Source: takasu/Shutterstock.com As you get more invested and serious about your relationship, you might be wondering what the next step looks like. Whether you’ve lived together, are high school sweethearts or are just absolutely sure you’ve found The One, you know you want to get married to the person you’re currently with. No matter what it is that you love best about them, deciding between a promise ring and an engagement ring can seem like a daunting task. Which one is the right one to choose? Here are some tips on deciding between a promise ring and an engagement ring. What Are Promise Rings? The meaning of a promise ring is similar to an engagement ring, we’ll be honest. Promise rings are given typically when one person is going away for a while. Whether that’s off to war or college, a promise ring is given to show intention to marry. It’s basically saying “when I get back, we’ll get engaged, and then get married.” Promise rings also symbolize exclusivity. Dating doesn’t always mean monogamy, especially by today’s standards. By giving a promise ring, you’re telling someone that you’re committed to them and not dating anyone else. Their promise ring doesn’t have to be a huge diamond solitaire — our wedding rings for women can double as promise rings because they’re beautifully simple, yet still represent commitment and exclusivity. Who Wears a Promise Ring? Anyone can wear a promise ring! Men, women, trans people and even non-binaries can wear promise rings. Promise rings are for everyone! We have a variety of men’s wedding rings that are perfect regardless of your age or gender. Since promise rings are about committing to exclusivity or promising to return for marriage, anyone can wear one. Women can go off to war or college, too, you know! Pop the Question with a Silicone Ring What Is an Engagement Ring? Engagement rings differ from promise rings in that you’re deciding to enter into marriage with that person. You’ve decided that, after promising exclusivity to them, you want to spend the rest of your life with them. An engagement ring is the physical symbolization of that idea. Engagement rings come in many different forms. The most common is the diamond engagement ring, but it’s not a centuries-old tradition. In fact, engagement rings as we know them today can be traced back to the 1920s when a marketing company put together an ad campaign meant to bring in more money to the diamond mining industry. The campaign was a success, and the results have been over a century of businesses and ads that focus on how a diamond means forever. Source: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com Do I Need a Promise or Engagement Ring? While the answer is no, we definitely encourage it! Rings are a physical symbol of how we love and commit to someone else. Promise rings and engagement rings are great ways for us to visualize our relationships. Plus, they make for a great additional fashion statement! Many people like to use their rings to change the way their outfit looks. And, with our silicone rings, you can easily switch out your ring to match more closely with different milestones in your relationship, or stack them on top of each other. How Do I Find the Right Ring? That’s a great question! Finding the right ring can seem like a tough challenge. Here are some tips to get you started! Think about what they like. Do they prefer rings that are wider or more narrow? Maybe they’re someone who prefers more muted colors. Or, maybe they’ve got a bold personality and they like their jewelry to match. Either way, thinking about what your partner likes can help you in finding the right ring for them. Source: Chris Blackman/Shutterstock.com Think about something relevant to your relationship. Is there something specific about your relationship you want to incorporate into the ring? Many people like to engrave their promise and engagement rings with unique, custom messages that make the item much more sentimental to your significant other. Focus on them, not on you. It’s easy as we’re shopping to think about ourselves and what we like. But, it’s important to keep the focus on our partner. We’re not shopping for a ring we’ll be wearing! Promise rings and engagement rings each have their own purpose. Regardless of whether you purchase a promise ring or an engagement ring, your partner will love it because it came from you! You can find the right ring in just a few simple steps.