7 Things To Consider When Buying An Engagement Ring

The idea of getting down on one knee can be a daunting prospect, but without proper guidance, finding the right ring can be just as tough. From stones and settings to sizing and styles, you may have a whole host of questions on your mind.  So, how do you choose a ring that your partner will truly cherish? Thankfully, we’ve got all the information you need. Drawing on our years of experience, our team of jewellery experts have put together a guide to help you pick the perfect engagement ring. In this blog post, we highlight seven things to consider when selecting that all important piece of jewellery.  

Your Budget

If you perform a quick search on Google, you’ll find a long list of results telling you how much you should spend on an engagement ring. Old rules suggested splashing up to three months of your salary but nowadays there’s no set amount. Ultimately, it all comes down to what you’re comfortable with. Today, you’ll find engagement rings at all price brackets. However, when setting your budget, we recommend that you do a little research first. If you’re struggling to find something within your budget then you could consider buying a pre-loved ring. Second hand diamond engagement rings are known to feature high-quality stones at a fraction of the price, making them a great option for more modest budgets!  

Ring Style

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when buying an engagement ring is selecting a style that you like. After all, you won’t be the one wearing it, so it’s crucial to cater to your partner’s individual taste. You could invest in the most exquisite diamond, but if you choose a vintage ring when they’d prefer a modern and minimalist setting, it could miss the mark! To tap into their tastes, we suggest searching through their existing jewellery collection. Ask yourself: what do they normally wear? Remember, this will be a piece of jewellery they wear for the rest of their lives, so it’s important to complement their carefully curated style.  We’d also recommend avoiding current trends. Whether in fashion or jewellery, trends are forever changing. To make sure their ring never goes out of style, opt for something timeless and elegant. And if you’re still feeling stuck, why not take a look at some of the most popular engagement ring styles for more inspiration?  

The Metal

You’ll also need to decide on a type of metal; to do this, think about your partner’s favourite jewellery. Do they tend to go for yellow gold? Or do they prefer the silver hues? In addition to their preferences, the type of metal you choose may depend on your budget. 9ct gold engagement rings are versatile and tend to be a favourite with those who have more traditional tastes. If they prefer silver tones then white gold is a bank-balance-friendly option that’s also hard-wearing thanks to its alloy coating. Alternatively, there’s platinum, the most durable and expensive of metals. However, platinum is also hypoallergenic, making it a great choice for those who suffer with allergies!  

Type of Stone

While diamonds are considered to be the classic choice for an engagement ring, they’re not the only option. In fact, there’s a whole host of colourful gemstone rings available. What’s more, they’re a great way to cater to your future fiancé(e)’s style! For a unique statement, you could consider a coloured diamond. Depending on your partner’s personality, there’s a wide range of colours to choose from including pink, yellow and even black. Alternatively, gemstones like rubies, emeralds and sapphires are much cheaper than coloured diamonds, allowing you to pick a pop of colour for a fraction of the price! You could opt for their birth stone or simply select their favourite colour.   

The Diamond

You’ve probably heard about the 4 C’s of diamonds, but do you know what they are? Put simply, they stand for cut, colour, carat and clarity. Cut is arguably the most important feature as it affects how well the diamond sparkles; colour is graded from light to colourless; carat is essentially the weight of the diamond; and clarity refers to any imperfections or blemishes the stone may have.   

Setting and Cut

No matter what type of stone you select, you’ll need to consider the setting and cut. As mentioned above, the cut gives a diamond its sparkle, while the setting not only holds the stone in place but can add to the overall design of the ring.  When considering cut, there’s a range of options to choose from. There’s the classic round cut, the art deco-style emerald cut, as well as the more unusual pear cut.  When it comes to setting, you could pick the prong, cathedral or tension. The prong encases the stone with up to six small pieces of metal, the cathedral uses an arch-like shape, while the tension holds the stone between the band and creates the illusion of floating.  

Ring Size

When you finally pluck up the courage to ask the ultimate question, the last thing you want is to propose with an ill-fitting ring. But how can you find out their size without giving the game away? Fortunately, we know a few sneaky sizing solutions to help you get it right! You could borrow one of your partner’s rings to get their measurement or ask their friends to see if they can suss out their ring size for you. Alternatively, before you purchase, ask if the ring can be resized. This is important as certain settings, like tension, can make it difficult to adjust band size. While a vintage band that’s entirely covered in gemstones may be tricky, too.    There you have it, a full guide to picking the perfect engagement ring. Now all you need to do is shop and pop the question… Got any other engagement ring-related tips? We’d love to know! Tell us over on Facebook or Instagram.