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Everything You Need To Know Before Buying An Engagement Ring
- Georgia L
- May 9, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2024
It's not everyday we search for the perfect diamond to wear forever, so it can be an over whelming thought at first. But do not fret! I got you!
The gesture of commitment and representing two individuals becoming one with a ring, is of course the romantic view on getting the right one for your significant other. It also sets the tone by representing the marriage you are proposing.
However, lets get real! Not only does this romantic gesture declare love, diamonds are an investment and an expensive one at that. This is why its important to learn everything you need to get clued up before your investment.
The Ring Style and Design
There is an over whelming selection of engagement rings, so understanding the breakdown and combination of components that create the finished style and design is a great way to start.
Diamond Shapes
Skip to shapes
1.Princess
Named "princess" for its regal and glamorous appeal, this square cut features clean lines and sharp edges adding sophistication. A simple 4 claw setting gives no disruption to the shape and offers a classic timeless look, popular for solitaire rings.
Blue Nile
Princess Diamond Solitaire Ring
2.Round Brilliant
This brilliant round shape is the most popular diamond, especially for engagement rings. The unique cut allows the light to bounce through from top to bottom, giving it more sparkle than any other. However, do note that the extraordinary radiance this cut offers, also gives it a higher price tag.
Created Brilliance
Brilliant Diamond With Scallop Band
3.Cushion
Although, square shaped, the rounded corners add a softer more contemporary finish, as well as offering more light dispersion to add shine.
Downer and Hall
Cushion Diamond With Cluster Diamonds
4.Oval
The oval is a modern twist on the classic round brilliant diamond. Their similarities also include that unique sparkle. This elegant elongated shape with great light reflection makes even smaller stones appear larger and more radiant.
James Allen
Oval Diamond Solitaire Ring
5.Pear
Also known as the tear drop diamond, this cut offers a unique shape combining that extravagant sparkle with its soft rounded lines with the contemporary sharp finish.
Net-A-Porter
Pear Halo Diamond Ring
6.Emerald
This long rectangular like shape emphasises the diamonds clarity. An individual diamond in a solitaire setting can give a vintage glamourous finish. Also popular with a halo setting for that exaggerated large shape surrounded by even more sparkle for that wow factor.
C.W Sellors
Emerald Diamond Solitaire Ring
7.Marquise
This boat like, elongated shape, pairing curves with clean sharp edges offers a unique flare for a showstopper piece. To the eye, this slender cut gives the appearance of a larger diamond and elongates your fingers.
British Diamond Company
Marquise Diamond Solitaire Ring
8.Radiant
The Radiant is just that. Not to be mistaken for an emerald cut due to the similar shaped edges. The radiant diamond facet cuts are similar to that of a round brilliance, enhancing that radiant, fiery, extravagant sparkle.
Created Brilliance
Radiant Diamond Solitaire Ring
Design
Skip to Design
1.Solitaire
Featuring a single diamond, the solitaire has a timeless, simple yet stunning sophistication to it. This elegant, and classic design is a perfect choice to showcase a show stopping diamond.
James Allen
Oval Solitaire Ring
2.Halo
For that extra wow factor, a halo features a larger centre diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds. This modern trend adds the illusion of larger diamonds, adds extra sparkle with more affordability.
Round Brilliant Diamond Halo Ring
3.Cluster
With a cluster of smaller diamonds featured either side of the centre piece of your choice, this style offers a wide range of finishes to create a unique ring with extra sparkle.
Blue Nile
Round Brilliant Clustered Twisted Ring
4.Three Stones/ Trilogy
Although this design comes in varies styles, it often features a larger centre diamond between two smaller diamonds. It is said that the trilogy ring represents you and your partners past, present and future making it a truly romantic choice.
British Diamond Company
Emerald Diamonds Trilogy Ring
Diamond Settings
Essentially the setting is how the ring is made and how the diamonds are secured into place.
You are probably wondering why you need to know about settings, why not leave it to the pros?
Well, the setting can have a big impact on the final look. So knowing a few basics to consider will help you make the perfect choice.
Skip to Setting
1.Claws
Most engagement rings use claws (also known as prongs) to cradle the diamonds and secure them. Even these finer details come in a variation of styles to create unique designs.
