How to choose an Engagement or Wedding Ring

Finding the right piece of Jewellery can be a proverbial minefield with endless choice  Diamond or sapphire? Yellow or white gold? And then there are the murky waters of how much to spend. What’s clear is that there’s really only one question we can hear across the internet: “Will you... will you help me find the perfect engagement ring?”

We’ve done the research and collated the ultimate engagement ring guide to get you set up for the fated one knee drop. 

The holiday season is the most popular time for proposals and when you get engaged, you will often have to field questions about the ring. But before deciding to get married, couples may find themselves with questions of their own. A popular one: How much you should spend on an engagement ring?

Though conventional wisdom dictates that you should fork over one to three months salary on an engagement ring, the trend has fallen out of style in recent years. After all, it did start as a campaign by diamond retailers to improve sales. At the end of the day, the amount is arbitrary.

Choosing the perfect engagement or wedding ring can be a lot harder than it seems. Not only do you want to choose a ring your partner will love. The ring should symbolize your relationship and the years of happiness to come. 

For long and slender fingers

If you are one of those ladies who are blessed with beautiful, long and slender fingers, make sure you choose a ring that will take your beauty to the next level. Go for wide bands as they balance the length of your fragile, slender finger. Long fingers can also carry bold styles. If you are going for an engagement ring, stick to princess cut and round stone, to make your finger look more elegant. After all, you got to wear that ring for the rest of your life, right?

For long and thick fingers

Your finger type can carry large stones, which means without a doubt go for bold statement rings. Also, long thick fingers are a perfect palette for chunky and bohemian styles. Yes, gorgeous, dramatic rings are made for you. Also if you want to keep it subtle, go for wide bands with large stones so that your fuller fingers do not overshadow the ring.

For short and slender fingers

Your petite fingers need delicate stones on fairly thin bands and you are all set to dazzle. Slender, narrow-width bands create the illusion of length. A big no to large stones and wider bands as they can be over-powering. Try picking an oval, pear or marquise stone to help lengthen the appearance of your finger. Rectangular emerald-shaped stones can also do the same.

For short and thick fingers

Having wide fingers give you more room to go funky or classic and have fun with your style. Wide oval, marquise, rectangular or emerald shaped stone is a perfect match for you. Also, cluster styles and round stones in larger settings with medium to thick band go a long way in flattering wider fingers. If you want to make more of a statement with your rings, go for angular shapes and asymmetrical designs as they can minimize the width of your finger.

There are a plethora of designs out there to choose from, and now that you know your perfect kind, why wait? Be it for your dreamy engagement, your night out or just for your daily wear rings amp up your look in every way possible.

Know the Cs: Cut, Carat, Clarity and Color

You've probably heard of the Four Cs, the official diamond grading system that s made its way into the mainstream. Here s a quick decoder on what each C is and how you can use that knowledge to locate the best diamond for your budget.

Cut

By cut, we mean the sparkle factor rather than the ring shape. Cuts are graded from excellent to poor. When a diamond is cut into a shape, like a pear or oval, it’s done within specific parameters so that the facets interact with light for maximum brightness and Sparkle. 

Carat

The size or weight of a diamond is measured in carats. The average diamond in an engagement ring is one carat or milligrams about the size of an Advil tablet. 

Clarity

Even a perfect-looking stone can have flaws—a.k.a. inclusions—tiny black or white flecks or lines that occur naturally as the diamond forms in the earth over millions of years. These minute imperfections determine clarity, which is rated on an intricate scale from flawless to included. The smaller, fewer, and less visible the inclusions, the higher the price.

Colour

Diamonds come in a spectrum of shades, but the rarest ones are colourless. Colour is ranked on a scale from D no colour, the most expensive—all the way to Z, which is visibly yellowish. Recently, so-called fancy colours like pink, yellow, or chocolate have become popular. For those, the more saturated the colour, the more valuable the stone.

Pick Your Shape

The type of diamond engagement ring you choose should speak to your individual style. Here s a brief overview of the most popular shapes.

Round: It’s the most popular shape and best highlights a diamond’s brilliance.

Oval: This shape complements long, lean fingers.

Emerald: Its large facets showcase excellent clarity. See Beyoncé and Amal Clooney.

Asscher: A square emerald has an art deco feel.

Cushion: Created in the s, this vintage style is predominantly square with rounded corners.

Princess: The broad, flat top and pyramidal shape make a stone look larger than it is.

Marquise: This long, tapered style maximizes carat size.

Pear: A round-marquise hybrid looks extra delicate on a light, thin band.

Now that you're in a much better position to decide what type of ring to buy we have a comprehensive range of gorgeous Diamond Rings to suit every budget and taste.