Anatomy of the perfect engagement ring

What makes the perfect engagement ring? Find out everything you need to know before making that all important choice. Understand what makes a ring special, so you can find your dream engagement ring.

Need a ring?

Congratulations! If you’re thinking about an engagement ring then you’ve likely either just popped the question or are just about to. 

If you haven’t asked that special someone to marry you just yet and you think they might like to choose their own ring - stop right there! Call or pop in and we may be able to arrange a stand-in until you’ve asked the all important question. Then you can come in together and choose ‘the’ ring at a later date.

If you’re happily engaged and ready to find your dream ring, read on…

What’s important when choosing an engagement ring?

There are many things to consider when choosing an engagement ring. After all, the person you’re buying it for will hopefully be wearing it for a very long time so you want to make the right choice. 

Things like colour, cut, clarity of stone, choice of metal and the carat or weight of that metal are all important. We would also suggest thinking about what kind of wedding ring you might like, as the two will sit side-by-side and can be bought as a pair. Plus, of course, your budget. We can find a beautiful ring for any budget, but it helps for you to know what you want to spend before you start getting into the details.

We’d recommend doing your research before you even set foot in a jewellery store, so that you have some idea of what you like and what you want. Pinterest is great for this and we’ve even created some of our own Pinterest boards to help with inspiration.

Stone

To be honest, most of the choices you will make about your engagement ring will be about the stone. The colour, size, cut and clarity of the stone will all be important elements to get your head around. Luckily we have lots of info to help.

The first choice you need to make is the colour or type of stone you want. Some people have a very clear idea about a particular colour they want. If you are set on a particular colour, there are several options, from precious stones to semi-precious and crystals.

Emeralds, sapphires and rubies are all popular precious stones and stunning choices, as are diamonds. In terms of cost, it really depends on the size and quality of the stone. So perhaps have a couple of possibilities in mind and we can help you look at different options.

And of course, gemstones and crystals can give you the colour of these and other precious stones on a more moderate budget.

Cut

When talking about the ‘cut’ of a gem this can mean the proportions, finish, symmetry and polish of the stone. These factors determine the intensity and brilliance of a diamond.

At Niche Jewellery we only deal in diamonds of high quality cuts. Well proportioned, symmetrical, and polished stones and the most expensive types of diamond. 

But the term ‘cut’ can also refer to the way in which a stone is shaped. There are many types of different cuts, such as princess cut, round cut, emerald or cushion cut stones. (Take a look at some of the most popular shapes via our diamond guide.) 

A brilliant cut stone is probably the most popular choice. But there are many other modern classic cuts to consider and new ways of cutting diamonds are being created all the time. It’s worth considering all the options as an alternative shape is a great way to make your engagement ring unique to you.

Oval Diamonds are very on-trend, for instance. While a Cushion Cut is a lovely middle ground between round and square and an Emerald Cut often evokes an art deco mood. For something a little different try a Pear or Marquise Cut.

Setting

The ‘setting’ of an engagement ring refers to how the stone is ‘set’ into the metal band it sits on and the style and shape of that band. A Solitaire setting, for example, refers to a plain band with a single stone and is designed to show off the beauty of the stone itself. 

Other settings might include multiple stones, like the three-stone ring. They may also have smaller stones surrounding the main gem, like the Halo setting, or embedded in the ring band itself, like the channel setting.

It’s really a matter of personal taste (and budget of course!) as to which you choose. There are loads out there to choose from. Take a look at all the options and see what appeals to you, then come in and try them on.

Metal

As well as the style of setting you go for, you’ll need to decide what metal you want it made from. Traditionally, wedding bands were made in yellow gold, so most engagement rings were made to match. Now, you can choose from white gold, yellow gold, rose gold and platinum. 

So how do you choose between them? Well, a good place to start is your jewellery box. Think about the jewellery you like to wear and what metal it's made from. It can also be helpful to think about your wedding bands and what you’re likely to want those made from. It’s not essential that everything matches, in fact, there’s now a big trend towards mixing metals. But most people still tend to choose the same metal, and if you want yours to match, make sure you choose a metal that suits both.

Platinum used to be more expensive than white gold, as it is a naturally occurring metal. This also makes it rarer than white gold, which is a mixture of yellow gold and palladium. More recently, however, white gold has become much more expensive due to the cost of palladium increasing. In reality, the precious metals markets are changing all the time depending on supply and demand. It's best to get the advice of your jeweller about which best suits you and your budget on the day.

Next steps: made for you or design your own?

Once you know what you like, the next best step is to try a few on. Come into the shop and see how each one looks and feels. It may be that you fall in love with a design we have in the store waiting for you. Or you may like the design but not the metal or the stone. Not to worry. We can make your ring according to the metal, stone and setting of your choice, so it is completely bespoke to you. And if nothing in the store quite hits the mark, we can even help you design your ring from scratch with our design service. Simply give us a call to arrange an appointment.