At the beginning of the New Year, we all make our New Year's resolutions. 'This year I'm going to loose weight', 'Run the marathon', 'Travel more' are the most common ones. But this year, I've heard a lot of people talking of getting married. It seems that even in 2019, people fall in love and want to share their lives with someone special.
But what about the ring? everyone asks me, without thinking that I'm just a stylist and I don't know anything about engagement rings (Mine was a surprise). Many couples these days, avoid the whole proposal extravaganza and they choose the engagement ring together! How cool is that?
So I've collaborated with Brillianteers, in order to put in place a guide on how to choose the perfect engagement ring. And if you don't want to ruin the surprise, just let your laptop on the dinner table... bookmark this page... and he'll get the hint, right?
1. Trust your gut feeling
When do I give her the ring? In our many years of experience, we’ve learned that proposing is all about the right timing. Don’t rely on the weather, the time of year, or how many years you’ve been together – it’s all about when the heart decides. If you feel the time is right, then the time is right! Don’t listen to your friends or the internet – there is no “right time” to do it, as each relationships is different. Isn’t that what makes relationships so unique and special?
2. It's time to save!
You – but more importantly, your bank account – should be relieved to know that there is no truth in that “the ring must be worth three times your monthly salary” nonsense. Doing your research will point you in the direction of Brillianteers, who offer the most affordable earth-mined diamonds on the market. The ring will look three or maybe even six times as expensive, but it certainly won’t cost the earth, leaving more money for planning the dream wedding.
3. Worried about her ring size?
You are right to be worried about her ring size; after all, you don’t want to spend all that time and money and end up buying a ring that’s too small or too big. Gold rings can actually be resized after purchase, which might sway your metal decision if you’re unsure of the size. The same can’t be said for platinum rings, so it’s crucial to get the right size if you’re going down the platinum route. Luckily, there are many tricks to know her exact, accurate ring size – including taking one of her rings which you know is the perfect fit to have professionally measured. You can find the most helpful measuring methods on the
4. Know the perfect style for her
Here’s where it could get a bit tricky. There are many kinds of diamond engagement ring styles and settings, and choosing the right one could be a bit complicated if she hasn’t given you any hints. Although let’s face it, most women have already dropped subtle and even not-so-subtle hints by this stage. But if not, here are some helpful tips to go by. If your lady has a classic style and is all about timeless jewellery, a simple solitaire ring is the way to go. It won’t go out of style, and can even be passed down to future generations. If she’s the “more is more” kind of woman, then halo or even double halo would be a great choice. It also allows for getting a smaller centre stone, but adding volume by way of the diamonds surrounding it. Side-stones are also a good move to add even more sparkle to the ring.
5. Pick her kind of metal
An engagement ring can be as individual as the person you’re giving it to, so we understand the pressures associated with selecting the perfect one. Luckily, this step is not as tricky as step four, especially as you should already know what kind of metal she likes. If not, have a rummage through her jewellery box to familiarise yourself and decide whether she would prefer yellow gold, white gold or rose gold.
6. Educate yourself: Get to know more about diamond quality
There are four crucial things to look out for when it comes to choosing your diamond – and they’re more commonly (and helpfully) referred to as “the four Cs.” You can check out everything you need to know about the four Cs on the Brillianteersblog, but let us give you the abridged version below too.
‘Carat’ is related to the weight and therefore size, while ‘Cut’ refers to the shape – more on this below. Next, we have ‘Colour’, which is measured by letters of the alphabet starting from D (which is colourless and therefore the rarest). The further down you go, the more colour is present. E-F grades are virtually colourless, while colour in G-H is only truly detectable under closer inspection. I-J are “nearly colourless” with ever so slightly warm hints of colour.
And finally, we have ‘Clarity’, which refers to the imperfections to the individual diamond. Don’t worry about the term “imperfections” though, as most of which aren’t detectable by the naked eye. Clarity is labelled by the following categories: Flawless and internally flawless, very very slightly included, very slightly included, and slightly included.
7. Get her the perfect diamond cut
Perhaps the most noticeable of the four Cs is the cut, i.e. the shape. There are many cuts to choose from, ranging from classic round and oval shapes to more out there designs such as marquise, heart and pear. Cushion (square with rounded edges) and Princess (square) are having a real moment right now, mostly due to their bigger surface area. Great for a lady who wants to make a statement!
And there you have it! I'm sure, this guide from The Brillianteers will help you to find what you're looking for. Good luck!
