Engagement Ring Guide

Use our complete guide to assist you in choosing the perfect engagement ring for your loved one. From choosing a gemstone, to metal and style, this comprehensive guide will guide you through the process! If you would like to arrange a consultation with one of our personal jewellers or have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to call or email us.

Choosing A Gemstone

When thinking of a buying an engagement ring most people think of a diamond. However although still popular, there has been a recent rise in the popularity of gemstone engagement rings.

Whether it is for a splash of colour or to stand out from the crowd, there are endless options when it comes to gemstone engagement ring.

Some of the most popular gemstones for engagement rings include:

Sapphire - Available in multiple colours such as blue sapphire, pink sapphire or even purple sapphire. Sapphires are natural gemstones and vary in tone from dark and deep to light and pale. We recommend sapphires as a great gemstone for an engagement ring due to their hardness, meaning they withstand the rigors of daily wear better than other gemstones.
Ruby - Rubies are beautiful rich coloured stones which have been associated to wealth and royalty for century's. Similar to sapphires, they are hard gemstones again making them suitable for daily wear.
Emerald - Although a little softer than sapphire and ruby, emeralds with their strong green tones can make a lovely engagement ring. Paired with a diamond halo or as a three stone ring with diamonds, they make a stunning statement.
Morganite - Morganite has a pale rose or often peach tone. It is a form of Beryl, a naturally occurring crystal. It requires a little more care than diamonds, sapphire or ruby but is hardy enough to withstand daily wear.
Aquamarine - Aquamarines, like Emeralds and Morganite are a type of Beryl. Aquamarines come in varying shades of blue, from pale baby blue to rich bright blue.

Some couples choose to feature one or both of their birthstones within their engagement ring to add an extra personal touch.

There are hundreds of other gemstones available, please contact us if you wish for some personal advise on which gemstone would suit your bespoke engagement ring.

Choosing A Diamond

When choosing a diamond there are many factors to take into consideration. Ultimately it is about choosing a diamond that you love and falls within your budget!

Factors to consider when picking a diamond are the shape, colour, clarity, cut and carat weight. Below is an interactive tool to provide a little more information about each aspect of a diamond; for further reading check out our diamond buying guide.

Choosing The Metal

There are four main choices when it comes to the metal of an engagement ring; Platinum, White Gold, Yellow Gold and Rose Gold. Below we discuss each metal in more depth:

Platinum
Platinum is the hardest and most durable metal offered in engagement rings, it is naturally a white metal and therefore doesn't discolour over time. It does however sometimes loose its shiny finish through wear but this can easily be resolved with a professional clean and polish. Platinum is a dense metal and therefore can work out a little more expensive than gold.

White Gold:
White Gold comes is a couple of different variations. As standard we offer 18ct white gold which consists of 75% pure gold mixed with other alloys such as palladium or silver. 9ct white gold is also available on request, this consists of 37.5% pure gold and is again mixed with alloys such as silver or palladium. The price difference between the two can be significant due to the quantity of gold however 9ct gold is generally not as hard wearing.

As white gold is made up of a high quantity of yellow metal, even after being combined with a white alloy it can be a peachy, off white tone. Therefore, all white gold is rhodium plated. This provides a hard outer shell of pure white colouring. Although this layer is thick, it does eventually wear off. Differing lifestyles can accelerate the wear so we generally recommend removing your jewellery when you are using cleaning products or completing work that is heavy on your hands.

The rhodium plating is easy to re-instate with a professional re-plating, clean and polish. Alternatively, some people like the natural colour of white gold and choose to keep it that way!

Yellow Gold:

Yellow gold is the most traditional gold and has been used for hundreds of years, in recent years it has regained popularity due to its warm tones and as it can offer contrast against the gemstones.

Similar to white gold, yellow gold comes in different purities. As standard, we recommend 18ct yellow gold as other qualities can be brittle or too soft. However, we are able to offer different qualities of metal on request
Rose Gold:

Rose gold is gaining popularity, with its rich rosy tone it offers a stunning contrast to the brilliant white of diamonds or against the royal blue hue of sapphire. Rose gold gets its colouring from the addition of copper into the alloy and can vary in tone depending on the purity of the gold. We offer 18ct rose gold as standard but can offer other purities by request.

Choosing The Style

When choosing the style of an engagement ring it is all about what you or your partner prefer.

Below are a couple of our most popular engagement ring styles:

Solitaire - The most traditional form of an engagement ring, a single stone set on a plain metal band.
Halo - A halo of diamonds set around the outside of a principal gemstone, this can be made with or without additional diamonds set down the shoulder. These often make a smaller diamond look larger.
Diamond Shoulders - A principal diamond set in claw setting with diamonds set into the band, normally spanning 50% of the ring.
Three Stone - Three stones are set alongside each other, often referred to as a trilogy ring and said to give good luck.
Cluster - A principal gemstone set with larger diamonds around the outside than a halo.

There are plenty of other styles available or you can design your own personal bespoke engagement ring with our jewellery consultants. Contact us today to arrange a personal consultation.