The Ultimate Guide to Buying The Perfect Engagement Ring
1~Think about her personal style & other jewellery she wears.
Is her style Modern, Traditional, Minimalist or otherwise?.....The style of ring should match your partner’s personal style.
Is she an outgoing & ‘Bubbly’ type of lady, who will be happy and eager to show-off the ring?.....If so, big & sparkly is probably the direction to go.
Is she a more ‘low-key’ & natural type lady who doesn’t wear much jewellery?..... If so, a simple and classic design style ring will most likely suit.
What colour jewellery does she normally wear? .....Is it silver or gold in colour? If gold, go for Yellow Gold or Rose Gold .....If silver, go for White Gold, Platinum or Palladium.
Maybe she will want to be involved in the ring design? If so, propose with a simple token-ring with a stone of the size you would be aiming to go for - this way you can gauge her reaction to the stone size/style, whilst also letting her know that the end result will ultimately be up to her.
2~How do I get her ring size? Put one of her rings on your finger and mark where it goes to - your jeweller will be able to work it out from this.
Borrow one of her rings for a quick trip to the jeweller to have it sized. *Make sure it is a ring from her correct finger!
Print out a jewellers ring size indicator chart and match one of her rings to the relevant sized circle on the chart.
‘Manoeuvre’ a conversation to be about jewellery, and straightout ask her if she knows her own ring size!
Remember - rings can be re-sized so it is not catastrophic if you get it wrong! *But do ask your jeweller if they charge for re-sizing.
3~How much do I spend? There are many myths about how much one should spend on an engagement ring. The best advice is only budget for what you are comfortable with spending.....only you truly know your own financial situation. Do bear in mind however, this is one of the most special purchases you will make in your lifetime, so make sure that quality is the ultimate goal.
4~What should I know about Diamonds? Do some research into “The 4 C’s” CUT: This does not refer to the shape of the Diamond, but to the angles and proportions of the stone that give the Diamond its sparkle.
Diamond colour is graded on a scale that goes from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow) - colourless are the rarest and most expensive diamonds - but ultimately the choice of colour is all about your preference & style.
CLARITY: Stones with the fewest inclusions or imperfections will mean they are clearer.....and more expensive! *SI1 & SI2 have only slight imperfections invisible to the naked eye, and so offer good value - if you can find diamonds in this range they will be excellent value for money.
This is the weight of the stone. Put simply: the heavier the stone, the more expensive it will be. *Some ring mounts can make a stone appear larger than its Carat weight.
Although it is good to do some research and know what you are looking for, please don’t try to be an expert with the real experts! Research your jeweller, and if you are happy to deal with them you should trust their advice.
5~Know some Diamond shapes to narrow your search
6~Other Considerations... Insurance: It is astute to insure your ring from the moment you purchase it and have it in your possession. Contact your home insurer for details, or alternatively ask your jewellers advice. Keeping it safe: As with all valuables, it is best to keep your purchase as safe & secure as possible. If you have bought the ring but are awaiting a specific time in the future to propose, availing of a Safe Deposit Box to keep your ring safe is a wise idea.
All of the above rings, and many more are available from:
www.voltairediamonds.ie • tel: +353 (0)1 479 4220 or www.voltairediamonds.co.uk • tel: +44 (0)20 7404 7524