Tips for choosing an engagement ring
Our latest ad promoting our engagement and wedding ring range has just been launched in Flybe’s Flight Time magazine and I love it! Men typically find choosing an engagement ring one of the trickiest parts of proposing so here’s a handy guide to help everyone, but especially men, choose the right ring.
Tips for choosing an engagement ring
So you’ve decided to pop the question – Congratulations! Choosing an engagement ring is probably pretty high on your to do list now. A lot of men find this a surprisingly intimidating and scary process. Many feel out of their depths delving into the world of women’s jewellery. However, you’ll be pleased to hear that it doesn’t need to be a daunting process. We’ve put together a few tips to guide you through the process of choosing an engagement ring.
Budget
This is the only aspect that you need to have set in your mind before you start the ring selection process. Only you know what is the right amount to be spending. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you should b e spending a set amount. The days of rules around having to spend 1, 2, 3 ….. months salary are long gone! Just sit down and work out what you can afford and what you actually want to spend. We can help you find a ring to suit your budget.
Do bear in mind that if all goes well she will be wearing this ring for many, many years to come. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend a fortune, but do put some time and thought into choosing a ring that you think she will love, as well as choosing one that will stand the test of time.
Style
Is she a sleek and modern kind of girl, or is vintage more her style? Does she like a bit of statement bling or is she more understated? Many guys find the style selection the hardest part, but there are lots of clues you can use to help you determine her style.
What type of clothes does she wear? What genres of books, TV shows and movies does she like? What style is her existing jewellery? If she has a Pinterest page take a look at that for inspiration. If all else fails you could ask one of her friends that you trust to keep quiet about your plans.
Bespoke or pre-made
Many men like to have a direct input into the creation of the engagement ring. If that sounds like you then go for a custom ring. We will happily talk through your ideas, no matter how vague they might be to start with, and help you create the perfect ring. We even have a private consultation room so there’s no chance of anyone overhearing your top secret proposal plans.
Antique rings can bring a sense of romantic history that some people love. You may have a ring that has been passed down through the family that you would like to use. This could be reworked to change certain elements, or completely redesigned using the original metals and gemstones to something more in the style you want.
Alternatively you may have seen an existing ring on our website or in the store that you think ticks all the boxes. Or even better she may have pointed it out to you as a subtle hint!
Gemstone selection
By far the most popular choice of gemstone for engagement rings is diamond. They make up nearly 90%, however, some people prefer something different so unless your girlfriend is particularly unconventional choosing diamond for your gemstone is usually a good decision.
For more information on diamonds click here - https://www.beckyrowejewellery.com/pages/advice
Wear and tear
Do bear in mind that the engagement ring and its component parts need to be hardwearing as it will be worn everyday for many years to come.
Diamonds are popular choices for gemstones due to their beauty but also because they are the hardest gemstones.
Gemstone shape
There are ten standard shapes (cuts) for diamonds, with round being by far the most popular.
Click here for more information on gemstone shape options https://www.beckyrowejewellery.com/pages/shape-of-stone, and here for more information on the 4 C’s (cut, clarity, colour and carat weight) of diamonds https://www.beckyrowejewellery.com/pages/cut-clarity-colour-carat-weight
Metal choice
Platinum, palladium, white gold, yellow gold and rose gold are the main choices for engagement rings. Again this is partly due to their durability. Palladium is one metal which you may not of heard of, which is part of the platinum group of metals. It is strong and durable with a silver-grey-white appearance, but is about half the density of platinum. It is hard wearing, much like platinum, and looks great highly polished, but is also popular in a matt finish. It is a more affordable option than platinum.
Click here for more information on choosing your metal https://www.beckyrowejewellery.com/pages/metal
Work out her ring size
This section isn’t a necessity as we can usually resize a ring, but it’s a good idea to get roughly the right size so she can wear it (and show it off!) as soon as you pop the question and give her the ring.
It might seem impossible but you can work out her ring size without asking her. You could borrow a ring from her existing collection on the sly and bring it to us (or another jeweller if you don’t live nearby) to have it sized (just don’t lose it!), trace the inner circle of one of her rings on paper.
Timing
If you want a bespoke ring then bear in mind that it takes roughly a month to produce, so build that into your proposal timeframe.
If you have any questions about choosing an engagement ring just give us a call on 01481 233266, email us at info@beckyrowejewellery.com or pop into the store.
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