When University junior Naomi Rapp first spotted her future engagement ring, she knew it was meant for her.
“When I tried it on, I knew it was the right one just because it stuck out to me,” she said. “I was immediately attracted to it.”
Rapp’s ring, with its three square, or Princess cut, diamonds set in yellow gold, is just one of many styles of engagement rings future brides can choose from. Rapp said it is an anniversary ring and the three diamonds are meant to represent the past, present and future. It is surrounded by ring guards, or a wrap that holds smaller diamonds for a total weight of 1.5 carats.
Don’s Jewelers sales associate Kelly Ocker said engagement rings are usually solitaires, which are single diamonds, mounted in either yellow or white gold, or specially ordered platinum. According to Ocker, the engagement ring can be fitted with a wrap to form the wedding ring, although it is becoming more popular to substitute the ring sets with a wider band.
He added that solitaire diamonds can be cut in shapes including round, Princess, oval , pear, emerald and Marquis or diamond-shaped. He said the Princess cut is most popular among customers. The round brilliant cut is considered a classic because it has the most “fire” and “flash.”
“Over the years, tastes change, of course, and popularity of stone shapes change,” Ocker said.

Rapp said she liked the Princess cut, but did not want a solitaire because it sat too high on her finger. She said she liked the way three diamonds on her ring took up a wider space.
Solitaire rings can range in price from $140 to $10,000 or more depending on the quality, color and size of the diamond, according to Ocker. The most expensive diamonds are the “color of water,” and as diamonds decrease in quality, they take on a yellowish or brownish color, he said.
Couples on a budget should think about a one-fifth or one-fourth carat diamond, he said.
Another option is to not get a diamond, but just a band, suggests University senior Robert Moore, a sales associate at Samuels Jewelers.
“The ring symbolizes the commitment — not the size of the diamond,” he said.Moore added platinum bands are becoming more popular for couples ages 18 to 30.
As for who picks out the ring, Ocker said as a general rule, couples shop together.
“It’s something you’re going to have on for hopefully a long time, and it’s got to be something you like,” he said.
Rapp said she and her husband originally went shopping together, “just looking,” and she pointed out her preference. A few months later, Josh Rapp, also a junior at the University, proposed with the ring of her choice.
“It made it so I didn’t have to worry when I proposed,” he said. “I knew for sure it was the one she really wanted.”
In some cases, those who are proposing like to pick out the ring themselves for the extra element of surprise.
University senior Lauren Rotenberg originally gave her fiancé a general idea of what she liked, but he picked out the ring with the help of her sister and proposed on Dec. 23. The ring is a one carat Princess cut mounted in white gold.
“He got it exactly,” she said.