which metal they prefer to wear, be it silver, white gold, yellow gold, platinum or rose gold. In most cases, they'll have a clear preference for one over the others. If you can't access their jewellery collection, ask a trustworthy pal or relative.

3. Set a budget, and stick to it! You should be able to source a beautiful ring on virtually any budget, so don't worry if it's not as large as you'd like. You're going to be married to this person for a long time, so there will be plenty of other opportunities to buy them jewellery. When setting your budget, it's a good idea to research - this feature on how much to spend on an engagement ring is a must-read! - so that you can match your expectations to your budget.

4. Draw up a list of stores to visit. Our list of recommended jewellers is a great starting point, as is this feature on where to buy gorgeous rings, but it's also worth asking married friends for their favourites, and looking for specialist stores that might stock the style of ring your partner would like. These might include antique and vintage jewellery stores, bespoke jewellery studios, and online stores. Our feature on buying an engagement ring online has got lots of tips for shoppers going this route.

5. Do your research. If you're buying a diamond ring, it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with the four Cs; Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat. Together, they determine the price of a diamond, so knowing more about them will help you suss out whether you're getting a good deal. It's also good to know terms like "clarity enhanced", which means that the stone has been altered (fracture filled, irradiated or laser treated) for a better appearance.

6. Look into the ethical issues surrounding engagement rings and diamonds, which include both human rights and environmental concerns, particularly if your partner is passionate about the subject. There are lots of beautiful conflict-free, fairtrade, sustainable, recycled and ethically-sourced options on the market, including lab-grown diamonds, it's just about knowing which questions to ask.

Engagement Ring Shopping Tips: Your Shopping Trip

7. Ask a family member or friend to join you when engagement ring shopping unless you're confident about your ability to pick out the perfect ring. This should be someone who knows your partner's tastes inside out, and who you trust to be honest. Lots of would-be proposers have told us that they found making the final call quite overwhelming, so it's good to have someone with you to provide reassurance, or to gently let you know you're on the wrong track.

8. Go shopping as early as possible. You may have visions of waltzing into the first jewellery store on your local high street and immediately finding the one, but in reality, you could still be empty-handed after visiting the eighth shop. Give yourself plenty of time before your planned proposal to find the right ring. This is one purchase that you don't want to rush.

9. Avoid shopping at Christmas or in the run up to Valentine's Day, as these are extremely times for jewellers. If you're planning a seasonal proposal, it's even more important to give yourself plenty of time to shop.

10. Take your time and be patient. This may seem like an obvious tip, but when engagement ring shopping, but If you haven't found a ring you think your partner will love, you probably just haven't come across the right one yet. There's no shame in asking the jeweller lots of questions, and paying multiple visits to the same shop, so don't feel pressured into buying straight away.

11. Always ask to see the accompanying certificate if your ring features a diamond or precious stone. The most widely-recognised are issued by GIA (the Gemmological Institute of America), HRD, IGL, EGL and AGS.

Photo by Hannah McKernan via One Fab Day

12. Look for a ring that will fit snugly with a straight band if you know your partner will be wearing a wedding band with their engagement ring. You can ask your jeweller about this if you're not sure. You can always get a wedding band custom-made to fit an engagement ring, but bear in mind that there may be a higher cost and lead time involved.

13. Consider alternative gemstones to diamonds, if you think your partner would like them, but give yourself time to research these. Engagement rings are usually worn every day, so they're subject to quite a bit of punishment, which is why hardy diamonds are so popular. Softer stones like pearls, emeralds and opals, for example, are just as beautiful, but are relatively easy to damage.

14. Don't leave the store without a receipt, or a detailed description of the ring, which you may need for insurance claims or repair.

15. Organise your engagement ring insurance asap, ideally once the ring is in your possession. Mishaps unfortunately can happen, even before you've popped the question.