Outside of maybe eventually buying a house, I knew there was nothing I was ever going to purchase once and only once in my life other than a diamond engagement ring. That was pressure enough on me to make sure I picked the right one. I certainly didn’t need the advice from friends, family members and coworkers about the type of engagement rings they liked or thought I should buy, but boy did I get it! I found it kind of amusing actually that people who had never even been married seemed to suddenly become an expert on wedding jewelry.   Phantom 105 Diamond Engagement Ring The only expert I was concerned with talking to was the one I knew I’d find at the local jewelry store. I did a little bit of research ahead of time, not only so I’d have an idea of what type of diamond engagement rings I wanted to look at but also that the staff would be able to answer my questions and point out what makes each diamond different. I was thrilled to find out that the staff in question was trained at an accredited gemological institute. Meaning that these weren’t people just doing a job, but committed professionals dedicated to their career.   The other thing I did was spend half a personal day and go shopping on a random Tuesday afternoon. I wanted to be sure I had as much time as I wanted to look over all the rings, ask all the questions I had and not feel pressured into buying something or rushed by other customers. The sales associate was supremely patient and earned my respect right off the bat by asking me what my budget was. Knowing that, she showed me several different and distinct styles of engagement rings, none of which were more than I could afford.   She was even smart enough to give me some space when she could tell I had narrowed it down to two different diamond engagement rings. I had told myself that I wouldn’t make a decision on the first day, but she had done such a thorough job of helping me make my decision and leading me to what was the perfect ring, I knew then that I didn’t have to wait.