The holidays are an ideal time to let those special people around you know just how much you love them, and if you’re thinking about popping the question to your girlfriend, you don’t want to waste another second selecting the perfect diamond engagement ring. You’ll have a lot to consider from the style of ring to your budget to big moment when you get down on one knee. Here are a few tips to help you get started in your search for the perfect diamond engagement ring.

Make a Budget

Before you get out there and start looking at the different options of diamond engagement rings, take the time to make a budget so that you know what’s within you can afford. Once you have a better idea of what you can spend, you can go look at a few rings that are within that range and see if you want to save a little more money or if you’re happy with your selections. As you learn more about diamonds, you’ll discover that the different qualities of diamonds will have an impact on value.

Find the Diamond Ring She Will Love

It can be stressful to choose a piece of jewelry that your fiancé will wear for the rest of their lives like a diamond engagement rings. It’s not your typical piece that can be worn with specific outfits or pulled out once or twice a year, so the pressure tends to be on a little higher. You can find some inspiration by sneaking a peak in her jewelry box, and asking her family and close friends about preferences she has such as whether she would prefer gold, silver, or platinum for the band, as well as whether she would like a round or pear shaped diamond, or something different. You can even enlist someone close to her to come shopping with you so that you get a better idea of what to look for.

Choose a Quality Diamond

Speak with a professional jeweler about the quality of diamonds to find the one with the right cut, carats, clarity, and color. You want to ensure that the diamond sparkles and shines on her finger, and trust that many people will be grabbing her hand to admire the stone. You may find that you have more options when you choose the diamond and the band separately, and a jeweler will be able to review your options with you.

Pick the Perfect Setting to Propose

Now that you’ve selected the perfect ring, it’s time to plan the proposal! You can go all out and surprise her at a sporting event on the jumbotron, wait until Christmas Eve and propose in front of the family, or take her to the spot where you first met to pop the questions. Whatever you decide, remember to stay calm because you don’t want to give the surprise away. If you follow the tips above, you’ll be confident when you pull that little box out of your pocket, and you’ll take her breath away.