I think I am ready. It's about time. It is from my heart and I have the speech ready. The only thing I need help is with the ring which I have no clue about.

So dear sajhaites, how did you go around hunting for the ring? Did she choose or was it a complete surprise? Did you know her ring size? Where did you buy the ring and if you don't mind can you please also mention the price range along with description of the ring. In retrospect were you happy with decision. So sajhaites please feel free to come forward and share your story and experience. May be it will help a newbie to join the club with a rock and ask the biggest question of my life.

Dude, i was in a same position a year ago with the same questions that you have. i took her to mall for shopping(Macy's) and while looking for other stuffs took her to the jewelry section and figured out her ring size( made some excuse ,don't remember now :) ). I came back to Macy's couple of days later and picked up a ring that i liked based on her size. The reason i choose Macy's was they have discounts and you can buy a $1000 ring for $250(thats what i did). You don't have to pick up an expensive or a big stone . My suggestion would be to make it small and simple and spend upto $500 for it after all its more symbolic cuz whats matters is love between you and your gal.

Good luck to you !! Hope it goes well!!

Sure, you can be prudent and sensible and more practical. You can discuss the ring with her and buy one that wouldn't break your budget and all. Afterall, diamond is nothing but a hyped up pressurized coal, the price of which is super inflated by artificial scarcity created by De Beers and its affiliates; did you know De Beers was banned from operating directly in US for 60 years due to antitrust suites? Why feed the trolls? It was De Beers who instituted the diamond ring tradition in US, completely made-up stuff by a commercial enterprise.

But what's fun in that?? Romance doesn't see logic and is hardly a practical matter.

This is hopefully the only time you will be doing it. So make it special. While the general guideline is that a rock should cost you your 3-6 months of gross salary, you don't necessarily have to do it. Buy anything that you are comfortable with, don't sweat too much on that front.

Now, when you go to buy it, it will help to educate yourself on what to look for. Google the 3 Cs of a diamond (cut, clarity and carat). Know that a bigger rock is worth whole lot more than sum of small rocks whose total measure same dimension/weight. Look at it in a light, do you see any imperfection inside (a black dot etc)? Does it glisten?

Where to buy will depend. Make sure you get the right certificate (google on this). Costco sells diamonds these days, I believe. It's always good to have somebody you know from diamond industry (diamond district if you are in NY) to go with you for shopping the diamond.

Now make it a surprise occasion for her. Girls have this sixth sense, they say, about when they are going to get proposed. So the bigger the surprise, the better it is. Tell her you don't believe in western tradition but plan the surprise all along. As for the size of the ring, either discreetly take one of her rings, imprint the size on a soap and take it to jewellers or just take a quick guess. The size of the whole can be slightly adjusted later; I'd rather completely surprise her than make up stories about letting her try a ring out (trust me, they know though they might act otherwise). Last resort would be to recruit one of her friends; have her burrow one of her rings.

Be original without pushing too much. Go have fun and let that "practical" side of you rest. Be crazy, be wild. Make it a story to tell to your grandsons. Congrats and I wish you all the best for your married life.