Err...This section is for guys only. If you are a lady, please move on to "Registering your marriage". Thank you.

So you are the going-to-propose-to-my-girlfriend guy? You are going to buy a proposal ring and you want to know

• which finger wears the proposal ring
• ring size of your girlfriend
• 4Cs of a diamond ring

A bit of history

In many cultures, the circle is a symbol of perfection and unity, without beginning or end. The ancient Egyptian believes that a special vein vena amoris, the "vein of love" runs from the top of the fourth finger of the left hand directly to the heart. Even though it has no scientific basis, this romantic tradition of wearing the engagement ring and wedding band on the fourth finger of the left hand continues to this day.

Ring size of your girlfriend

The first thing that you really need to do is find out the ring size of your girlfriend. Really, like buying shoes, rings also come in different sizes. If your girlfriend accepts your proposal, the ring will be worn on the fourth finger of her left hand.

Note: Fourth finger of her left hand is also for the wedding band on the wedding day.

Try to play with her rings and see if it fits on any of your finger. If it does, you've got yourself her ring size.

If the ring doesn't fit on your fingers, you can always rely on an engineer's method, measure the diameter of the ring. Of course, do it without her knowing.

You may even try asking her closer girlfriends if they know her ring size. Be careful though, they may guess your intention and spoil the suprise.

If all else fails, bring her to a jewellery shop and buy her a ring as a gift! Pay attention to her ring size this time!

Anyway, jewellery shops can usually resize the ring if it doesn't fit, provided the ring size was not too far-off!

How to choose your diamond ring

Solitaire ring is a popular choice as a proposal ring. Its classic design transcends time and fashion. The cut, clarity, colour and carat are the 4Cs of a diamond.

CARAT is the weight of a diamond. Larger stones are more expensive because it is also rarer. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams.

CLARITY of a diamond simply means how "flawless" it is. A diamond is flawless when no inclusions or superficial blemishes are seen when viewed under a standard 10-power jeweller's loupe. The clarity of a diamond is graded with a rating from "FL" (flawless) to "I" (imperfect).

COLOUR - When viewed by an untrained eye, many diamonds look colourless. However, only the purest diamonds are virtually colourless, and these diamonds are very rare. The more colourless a diamond is, the more expensive will be its price. The colour of a diamond is graded from "D" (totally colourless) to "Z" (light yellow).

The CUT on a diamond affects its brilliance and sparkle. The facets of the stone must be precisely cut and the angles must be in exact geometric relation to reflect the maximum amount of light. A facet is actually the polished surface on a diamond. A round, full-cut diamond usually has 58 polished surfaces.

It is advisable that you start looking for the ring about 6 weeks before your proposal. This will allow the jeweller ample time to import the ring that you want if it is out-of-stock.

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