The men's engagement ring can be given when the woman proposes to her man (a recent survey discovered two-thirds of those surveyed were comfortable with the idea of a woman initiating a marriage proposal with men actually being more comfortable with the idea than women) or purchased after the traditional proposal by the man to the woman. Either way a men's engagement ring is a nice gift by the woman to the man to symbolize the beginning of this phase of their relationship.

In a country where a generation a go men's wedding rings were not common, today most British couples exchange wedding rings so it seems logical the men's engagement ring is the next step in wedding jewellery traditions.

Paula Hall a couples' psychotherapist, was quoted in a February 2010 Times article about the men's engagement ring trend, "I can certainly see positives in this. It's clearly symbolic, but what it potentially does is demonstrate a shared commitment to the process and journey of being a couple....Showing mutual commitment is important....If an engagement ring is traditionally a symbol that a woman belongs to a man, this makes it a symbol that the couple belongs to each other instead."

Many feminists argue the traditional women's engagement ring is really all about how wealthy the husband to be is and it a symbol of the wife to be belonging to her fiancée.  So does the men's engagement ring bring a sense of equality to the relationship? Opinions differ; some argue it does others suggest it is a jewellers ploy to sell more rings.

Some men are resistant to the idea of wearing any ring let alone a men's engagement ring. Others find the idea intriguing. The key is to find a style of ring the man is comfortable wearing.

Jewellers are offering men's wedding ring sets that incorporate the men's engagement ring and wedding ring into a matching set which can be worn on the same finger one above the other or on different fingers on different hands. The sets feature rings that are of the same or complimentary style and design. These sets are generally made of the same metal and sometimes have the same gems set into both bands.

The men's engagement rings can be found in any metal but titanium and platinum are popular choices because of their durability. These rings can withstand active life styles and stand up to the abuse rings are exposed to when men who work with their hands wear the rings everyday. The men's engagement rings, much like women's engagement rings, can be found in styles from a simple metal band to a band decorated with elaborate designs or bands with a gem or multiple gems set into the bands.

The choice is personal and depends on the budget the woman has for the ring and the lifestyle of the man who is going to be wearing the ring.

The woman can either both purchase the men's engagement ring and initiate the proposal of marriage or more often the woman purchases the men's engagement ring shortly after he has proposed to her and gives it to the man as a symbol of their love and commitment.

It is best to discuss if the man is comfortable with the idea of a men's engagement ring before making a purchase. Because of the newness of the idea of men's engagement rings many men are initially resistant to wearing an engagement ring. If your man is comfortable with the idea you can select a men's engagement ring together purchasing a style of ring he is most comfortable wearing.

Most men wear their engagement ring on the ring finger of their left hand - and after the wedding either wears the men's engagement ring on the same finger above or below their wedding ring or switch the engagement ring to the ring finger of their right hand. Some men's engagement rings are available in sets with the wedding band. Some of the sets are made to be soldered together to form a single band. The trend of men wearing an engagement ring is so new there are really no customs as to where the ring should be worn so you can be creative and wear the ring wherever and however you are comfortable wearing it.

While men's rings are distinctively different than women's engagement rings they have the same symbolism; to serve as a public statement of the love the couple shares and their intent to share that love together for the rest of their lives.

Many men's engagement rings are simple bands some with two tones featuring two metals or rings with a diamond set flush into the ring or perhaps in a groove or worked into another design detail. Titanium and platinum are popular choices of metal for men's engagement rings although white gold is also a popular choice.  Simple and subtle rings are better for men who intend to wear the ring to work or while engaged in active leisure activities. Engraving on the inside of the ring with a phrase, date or other personal note adds a personal touch without being overt.

For those who prefer a more elaborate engagement ring design the mokume gane engagement rings which use different metals to create complicated patterns on the band are popular. Another popular style of men's engagement rings incorporates several diamonds in a channel setting or arranged along one edge of a square ring. These rings while unique and interesting are sturdy and can be worn by active men without much concern that the settings will be damaged.

The cost of men's engagement rings is similar to the cost for a woman's engagement ring. Rings without precious stones are generally less expensive although intricate patterns can get costly.