How To Choose An Engagement Ring: Not As Easy As You'd Think
At first glance, buying an engagement ring doesn't seem like such a complicated matter. You decide to ask the big question, arm yourself with a lot of courage, walk into the jewelry shop after doing a bit of research online, pick out the ring and that's it.
However, even if it seems like a piece of cake to buy a ring, you'll realize that the experience is far from simple.
You cannot rely only on the experience of the counselors in the specialized shops, because you will come across the following important questions from them:
- What shade of gold she is most fond of?
- What size does she wear?
- She prefers a single diamond or a whole setting with diamonds and natural stones?
- What size does she wear?
- She prefers a single diamond or a whole setting with diamonds and natural stones?
Of course, don't forget that the timing of the proposal is far too important for you not to put your stamp on all the details.
What Matters Most About The Engagement Ring
Few people understand the amalgam of emotions a man goes through when he decides to buy an engagement ring for his sweetheart and take the big step of proposing.
Ideally, you should know what your future fiancée wants, so that you can follow her tastes and choose a ring she likes. If you know exactly what she prefers, then it's much easier, but if you don't have the vaguest idea, start analyzing her jewelry box, ask her probing questions, and possibly ask her best friend for an opinion, of course with the request that she does not divulge your intentions.
Next, we'll discuss some of the things you should keep in mind when buying an engagement ring.
The Settings
The area of the ring that secures the center diamond or gemstone is known as the engagement ring setting. It serves as the ring's base, holding the stone in place and influencing the ring's general design, appearance, and feel.
It is possible to wear your ring with confidence and not constantly worry about it coming off if the setting is secure. Different shapes work better in different settings, and some ring settings are more secure than others.
Here are some of the most secure ring settings that will keep your precious stone in place:
The Solitaire Ring Setting
The center diamond or gemstone can be the main attraction without any interference thanks to the solitaire ring setting.
When you picture an engagement ring, the solitaire setting—which is the most iconic—usually comes to mind first. The pinnacle of subtle elegance, it has a single stone held firmly in place by a bezel or metal prongs so that the diamond always takes center stage.
The attractiveness and adaptability of the solitaire style stem from its simplicity. It is a go-to choice for everyday wear jewelry pieces like an engagement ring because it looks well with everything.
Next, we'll discuss some of the things you should keep in mind when buying an engagement ring.
The Settings
The area of the ring that secures the center diamond or gemstone is known as the engagement ring setting. It serves as the ring's base, holding the stone in place and influencing the ring's general design, appearance, and feel.
It is possible to wear your ring with confidence and not constantly worry about it coming off if the setting is secure. Different shapes work better in different settings, and some ring settings are more secure than others.
Here are some of the most secure ring settings that will keep your precious stone in place:
The Solitaire Ring Setting
The center diamond or gemstone can be the main attraction without any interference thanks to the solitaire ring setting.
When you picture an engagement ring, the solitaire setting—which is the most iconic—usually comes to mind first. The pinnacle of subtle elegance, it has a single stone held firmly in place by a bezel or metal prongs so that the diamond always takes center stage.
The attractiveness and adaptability of the solitaire style stem from its simplicity. It is a go-to choice for everyday wear jewelry pieces like an engagement ring because it looks well with everything.
The Pavé Setting
Small diamonds are closely spaced along a ring's band in a pavé ring setting. The word "pavé" in French refers to "paved," since the tiny diamonds are arranged so tightly that it looks as though they are paved across the ring's band.
The pavé style's ability to highlight other design elements in a ring and provide a sense of depth and dimension is one of its most alluring features. Those who value fine details are drawn to this setting style.
The Halo Setting
In this setting, the central diamond or gemstone is encircled by a circle or halo of lesser stones. This halo effect enlarges the center diamond and produces a stunning show of glitter.
Many soon-to-be brides are choosing the halo engagement ring type, which is available in several design variations such as a double halo, concealed halo, or cluster halo.
The Prong Setting
A center stone is held in place in the prong ring setting by metal prongs, also known as claws. Considering how tiny and delicate these prongs are by nature, a prong setting maximizes light exposure, which enhances light return throughout the stone, giving it its distinctive brightness.
Every diamond shape has a recommended number of prongs when it comes to prong settings. Still, there are a range of recommendations. Choose the option with more prongs if you want to be extra cautious and keep your diamond extremely secure.
A round diamond, for instance, may have four to six prongs. Six prongs will better shield a round diamond, even though four can showcase it exquisitely.
The Bezel Setting
The diamond is secured in a bezel setting by a metal ring encasing that just marginally overlaps the edges of the stone. In addition to being quite safe, it provides a sleek and contemporary look that goes well with modern jewelry styles.
