Anniversaries are festive occasions especially for couples who have been together for such a long time. With the divorce rates skyrocketing in the country, it is a blessing to be able to hold on to a marriage for more than 10 years.

What more fitting gift for such a special event as a brilliantly cut diamond ring. This is the perfect symbol of a love and commitment that lasts a lifetime.

But with hundreds of designs to choose from, how do you buy the perfect anniversary diamond ring for your special someone? Here are some tips that hopefully will help you cut the chase.

1. Determine how much you can spend

Let's face it. A diamond ring for an anniversary gift is not exactly cheap. Compared to the usual romantic anniversary gifts like flowers, chocolates and even a candle-lit dinner, a diamond ring is way above most people's league. Even if you combine the budget for all three, you will still not come close to the price of a diamond anniversary ring.

While in search of a diamond anniversary ring, it is important that you have your budget with you to help your narrow down the choices.

If you don't have the budget, better save up for the next anniversary year. This is better than buying something that you cannot afford. You will only end up knee-deep in debt or giving your loved one a cheap-looking ring.

2. Determine the design that you want

Although there are literally millions of designs out there, there are groups of designs that will appeal to your spouse. For instance, antique and Victorian rings will appeal to people who are into the romantic periods or those who love old things. There are also more modern designs that make use of a variety of new cuts not only in the diamond but also in the gold.

3. Determine the metal

Remember that you are not only buying the diamond. You will also be buying the setting. Decide what you want to buy, whether it is yellow gold, white gold, silver or platinum. In choosing one, refer to the kind of metal that your spouse usually wears. If majority of his or her jewelry is in white gold, it is good to buy a white gold diamond anniversary ring to better fit the rest of his collection.

4. Determine the size

Unless you want to ruin the surprise and have your spouse select his or her gift with you, you'd better research on the ring size. It would be really unfortunate to buy a ring that would not fit.