Forget the "three months' salary" rule. That was an advertising slogan from the 1930s, not a tradition.

There's no correct number. There's only your number. Once you know how much you are comfortable spending, everything else gets simple — instead of scrolling through thousands of rings, we hand select options that the best fit for your budget.

Most women already have a shape they've pictured on their hand. Sometimes she's completely decided; sometimes she's torn between two.

Your job is to find out without tipping her off. A few ways to do that:

• Ask her closest friend, her sister, or her mom. Usually one of them already knows.
• Think back to rings she's pointed out in the past and try to remember the diamond shape that was on that ring(s).

If you're still not sure, tell us what you do know about her and we'll help you narrow it down.

The ring style matters as much as the diamond shape.

Think of what kind of jewelry she wears. Is it clean and simple or does she love jewelry with a-lot sparkle?

This information will come in very useful when choosing the style of the ring

The question everyone forgets to ask until it's too late.

• Borrow a ring she already wears — ideally one from her ring finger. Bring it to us, or trace the inside circle on paper.
• Ask her someone close to her. A best friend or her mom often knows, and they're usually thrilled to be in on the secret.
• Still stuck? Don't let it stall you. We'll get you close, and resizing after the proposal is more common than you think.

This is where most guys get stuck for months. So let's clear up the question that stalls almost everyone.

Lab vs. natural. Neither answer is right or wrong. Lab-grown gets you a larger diamond for the same spend and natural diamond carries meaning for some people. We'll walk you through which one is the better fit for you.

Once you have a rough idea, we take it from there. Most custom rings take about 4-6 weeks from start to finish, so give yourself room before the proposal date you're planning.

Fill out the custom project form below. Takes two minutes. No obligation — just a 1-on-1 conversation with a real jeweler.
Or message us on instagram @g.b.jewelryco.