How to Buy an Engagement Ring: Valentine’s Day is when people think of getting engaged

The holiday that is most associated with love is also the holiday that sees the biggest sales in diamond rings.Many starry-eyed boyfriends take advantage of the romance in the air to ask their significant other to make a lifelong commitment.And why not? What could be more romantic than popping the question on the day that is dedicated to lovers?There is a lot more to proposing, however, than reserving a nice restaurant and learning to keep your balance while perched on one knee.

Selecting an engagement ring can be a daunting task.Tony Baldwin, owner of A.A. Baldwin’s Jewelry By Design, 256 Front St., has been designing rings and other jewelry since the late 1970s. His rings aren’t your typical cookie cutter-type rings either.“We live in a time where technology is always changing. There is no reason, when making such a major purchase, that you shouldn’t have it made exactly the way you want,” he said.Baldwin takes the time to educate not only men but an increasing number of couples who come to him looking for that perfect engagement ring.“I see a lot more ladies who are involved than were 30 years ago,” Baldwin said. “Times have changed.” But Baldwin also noted that the element of surprise is still important.

“Most women prefer something that a man takes his time to pick,” he said.One local groom-to-be, Eric Fouss, 28, of Lowell, took the old-fashioned route when he proposed to his fiancée, Jenine Ferrell, on Christmas 2005. He said she never saw it coming. “I was going for a total surprise. I kept trying to throw her off. I think she thought it was going to happen on Valentine’s Day,” Fouss said. Fouss knew that his sweetie preferred the princess cut diamond and that little bit of input was all he needed to begin his search. He looked through books and consulted many jewelers before deciding on a beautiful custom-made platinum ring in the trellis mounting-style.What advice does Fouss have for others looking to propose?“Combine both your likes to come up with the perfect ring,” he said.Fouss and Ferrell are planning to be married Sept. 15, 2007, in Lowell.

Steps:1. Find out what your girlfriend likes: You can make life easier for yourself by taking her with you when you look for rings. Many couples prefer this method over running the risk of buying her something she absolutely hates.However, if your idea of the perfect proposal involves surprising her, there are a few ways to figure out what she likes without spilling the beans. First, ask her family and friends. Take them with you, if need be. Second, look through her jewelry box. Chances are, if everything she owns is silver, she won’t be happy with a yellow gold band

.2. Find a good jewelry store: Research, research, research. Word of mouth really is the best advertisement. Also be sure they are a member of the American Gem Corporation.

3. Decide on your budget: The recommendation of the folks who are trying to sell the diamonds is two months’ salary. It isn’t necessary to spend money for the sake of spending money, though, especially if your fiancée-to-be is a simple person who may not wear a 2-carat stone. Be smart. Be frugal. And always negotiate.

4. Choose a stone: Remember the 4 Cs and consider Step 1. If your lady love really has her heart set on an emerald, by all means go that route. But it is usually best to play it safe and stick with the traditional diamond. It will go with absolutely every outfit she wears and has probably been her dream since she was a little girl. You or she might have an heirloom diamond that would be perfect. Some cuts to consider are marquise, pear, princess, radiant and round.

5. Choose a setting and a band: While not as nerve-wracking as selecting a diamond, there are probably more choices than one would think. Would her almost-flawless diamond look better in a cluster or prong-solitaire? How about bar, gypsy, or channel settings? And then there is the metal. Platinum is the most glamorous and most expensive. There’s also yellow gold, white gold and silver. Bottom line ... pick what you like and what you think she will like.