Choosing the perfect ring as you prepare to take the next step in your relationship is certainly no walk in the park. Luckily, Shiels Jewellers is here to help with things to think about when getting an engagement ring.
Much like your forever home, your dream car or the crib that may one day house your firstborn child in it, an engagement ring is one of the most important purchases that you will ever make in your life. It is more than just a pretty ring that sparkles, it is a promise. A symbol of your and your partner’s love and commitment to one another. So, the heat is on to make sure that you get things right. Because while some have given little to no thought to what their dream engagement ring would be, others have had theirs meticulously planned out in their heads since they were practically a child.
These are just a few of the things that you will need to consider when preparing to pop the question to ensure that you make the right decision.
How much do I spend on an engagement ring?
The most crucial element of picking out an engagement ring is figuring out your budget. What you choose to spend is essentially the be-all and end-all of your engagement ring shopping experience. For decades, those looking to propose have adopted the salary strategy. The salary strategy involves taking three months’ worth of your wage and using it as a base guide for your potential ring purchase. How little or how much you end up using that three months salary is all dependent on the style, size and quality of the engagement ring you end up choosing. While this strategy may seem a little bit outdated to some, others believe it offers a great amount of flexibility with your ring purchase.
But while the salary strategy is a great starting point, it’s important to remember that everyone’s budget and life circumstances are different, therefore you shouldn’t feel the pressure to meet anyone’s standards but your own. If you have got your heart set on a ring but haven’t quite saved up enough just yet, buy now, pay later options are there to help you inch that little bit closer to owning your dream ring. With humm, you can maximise purchasing power for the perfect engagement ring and pay it back on easy-to-manage instalments over the course of several months. Essentially, it allows you to pop the question now and pay later.
What style of engagement ring are you looking for?
Before browsing the sleek glass cabinets at your local jeweller or adding different rings to your Pinterest board, you will first need to establish what kind of style your partner may like. Are they an old soul with a thing for timeless styles or a minimalist with a thing for dainty jewellery? Do they have an eye for luxury and a lot of bling or do they have somewhat of an eclectic style with a penchant for colour? Would they prefer a gemstone ring over a traditional diamond ring or perhaps an eco-conscious lab-grown diamond ring?
Once you have this part nailed down you will essentially have the perfect launching pad to formulate the look you are going for. Consider their everyday style and the other jewellery in their collection, consult a close pal to get their opinion, or take them past a jewellery store and see what rings make their eyes light up because the chances are they likely will drop some hints.
What are the 4Cs of a diamond?
Once you have the style and budget down pat it is likely you will have a pretty rough idea of what you and your partner may want. So, it is likely you are comfortable enough to start looking at diamonds (or other gemstones) and this is the part that may require a little homework.
While they may look very similar, no two diamonds are alike. Some are coloured, some have imperfections and others are quite small. Whether you pick out a winner or not is down to the 4Cs: cut, carat, colour and clarity. Not only do the 4Cs of a diamond have an effect on the quality of a stone in the eyes of the buyer, but they also help determine whether a ring is within your budget or not.
What diamond Is best for an engagement ring?
Although it plays a big role in why we pick certain stones, a diamond’s cut is about so much more than just the way each facet sparkles when refracting in the light. This is because a diamond’s shape is just as (if not more) important as it should reflect your partner’s personal style and it should complement their hand and finger shape.
There are countless diamond cuts that are used for diamond engagement rings, some more popular than others. The most popular choices for diamond rings are brilliant round-cut and oval-cut diamonds due to their timelessness and versatility. There are also emerald-cut diamonds which are lauded for their unique and somewhat art deco appeal. Then there are princess-cut diamonds, occasionally referred to as square diamonds this cut provides a slightly more contemporary feel as do pear-cut and heart-cut diamonds, while cushion-cut and Marquise-cut diamonds almost have a vintage look and feel to them.
Which engagement ring setting do I choose?
There are two factors to consider when choosing your setting and that is the style your want your setting to be as well as the metal. From timeless solitaire settings that emphasise the centre diamond with the help of three or four metal prongs to contemporary pave and halo settings that provide optimal sparkle, there is certainly no shortage of options when it comes to picking the perfect setting for your love. A general rule of thumb is to pick something that works well with your partner’s lifestyle as well as their hand and finger size.
On the contrary, the metal type, as well as the colour of your setting, is largely going to come down to what jewellery your partner tends to wear. If your fiance has a warmer skin tone with a preference for vibrant gold accessories, opt for a yellow gold setting. For those with an eye for cooler tones, it is likely a white gold or platinum setting is going to be best for them. Then there are those with somewhat of an eclectic style that may enjoy an elegant rose gold setting, a sleek silver setting, or even an antique-inspired brushed gold setting.
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