Let’s start from a common ground, it’s not a rocket science.
Regardless of all the tension and stress you might have experienced (or heard about from others), getting the perfect engagement ring for your loved one is achievable once you have the right answers for the top 5 things you need to know before starting the journey.
We can safely assume you’ve been dating this girl for enough time, you know a lot about her, what she likes, her style, trends she follows, etc., and through this article, we will walk you through what things you need to be prepared for, so you can get the perfect engagement ring.
1. What Diamond Style Suits her Hand?
Hard question? Let’s read it another way:
Based on her fingers size, which diamond style will be more beautiful?
Although this can be dependent on someone’s own style, but generally, people with longer fingers find that elongated cuts like the marquise, emerald, oval, and radiant cuts work better for them.
People with short fingers, a round cut or princess cut (square or slightly rectangular) works well.
A three stone (also known as a trilogy set) or side-stone set is also worth considering.
2. Which Gemstone(s) Should Set in the Engagement Ring?
Some people lock themselves immediately by only thinking of diamonds, but jewelry isn’t always about diamonds.
People prefer diamonds for many reasons, brilliance, beauty, or just for “going with the flow”, but why diamonds got that perception?
Probably because it’s one of the most durable gemstone out there, thanks to the 10 out of 10 (on Mohs scale of hardness) which diamonds have, making them the hardest mineral on earth.
Sapphires and rubies are coming back into vogue and are both rated as a 9 on the Mohs scale, which means they are also suitable to be worn every day.
Sapphires are incredibly unique due to natural variance in shades, meaning no two sapphires are alike, which guarantees a distinctive and special ring.
A ruby is in fact a red sapphire, but the color may range between orange-red to purple-red. Finding a high-quality ruby above one carat in weight is incredibly rare and this is also why they are highest cost-per-carat gemstone.
An engagement ring with an emerald is a less common choice but they are usually more affordable than diamonds.
Emeralds are classically green and are rated as 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which means that daily wear can damage the stone.
Regardless of emeralds durability, it is still considered a valuable and prestigious gemstone, and oftentimes is chosen for uniqueness or symbolism.
3) What Shape/Cut to Choose?
Whether you select a diamond or a sapphire, you need to figure out what shape to get.
There are tens of different shapes out there, round, heart, princess, oval, and the list goes on, following the first question we discussed above, you need to pay a little more attention to your other half style.
Her fingers, jewelry she wears (earrings, bracelets, etc..), are her fingers long? Short ones? This will help you narrow down the search, and here are a few tips as well:
The most popular cut is the classic round brilliant because of their impressive sparkle and universal shape that works well with almost any setting style.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamond-rings/round-cut-engagement-rings/
Princess cut (square and rectangular) is the second most popular; it is considered more modern and chic and has a distinctive sparkle and color towards the edges.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamond-rings/princess-cut-engagement-rings/
The Marquise cut helps to maximize carat weight and emphasizes the size of the diamond with it’s long length.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamond-rings/marquise-cut-engagement-rings/
The Cushion cut (named for it’s pillow like shape) is an old world cut that is becoming more popular; they have less sparkle than brilliant cut diamonds but they have their own unique brilliance and work well with halo settings.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamond-rings/cushion-cut-engagement-rings/
Last but not least, the heart shape, it’s regarded by many as the ultimate symbol of love. These stones are best presented alone in single-diamond settings like pendants and rings to match a traditionally romantic couple.
https://www.jamesallen.com/diamond-rings/heart-shaped-engagement-rings/
There are many different stylish, but less popular, styles of cuts to consider.
4) What Ring Metal to Choose?
You have multiple options to select from, there is platinum, white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold, which are all classic choices.
Pure gold (also called 24 karat gold) is 99.9% pure but is too soft for jewelry; it is alloyed with other metals for strength and color, that’s why it’s always recommended to get a ring that contains gold & alloy for durability/
18k vs 14k Gold rings
18-Karat gold is 75% (25% alloy) pure and is the purest form of gold used in jewelry.
The 14-Karat gold is 58.3% pure (41.7% alloy) and is the most popular gold used in wedding and engagement rings.
The rich yellow appearance that makes gold attractive is most prominent in 18K gold. This purity of gold has little risk of skin irritation (e.g. due to nickel allergy) but it is fairly easy to scratch and significantly more expensive than 14K gold.
The best mix of durability and affordability, while still maintaining the rich golden color, is found in 14K gold which is why it used in about 90% of all engagement and wedding rings.
Rose gold is a gold and copper alloy and is considered more durable than yellow or white gold. Rose gold can complement skin tones but be aware that it is not hypoallergenic due to the copper. Rose gold is often considered to impart a vintage or antique appeal.
White gold has a mixture of zinc, nickel, and copper to improve durability and is almost always plated with a thin layer of rhodium to give a more brilliant, pure white appearance.
White gold looks virtually identical to platinum but the rhodium plating can wear off with time; white gold items should be plated every 2 years (and probably every year if used daily).
Platinum is chosen due to its strength and durability along with the strong white color. It is a great choice and is typically the most expensive choice of ring metals.
5) Will the Engagement Ring Fit with the Wedding Band?
Once you’ve picked the perfect engagement ring, you then need to pick a wedding band that matches, probably at a later stage, but at least have an idea about it while getting the engagement ring.
There’s a lot to consider and many options to choose from. Some jewelry brands offer matching wedding bands; search for “Wedding Ring Set” or “Bridal Set”.
Start shopping for the wedding band early; don’t let it become an afterthought or a rushed decision.
Remember: The wedding band is a symbol of forever, therefore you must find some that will stand the test of time.
Where to Find Inspirational Ideas for Engagement Rings?
Thanks to technology, now you can have endless ideas about styles, shapes, designs, sizes, almost everything at your fingertips.
You can browse ideas on Pinterest-like websites, there are thousands of ring styles to see and get inspired, or you can head directly to some major online stores like James Allen, Whiteflash, and Blue Nile and see through their selections.