Choosing an engagement ring isn’t for the faint of heart. The process can end in a list of questions that you may have no answers to unless you’ve dared to broach the topic with your partner before.
As a result, you may invite a chosen few into your ‘ring of trust’. In other words, the people you can talk to to get advice on the ring. But who is the best person to consult?
Whether you’re engagement ring shopping for your partner, or simply curious as to who knows your ring taste best, we’ve conducted an in-depth study to find out.
Bestie vs Boyfriend: Who knows your ring taste best?
Arguably, your best friend and your partner are the two people most likely to know your taste best — but who knows it better?
We wanted to answer the question once and for all, so we ran an experiment using 36 participants, split into 12 groups that included a participant, their best friend, and their partner.
We quizzed the participant on questions about their ideal engagement ring, including their ideal:
- Metal choice
- Stone type
- Stone shape
- Ring design
- The overall style of the ring
- And even their ring size
Their best friends and partners were then asked to guess the participants' answers, so we could calculate who got the most answers right — and the results were interesting.
Your best friend is almost three times more likely to nail your engagement ring style than your partner
Our study uncovered that it is in fact your best friend that knows your engagement ring style better than your partner.
We analysed each partner’s and friend’s responses to determine who best matched the sole participant’s answers. Points were awarded for correct closest matches, and totals were calculated across 12 groups to identify who, overall, had the best knowledge of their sole participant’s engagement ring style.
Overall, we calculated that friends could correctly guess their bestie’s ring taste 67% of the time, whereas the partners had just a 25% score. This means that your best friend is almost three times more likely to know your ring preferences than your partner.
Ring size found to be the most difficult to get right in the ring-buying process
Best friends are best at choosing the ring metal, with three-quarters of besties getting the correct answers. Half of the best friends in the experiment also successfully guessed their pals’ dream ring design and overall style.
However, partners seemed more clued up on their loved one’s ideal ring design and stone type than their best friend, with a 33% increased likelihood of getting both factors correct. That said, just a quarter got the stone shape correct, compared to 42% of best friends.
And for your ring size? It seems neither your best friend nor partner knows it — now’s the time to drop the hint!
More than 50% bring their partner engagement ring shopping in 2025
We asked staff in our Manchester store to break down who most commonly accompanies engagement ring shoppers in 2025: their partner, parent, sibling/friend, or simply going solo.
Our experts revealed that in 50% of cases, partners are coming for the ride in 2025. Couples are opting for certainty over surprise, ensuring the ring is a perfect reflection of personal style and preferences, whilst also being able to share the shopping experience.
We also found that in 18% of cases, parents accompany engagement ring shoppers. A further 18% take the shopping into their own hands by going solo, and just 11% are accompanied by friends.
Conclusion
To make
engagement ring shopping seamless and ensure you find the ring of their dreams, our study shows it’s best to consult your partner’s best friend. Bringing them into the process could be a game changer — besties really are the ultimate wingmen.
That said, the most popular shopping trend for 2025 is bringing your partner along whilst engagement ring shopping. While less traditional, it guarantees you get it right by going straight to the source.
To get inspiration on what engagement ring to get your partner, check out our beautiful range of rings here.
Choosing an engagement ring isn’t for the faint of heart. The process can end in a list of questions that you may have no answers to unless you’ve dared to broach the topic with your partner before. As a result, you may invite a chosen few into your ‘ring of trust’. In other words, the people you can talk to to get advice on the ring. But who is the best person to consult? Whether you’re engagement ring shopping for your partner, or simply curious as to who knows your ring taste best, we’ve conducted an in-depth study to find out.
White Gold Round Diamond Engagement Ring
From £408
Prong Setting Plain Engagement Ring
From £422
White Gold Round Side Stone Diamond Engagement Ring
From £833
Prong Setting Halo Diamond Engagement Ring
From £1,302
Prong Setting Diamond Hidden Halo Rings
From £852
Bestie vs Boyfriend: Who knows your ring taste best?
- Metal choice
- Stone type
- Stone shape
- Ring design
- The overall style of the ring
- And even their ring size
Their best friends and partners were then asked to guess the participants' answers, so we could calculate who got the most answers right — and the results were interesting.
Your best friend is almost three times more likely to nail your engagement ring style than your partner
Overall, we calculated that friends could correctly guess their bestie’s ring taste 67% of the time, whereas the partners had just a 25% score. This means that your best friend is almost three times more likely to know your ring preferences than your partner.
Ring size found to be the most difficult to get right in the ring-buying process
However, partners seemed more clued up on their loved one’s ideal ring design and stone type than their best friend, with a 33% increased likelihood of getting both factors correct. That said, just a quarter got the stone shape correct, compared to 42% of best friends. And for your ring size? It seems neither your best friend nor partner knows it — now’s the time to drop the hint!
More than 50% bring their partner engagement ring shopping in 2025
Our experts revealed that in 50% of cases, partners are coming for the ride in 2025. Couples are opting for certainty over surprise, ensuring the ring is a perfect reflection of personal style and preferences, whilst also being able to share the shopping experience. We also found that in 18% of cases, parents accompany engagement ring shoppers. A further 18% take the shopping into their own hands by going solo, and just 11% are accompanied by friends.
Conclusion
That said, the most popular shopping trend for 2025 is bringing your partner along whilst engagement ring shopping. While less traditional, it guarantees you get it right by going straight to the source.
To get inspiration on what engagement ring to get your partner, check out our beautiful range of rings here.