Because of its strong design, the bezel is less likely to chip, break, or sustain other damage than with more delicate settings. This makes it an excellent option for people who have an active lifestyle or who have a tendency to be clumsy.
The Channel Setting
In the case of The channel setting, we can see smaller diamonds that are set flush along the band within two metal walls. As a result, there is no need for a metal setting in between each stone, creating a seamless row of diamonds or gemstones.
Full, half, and quarter channel settings are among the various kinds of channel settings that exist. These speak to the length of the stones' circumference around the band.
The Cathedral Setting
A timeless and sophisticated style, the cathedral engagement ring setting has peaked shoulders or arches rising up from the band to support the center stone rather than ending below the stone.
The name comes from the effect the arches create - that of a cathedral. This design gives the ring a little height and presence and is ideal for displaying larger diamonds or gemstones.
The peaked shoulders of the ring can be embellished with diamonds or other gemstones to give it even more life and brilliance. The high positioning of the center stone in the cathedral setting allows the most light to enter the diamond.
The Bar Setting
Diamonds are arranged between two metal bars that run parallel to the finger in the bar engagement ring setting, giving it a modern and minimalist look.
When the bars are positioned on either side of the focal diamond or gemstone, it's frequently utilized as an accent setting to produce a distinctive and striking effect.
As an alternative, side stones may be set in place of the center stone in an engagement ring with a bar design that can be customized to accommodate a variety of diamond shapes and accent stones.
The 4 Cs - Carat, Clarity, Color & Cut
Carat
Carats measure the weight, not the size of the diamond.
Clarity
During the process of cutting and polishing a diamond, imperfections, called blemishes or inclusions by gemologists, naturally occur and their presence determines the diamond's clarity level. The most prized stones are those with few or no inclusions.
Color
The color written on the certificate of authenticity of a diamond does not actually refer to the color of the stone but to the degree of clarity of the shade mentioned. The diagram of the color grades of diamonds refers to their transparency and lack of tinting
Cut
The sparkle of the diamond is rendered by the cut, which determines the strength of the light reflection inside the diamond. The cut of the diamond gives the gemstone its white fire and brilliance.
Skin Tone
Choose her engagement ring in a matching color that compliments her skin tone.
For a cool skin tone (the blood vessels on the inside of the arm are blue) white gold jewelry is recommended. Gemstones: diamonds, pearls, blue sapphires, amethysts, aquamarines, rubies, emeralds, opal, and tanzanite.
The warm hue of the skin (the blood vessels on the inside of the arm have pronounced accents of green) is complimented by yellow gold and rose gold jewelry. Suitable gemstones include alexandrite, citrine, garnet, morganite, peridot, ruby, mandarin garnet, and colored diamonds.
Ring Size
The size of your engagement ring is a very important aspect to consider when choosing your jewelry.
You should also know that a ring with stones inlaid on the sides will be very difficult to alter if the chosen size does not fit.
Her engagement ring will be worn on the ring finger of her left hand, along with her wedding ring. So, you should also take this into account when choosing the engagement ring.
How Can You Find Out Her Ring Size?
"Borrow" a ring that she usually wears on her ring finger and bring it to one of our locations to find out the correct size.
If you can't bring the ring to a jewelry store, you can try to determine the ring size yourself by measuring the inside diameter of the ring with a ruler. Look in a size chart for the measurement that would correspond to the ring size.
Measure your finger with a pin. Wrap the thread around the finger, making sure it is neither too tight on the finger nor too loose. Measure the thread with a ruler and look up the size of the resulting size on the size chart.
The ring should sit comfortably on her finger - tight enough that it doesn't slip off, yet wide enough that it easily passes the knuckle.
The circumference of the finger differs depending on weather conditions or time of day. To get the correct size, you can measure the circumference of your finger at the end of the day when your fingers are warm - the circumference of your fingers is smaller early in the morning or when it is cold.
It is also advisable to avoid paper strips or string. These can stretch or distort, resulting in the wrong determination of finger size.
Diamond or Zirconia?
The engagement ring is a piece of jewelry that she will wear for the rest of her life with her wedding ring. Taking this into consideration, choosing the inlaid stone shouldn't be difficult.
The advantages of zirconia are the price and the fact that it can be easily replaced if it gets damaged or lost. This stone will lose its brilliance and transparency over time, especially if worn all the time.
The diamond will retain its brilliance and beauty forever. The most durable gemstone, the diamond is also the most popular stone set in engagement ring settings.
Diamond-encrusted jewelry should always be accompanied by guarantee certificates attesting to its authenticity and qualities.
The Signs Of The Zodiac
The twelve signs of the zodiac are composed of four elements: fire, water, air, and earth.
These components work together to shape each sign's unique personality characteristics.