From contemporary modern to classic elegance, these different prongs really do add to the final result and vision you are after.
See below the examples of flat, pointed and round prongs.
Blue Nile
2.Bezel
The bezel setting adds a contemporary edge. This design structure covers the whole diamond and acts as a pocket. It is also one of most secure settings making it desirable for those who work with their hands.
This style can also come as half a bezel leaving parts of the diamond edges exposed for extra light reflection. Some other modern rings combine the prong setting and the bezel to offer a sleek thick setting that offers more security and extra sparkle.
Downer and Hall
3.Cathedral
Designed to resemble a great cathedral ceiling. The arches that come directly from the shank (the ring itself) not only adds a timeless elegance, the impression of a larger gem but also directs our eyes to the centre diamond. This setting gives great support which allows thinner prongs. In result there is more surface area for light reflection adding extra brilliance.
British Diamond Company
Summary
Take note of how the setting either compliments or unflattens the diamond.
For example, some smaller round brilliant stones are often accompanied by 4 claws.
I personally feel this can sometimes make a round stone appear square and more princess like. With everything we know about the round brilliant by now, and that its extreme radiance also comes with a steeper price tag, to risk it being mistaken for a less rare stone feels unjust.
Another argument however, it that the round brilliants cut offers more sparkle regardless and that the less claws also means more surface for the light to reflect off.
Diamond Band Setting
If you desire a diamond band, there are a few settings with very different visual styles to consider.
Although this can be paired with any of the above, a diamond band brings the wow factor to any ring and deserves recognition as a stunning design detail. Featuring smaller diamonds that cover the entire ring band for an exquisite sparkle.
Skip to Band Setting
1.Scallop
With the diamonds being nestled within intricately scalloped metalwork. This setting gives the most sparkle of all, the scallop offers a design that exposes the side of the diamonds giving a larger surface area for the light reach.
Created Brilliance
2.Pave
With a pave setting, the diamonds are delicately secured by small ball claws, interspersed in an alternating pattern, and framed by a sleek strip of polished metal. This choice is perfect for a vintage style ring
Harrods
Channel-set diamond bands offer a sleek alternative to pavé, boasting a contemporary aesthetic with their streamlined design. Unlike pavé, the absence of ball claws between each diamond lends a modern touch to this style. Diamonds are meticulously nestled closely together, seamlessly secured by the outer metalwork on either side of the band.
James Allen
The 5 C’s
1.Carat
This is the most commonly know factor when buying a diamond. It is simply the size of the gem measured by weight. The heavier the diamond the more rare.
2.Cut
The cut is as it says and is a big part of the diamonds overall appearance in light. A well faceted diamond offers more light reflection creating the best quality of brilliance (sparkle) which in hand adds value.
3.Colour
The clearer the diamond the more rare and valuable which is why it is graded feature. The most colourless grade is D. Colour go through to Z where the diamond has a more prominent light shade of yellow.
The near to colourless grades D-G are best for engagement rings. However, within these grades, the colour differences are not clear to the naked eye.
4.Clarity
Diamonds are all unique and come with their own small flaws. These blemishes are not clear to the naked eye. However the clarity grade given after being studied under magnification will tell you how many small markings the diamond has. The less markings the more rare and higher the grade.
5.Certificate
Independent gem laboratories grade the diamond and offer a full report to its quality. Ensuring you check the certification will also ensure that you get the best value for money and lowers the risk of any jeweller marking up the price.
Extra Design Details
Yes there is even more style choices to look out for! Keep your eyes peeled for finer details hidden under the diamond and incorporated into the settings that secure the gem.
Petal prongs and hidden halos are my personal favourites! From creating a stunning flower structure for the diamond to sit in to adding extra diamonds to sparkle from every angle. You can even find hearts embedded in a cathedral setting for a romantic edge.
Overall Summary
The best practice is to have a carat size in mind to narrow down your initial search. From here you can choose a diamond that fits your budget best using the other important C’s.
For example, get the most of your money by opting for a lower quality colour and clarity grade but with a stunning cut.
From here consider your partners style and personality when selecting the design and setting! Remember you are setting a tone for your marriage.
With this in mind, consider the extra wow factor and keep your eyes peeled for those hidden details. This ring is for forever, so those small details really do add another level of magic if your budget allows.
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