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While finding a great ring is important, it's not the sparkle of the diamond that's going to get you the “yes” you're looking for. Trust us, it's not necessary that you drop $5,000 on a 4 carat diamond in order to impress; you can manage this through thought, planning, and careful consideration. The amount of money you spend doesn't matter – it's what you're able to get with it that counts. Familiarize yourself with the four 'C's: Color, Clarity, Carat, and Cut so that you know what to expect.

A general rule of thumb for the wedding ring cost is a month's salary. Buying a ring that costs as much as a month's salary indicates that you put time and preparation into the proposal, and that you take it seriously. Because in order to save up a month's salary, you may very well need to set aside your favorite past-times like golfing on Sundays or video games. A guy capable of sacrificing his weaknesses for such an important token will most likely go above and beyond in all other aspects of the marriage. Although this may be a false conception, it's what the potential bride will ascertain.

Once you've figured out how much you can (or are willing) to spend on the wedding ring, next comes the shopping. This can be very exciting for some, and frustrating for those who have no idea what to buy their partner. Consider yourself lucky if you already have a pretty exact idea as to what your bride-to-be wants. Even if her dream ring costs much more than you can afford, it's much easier to deal with this than the alternative. You can always find a ring that carries a similar style and cut as the one she's looking for – use it as a stepping stone to find something that you know she'll like. If she favors round cut diamonds, don't go for the square. If she likes plain bands, don't opt for something large and extravagant.

The four 'C's is an important tool when gaging how much a diamond is worth. While each one involves a cardinal aspect of the diamond, some are more essential than others. The Cut for example is perhaps the most important to consider. A diamond that is well-cut offers the most brilliance, even if it has a poor Color. The Cut of the stone is what gives it inner radiance and fire. A rough-cut diamond does not capture or reflect light as effectively and thus makes it appear dull - stay away from these as best as you can. And while Carat is an important factor, don't focus on this entirely. A large rough-cut diamond is not half as beautiful as something of smaller size that is cut well.

The Clarity indicates the purity of the diamond. Because diamonds are extracted from carbon in the earth, small particles are generally trapped inside. Each stone carries these inclusions, or “birth marks” - which makes each stone special and unique from one another. Highly skilled artisans can cut the diamond in a way which reduces the amount of inclusions in order to achieve the highest Clarity possible, however, you cannot find a ring that is completely inclusion-free. Last is Color. This is the natural tone that a diamond has, and is determined 100% by the natural elements. There are 5 areas in which a diamond can fall on the color spectrum:

1)colorless
2)near colorless
3)faint yellow
4)very light yellow
5)light yellow

Completely colorless diamonds are more expensive for their rarity. Naturally-colored diamonds in shades of blue, green, pink, and canary yellow are even harder to find and even higher-priced. If you can find a diamond in one of these colors for a reasonable price, look no further!