How To Find The Perfect Engagement Ring
Posted on: 13/11/2017An engagement ring is something that represents a very special time in your life; it will be treasured forever as a symbol of love and marriage. Whether you're planning to propose to the one you love, or if you're picking out your own ring, it can be a difficult to know what the perfect engagement ring is. With so many different styles and designs it can be easy to get overwhelmed and confused. But don't fret! We're here with our 'How to Find the Perfect Engagement Ring' guide to help you make your decision. Follow along for some great inspiration and useful tips.
What Metal Should I Pick?
Picking what metal you want your engagement ring to be made of is a good start, it will narrow your search down massively! Ask yourself "What can I see myself wearing the most?" or if you're planning to surprise your loved one ask "What metal do they wear the most?" Maybe you have a personal preference, or maybe you/they already have a lot of jewellery in a specific metal and you want them to match the engagement ring. The most popular metals for engagement rings are 18ct yellow gold, 18ct white gold, or platinum. Yellow gold is a traditional metal and white gold puts a bright, modern spin on the traditional look. Platinum is perfect for those who want a contemporary, hard wearing engagement ring, but it can cost more than yellow and white gold.Remember to keep in mind the wedding ring too. Ideally the wedding ring metal should be the same as the engagement ring metal to avoid the metals wearing down and rubbing off each other.
What Stone Should I Choose?
The next point you need to think about is the stone. Most people go for the classic diamond when picking an engagement ring, but don't completely forget about other stones too! Pink diamonds and different gemstones can all be used in an engagement ring. If there's a preferred gemstone or birthstone, you could consider incorporating that into the engagement ring too along with some traditional diamonds.
What Stone Shape is Best?
After picking out the basics, it's now time to look at the shape of the stone you've chosen. Do you take a fancy to traditional round stones or do you prefer a unique stone like pear or cushion shape? The most popular shape for engagement rings is round brilliant but there are also princess, marquise, pear, emerald, cushion and baguette stones. Refer to our visual guide below to learn more:
To learn more about the cut and quality of our diamonds, refer to our 4 C’s guide.
What Style Should I Pick?
Last but not least, you need to decide on the perfect engagement ring style. There is a huge selection of styles to choose from to satisfy everyone's tastes, but the most popular engagement ring style is a single stone round brilliant cut diamond solitaire. Halo cluster rings are also popular and have a vintage feel to them - a large diamond sits in the centre and has a circle of smaller diamonds surrounding it, creating a halo effect. Trilogy rings have three single stones which represent the past, present and future, and two stone rings represent one love between two people. If you prefer something a bit more extravagant, then maybe a cluster ring would be ideal. Cluster rings have a number of stones close together, making a cluster, and often create the illusion of a larger stone - perfect if your budget won't stretch to a single round brilliant diamond!
What if I Still Can't Decide?
If you're struggling after reading our guide there's no need to panic! Our in store Diamond Advisors are trained especially to help you. Pop into one of our stores or call our Online Sales Team for help on 01895 201040 (option 2). Our advisors will guide you through the whole process and recommend the perfect rings.If you're planning to surprise your loved one and you still don't know what to pick, you can always purchase a Marry Me Ring. Once you've popped the question, head into any F.Hinds branch and get the cost of this ring off the new engagement ring your lucky fiancé chooses!
