THE ENGAGEMENT RING HANDBOOK

So I finally decided to write 'The Engagement Ring Handbook' as a practical manual for any man intending to surprise his partner with the perfect 'forever' ring.

An engagement ring is the most important piece of jewellery a man will ever give, but it is a subject on which few men are experts. And there is a lot more to it than price and prettiness!

This book answers all the common questions you might have, and most of the uncommon ones too. Its purpose is to arm you with the confidence you need to buy the perfect ring at a price you are comfortable with.

Knowledge is power and this book is about putting you in control.

So, read on for more information on content and links to all the Chapter texts.

OR

you can Download Individual Chapters in pdf format to read at your leisure.

INTRODUCTION and HOW TO USE THE BOOK

So, you’ve decided that the time has come to propose to your beloved. Now all you have to do is find the perfect ring. That’s the easy bit – no?

Well you would think so, but buying an engagement ring is rather like buying a high-spec bicycle. Unless you’ve done your research, when you take your shiny new bike out for its first ride you will discover all the things about riding it that the salesman in the shop never mentioned. You’ll be less impressed by its trendy colours and fancy stickers, but you will notice how hard it is to ride uphill due to its weight and even on the flat due to the thick off-road tyres that you don’t need.

So it is with engagement rings. There are many things you need to know before you make your final decision – you do not want to discover all the problems no-one told you about after you have made your purchase and she has the ring on her finger.

You just want to get it right.

Over the years, I have seen so many people get it wrong.

There are lots of reasons why, but they boil down to having incomplete, inaccurate or misleading information. You can do tons of research, gather mountains of data and comment, but you need to be able to evaluate that information and apply it. That usually requires more knowledge and experience than most first time buyers can expect to have.

A keen cyclist will frequently upgrade his or her bike and become an expert on the latest gearing systems or lightweight frames and tyres. You don’t make a habit of buying engagement rings, so you are not likely to be an expert in that field, and there’s a lot to know.

That is why I have written this book. Not to add to the mountain of data, but to help cut through it and make it as easy and pain-free as possible to find that perfect ring and still keep within your personal budget.

Over the course of this short book I will answer all of the questions raised over the years by my various clients, including the questions you did not even know you needed to ask. I shall equip you to set your own priorities and make the best decision possible in this most important of purchases.

START WITH THE SUMMARY

The book is easy to use. Chapters begin with a bullet-point summary so you can quickly skim the content and read sections in more depth if you want to know more, and they end with a conclusion so you can see if you have missed anything important.

There is a lot here, but you don’t have to read it all at once, or even sequentially. This book is designed so that you can dip into sections as you need them.

Chapter 1 starts with what you are trying to get done. I outline the ways in which your ability to source a unique and personal ring to delight your fiancée, and get it absolutely right, have expanded beyond what was possible even three or four years ago.

Chapter 2 offers suggestions for those of you who are unsure to help identify her style and gives tips on how to get her ring size right. Chapter 3 addresses setting your budget to ensure you get good value.

Chapters 4 and 5 identify some common mistakes to avoid when buying a ring and where to find advice and guidance you can trust.

And in Chapter 6 we look briefly at the background to current traditions in rings to offer a longer perspective on the matter in hand.

Chapter 7 is about the diamond market and ethics, an increasingly important issue for many people, and Chapter 8 covers all the technical stuff you need to know about diamonds. I’ve left out as much fluff and flummery as possible.

Chapters 9 and 10 are about coloured gemstones and those which are suitable for use in rings to be worn for a lifetime – not all are.

Chapter 11 looks at precious metals. We consider the pros and cons of the range of precious metals available to suit your preferences and your budget.

Chapters 12 and 13 deal with designing your ring, with illustrations of styles and settings and the finer design points your jeweller should be taking care of for you.

And finally, in Chapter 14 I’ve included some personal stories of proposals to inspire you for a proposal you will both remember forever.

I’m sure that you will not need everything in this book, and I have no doubt that for some I will have missed things you do want to know. That’s another great thing about technology – if there’s anything you want to raise, questions you want to ask or comments you want to make, you’ll find my contact details at the end of the book.

OR or you can GET YOUR KINDLE COPY from Amazon (also available in Print)