Your fiancée’s particular astrological sign can reveal her personal qualities, assets, and shortcomings.
Did you know that her zodiac sign can assist you in selecting the ideal engagement ring that complements her distinct personality, from the shape of the stone and unusual metal to the style and design?
Carat
Carats measure the weight, not the size of the diamond.
Clarity
During the process of cutting and polishing a diamond, imperfections, called blemishes or inclusions by gemologists, naturally occur and their presence determines the diamond's clarity level. The most prized stones are those with few or no inclusions.
Color
The color written on the certificate of authenticity of a diamond does not actually refer to the color of the stone but to the degree of clarity of the shade mentioned. The diagram of the color grades of diamonds refers to their transparency and lack of tinting
Cut
The sparkle of the diamond is rendered by the cut, which determines the strength of the light reflection inside the diamond. The cut of the diamond gives the gemstone its white fire and brilliance.
Skin Tone
Choose her engagement ring in a matching color that compliments her skin tone.
For a cool skin tone (the blood vessels on the inside of the arm are blue) white gold jewelry is recommended. Gemstones: diamonds, pearls, blue sapphires, amethysts, aquamarines, rubies, emeralds, opal, and tanzanite.
The warm hue of the skin (the blood vessels on the inside of the arm have pronounced accents of green) is complimented by yellow gold and rose gold jewelry. Suitable gemstones include alexandrite, citrine, garnet, morganite, peridot, ruby, mandarin garnet, and colored diamonds.
Ring Size
The size of your engagement ring is a very important aspect to consider when choosing your jewelry.
You should also know that a ring with stones inlaid on the sides will be very difficult to alter if the chosen size does not fit.
Her engagement ring will be worn on the ring finger of her left hand, along with her wedding ring. So, you should also take this into account when choosing the engagement ring.
How Can You Find Out Her Ring Size?
"Borrow" a ring that she usually wears on her ring finger and bring it to one of our locations to find out the correct size.
If you can't bring the ring to a jewelry store, you can try to determine the ring size yourself by measuring the inside diameter of the ring with a ruler. Look in a size chart for the measurement that would correspond to the ring size.
Measure your finger with a pin. Wrap the thread around the finger, making sure it is neither too tight on the finger nor too loose. Measure the thread with a ruler and look up the size of the resulting size on the size chart.
The ring should sit comfortably on her finger - tight enough that it doesn't slip off, yet wide enough that it easily passes the knuckle.
The circumference of the finger differs depending on weather conditions or time of day. To get the correct size, you can measure the circumference of your finger at the end of the day when your fingers are warm - the circumference of your fingers is smaller early in the morning or when it is cold.
It is also advisable to avoid paper strips or string. These can stretch or distort, resulting in the wrong determination of finger size.
Diamond or Zirconia?
The engagement ring is a piece of jewelry that she will wear for the rest of her life with her wedding ring. Taking this into consideration, choosing the inlaid stone shouldn't be difficult.
The advantages of zirconia are the price and the fact that it can be easily replaced if it gets damaged or lost. This stone will lose its brilliance and transparency over time, especially if worn all the time.
The diamond will retain its brilliance and beauty forever. The most durable gemstone, the diamond is also the most popular stone set in engagement ring settings.
Diamond-encrusted jewelry should always be accompanied by guarantee certificates attesting to its authenticity and qualities.
The Signs Of The Zodiac
The twelve signs of the zodiac are composed of four elements: fire, water, air, and earth.
These components work together to shape each sign's unique personality characteristics.
Your fiancée’s particular astrological sign can reveal her personal qualities, assets, and shortcomings.
Did you know that her zodiac sign can assist you in selecting the ideal engagement ring that complements her distinct personality, from the shape of the stone and unusual metal to the style and design?
How Much Should You Pay For An Engagement Ring?
Legend has it that an engagement ring should be worth as much as your two months' salary.
Of course, theoretically. Practically, however, your love is not valued in gemstones.
Remember
Don't surprise your fiancée with a ring she would never choose.
Pay attention to the jewelry she wears in general - how big it is, what color precious metal it's made of, whether or not it's encrusted with colored stones.
Do your research before you start looking for an engagement ring in the shops. For example, about 76% of women prefer a classic engagement ring design.
Don't surprise your fiancée with a ring she would never choose.
Pay attention to the jewelry she wears in general - how big it is, what color precious metal it's made of, whether or not it's encrusted with colored stones.
Do your research before you start looking for an engagement ring in the shops. For example, about 76% of women prefer a classic engagement ring design.
And remember. The engagement ring is more than a piece of jewelry. It represents the promise of a new beginning with your loved one. So choose carefully.
We invite you to visit our online store, where you can find a suitable ring for your fiancée.
