One of the first decisions you will have to make when deciding on which engagement ring to pick is choosing the right metal. Jewelry comes in many metal choices which include; gold, platinum, silver and palladium. You have to decide which type of metal your fiancé will enjoy. You can usually tell her preference of metal by the type of jewelry she wears every day. Take a look to see if she usually wears gold or white jewelry or maybe she has said what her preference is.

If she loves yellow gold you can get her an engagement ring in either 14K or 18K yellow gold. The capital letter K refers to the word karat and indicates the amount of pure gold present in the ring. Most 18K gold consists of 75% gold and 25% other metals, such as copper and silver. 14K gold consists of 58% gold and 42% of other metals including copper and silver.

It is your preference in which one you choose because both choices are good and will result in a high quality ring. Things that are made of 14 karat gold are usually less expensive; however, the 18K gold will have a brighter yellow color and will be more valuable.

If you are looking for an engagement ring that is white, you will have to decide between white gold, Palladium, or Platinum rings. Platinum is the most expensive metal, but very durable. Palladium is an excellent choice because it has many of the same qualities as platinum but it is much cheaper. 18K or 14K white gold is also an affordable alternative; although gold will wear more over time.

Palladium is becoming the new trend in precious metals instead of Platinum. With the skyrocketing prices of Platinum choosing Palladium is a smart choice. It has the look and feel of platinum, but it is lighter and is also a natural white metal. This is a smart choice to look into if your fiancé prefers white or platinum over gold.

Another thing you might want to keep in mind when choosing the metal used in the engagement ring is that there are eco-friendly recycled metals available at some of the finer jewelry stores. They are just as beautiful and have high quality, but not harmful to the environment.

In many African countries illegally mined diamonds had been linked to terrible human rights abuses. These types of diamonds are called “blood” diamonds. When you're looking for diamonds you should make sure that you find out exactly how and where the diamond was mined.

You can also ask if the jeweler uses the Kimberley Process, which requires all diamond retailers to buy diamonds from manufacturers who have the proper documentation of their diamonds.

You can also look into Canadian diamonds, which are mined in Northern Canada and are beautiful diamonds. They are subject to strict standards set by the government which protect the Arctic environment and the mine workers as well. These diamonds are considered to be some of the most desirable diamonds on the market today.

These are just some things to keep in mind when you are searching for that perfect ring to give to the person who you want to spend the rest of your life with. By being aware of your choices you can select the perfect ring for her.