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4 things to consider before buying an engagement ring

Dubai - Love-struck laymen, if you're gonna put a ring on it, make sure it fits. Here's how to

Do your homework - There is just so much information available online on how to pick up the perfect sparkler that you could give local jewellers a run for their stones just by reading up on enough blog posts. In the days of old, you'd probably opt to go to your grandmother's jeweller; today, many of those same jewellers have expanded their services online - and it's a great way to go.

Fix a budget - Having done your homework, you should have a fair idea of what you're looking at and be able to fix a budget. At this point, you should probably look to work backwards - sometimes, the girl may not be too keen on a very elaborate diamond ring, because she'd rather spend the money on a honeymoon. So, start off with dollar/dirham value so you can work backwards and find the perfect ring that fits your budget.

Know her ring size - Finding out her ring size is critical to the mission, because a mid-proposal knuckle tussle can be a real mood-killer. Not to worry though: there are many ways to get this done right. You can flick her favourite ring, and use a pencil to trace the inner circle onto a piece of paper. Alternatively, pressing it into a bar of soap would mark an even more accurate impression - although if she catches you, you better have an excuse as solid as the rock you intend to buy.

Crack the 4 C's - Cut, colour, clarity and carat; memorise it! Cut refers to the facet proportions on the surface of a diamond, which has great overall influence on a diamond's beauty. Colour - in white diamonds - is actually measured by their lack of colour, while clarity measures the flawlessness of a diamond. Finally, carat refers to the stone's weight. Colourless diamonds are classified D, E or F, while those classified between G and H are near-colourless. The recommended quality is between F to H. In terms of clarity, jewellers typically recommend VVS2 (very, very slight inclusions or imperfections) to SI1 (slight inclusions). Finally, round-cut brilliants give the maximum shine.

Now that you're armed with all you need to know, you can get her the perfect stone. Here's hoping she says yes!