Choosing the Perfect Engagement Ring 

 

Buying an engagement ring for the one you love is one of the most exciting purchases of your life! We’ve put together our tips on getting it right, buying confidently and avoiding the overwhelm.

 

Your first place to start is noticing what kind of jewellery your partner wears- are they a gold or silver type of person? Do they wear jewellery day-to-day? The engagement ring you buy needs to compliment their existing collection, especially if they wear other rings daily.

 

Next, you need to take note of what their style is like. Would you say they’re alternative and enjoy bold colours? Is their style classic and delicate? Knowing your partner inside and out is already all you need to know, but to help you choose the perfect ring- keep their personality and characteristics in mind to ensure whatever you choose fits with their personal style.

 

Pay attention to their skin tone as well- different types of metals flatter different skin tones. For example, classic gold and rose gold suit most skin tones, so you can’t go wrong with these colours. Yellow gold looks beautiful on deeper skin tones, whereas light metals like silver, platinum and white gold compliment pale skin. 

 

This may not be immediately obvious, but the lifestyle of your partner also plays a big factor in what type of ring you can choose. For example, you don’t need to buy a large stone or vulnerable gem for your partner who is active and uses their hands a lot, as the ring is at risk of being knocked and damaged. General wear and tear is expected of course, but you want to invest in something that is going to stand the test of time. 

 

Diamonds: The Four C’s

If you’re interested in diamonds, visit us in store to speak to our experts and we will run you through a detailed criteria on the diamonds you’re investing in. The criteria we grade our diamonds on is:

 

CUT- the cut of the diamond refers to the way the stone is cut to refract light, creating the sparkling play with light, as well as the shape of the diamond. 

 

COLOUR- ranging from colourless (clear/ white diamonds) to coloured diamonds, they are graded alphabetically D-Z (D being considered the best grade, but it depends on preference). 

 

CLARITY- refers to the amount of imperfections throughout the stone, these are rated as ‘flawless’ to ‘heavily included’. 

 

CARAT- refers to the weight of the stone, with the most popular diamonds falling between one and two carats. 

 

Gemstones

Alternatively, if diamonds aren’t your thing and you’re looking for something stylish and colourful, we have a range of sapphire, ruby and emerald stones to give a personal touch to your engagement ring. Gemstones like these can represent meaningful things to both of you, places you’ve visited together and fond memories. Our collection of rings are available to view here on our website and we have some exclusive pieces in store too. 

 

Antiques

A more affordable and interesting alternative to buying new is investing in antique jewellery. Buying an antique or vintage engagement ring offers amazing context and history behind the piece that is unique to you. These rings offer serious style, quality and beauty without such a high price point. Pieces made in the Art Deco, Edwardian and Victorian era in particular were built to last, so ask our team about these styles when you visit us.  

 

To sum up, remember to go with your gut. We recommend always purchasing in person so you can feel comfortable in your decision, while also being in the hands of trusted experts. Ask as many questions as you can and if a piece speaks to you, don’t let it get away!