So, you've decided to surprise your sweetheart by proposing with a bespoke engagement ring – but how do you make sure you get it right? With over 50 combined years of experience working with fiancés-to-be, we've got you covered on what to consider!
1. Consider Your Partner’s Taste
The first and most obvious factor is your partner's taste. Is she likely to go for a traditional engagement ring, such as a solitaire or three-stone design, or does she prefer a more modern look like a dome ring or double band?
2. Diamond or Coloured Stone?
Coloured Stones
The next big question is - diamond or coloured stone? If you think a coloured stone is more her vibe, rubies and sapphires are excellent options. They not only offer rich colours but also have the durability to withstand the everyday knocks of life.
And don’t worry, this does not restrict your colour choice! While rubies are only red, sapphires come in a whole rainbow of colours, not just blue.
Diamonds
If you feel that a diamond is the right choice, we'll guide you through the '4 Cs of diamonds' – cut, colour, clarity, and carat.
Choosing a diamond often comes down to personal preference: does she value size (carat), or would she prefer better colour and clarity? While we don’t recommend compromising on cut (the better the cut, the better the sparkle!), you can adjust carat weight, colour, and clarity to fit both your partner's desires and your budget.
3. Stone Shape Matters
Whether you go for a diamond or a coloured stone, the shape is another key consideration.
- Traditional Shapes: The round cut is the most classic, known for its brilliance and sparkle.
- Fancy Shapes: For someone who loves to stand out, cushion cuts, ovals, and pear shapes offer a more unconventional appeal while still providing deep scintillation.
- Step Cuts: If she prefers strong, clean lines, step-cut stones like Asscher or emerald cuts are elegant options.
4. Metal Colour Preferences
A simpler decision is determining which metal colour your partner prefers – yellow or white?
- Yellow: If she leans towards yellow, we can explore the differences between 9ct, 14ct, and 18ct yellow gold.
- White: For a preference towards white metals, we can help you decide whether white gold or platinum is best suited.
5. Figuring Out Her Finger Size
One trickier aspect is finding out her ring size. While it's not essential to get it perfect (we offer free resizing with every ring purchase), a bit of detective work can help narrow it down.
The easiest method is to measure the inside diameter of a ring she already wears on her ring finger (next to her pinky). If she wears the ring on her right hand and is right-handed, we’d make the wedding ring half a size smaller, as fingers on the dominant hand tend to be slightly larger.
6. How the Wedding Ring Will Sit with the Engagement Ring
One often overlooked factor is how the wedding ring will sit with the engagement ring. While it might feel a bit early to think about it, this is something that matters to many people.
- Straight vs Fitted Rings: Some engagement rings have settings high enough to allow a straight wedding band to sit flush against them. Other designs may require a fitted ring if the setting is lower.
- Custom Fitted Rings: If she prefers her rings to sit flush and the engagement ring you have in mind doesn’t allow that, don’t worry – we can custom-make fitted rings. These can be curved, pinched, or even wishbone-shaped to fit perfectly with the engagement ring.
7. Seek Help!
If any of these decisions have you feeling unsure, don’t hesitate to enlist some help! Ask your partner’s friends or family if they’ve ever had conversations about engagement rings with her, and listen carefully – she may have already dropped a few hints if she suspects a proposal is on the way!
8. Consider a Proposal Ring
Still not confident in making the final decision? Consider starting with a proposal ring. This allows you to select a diamond or coloured stone, which we will set into a simple silver ring for the big moment. After the proposal, the two of you can return together to design the final piece. This way, she can have her say on all the tricky details!
And, of course, we’re here to help too! We have decades of experience guiding couples through these options, and we’d love to assist you in creating the perfect engagement ring. If you’d like to book a no-obligation consultation, please request a consultation here.
