An engagement ring is going to be one of the most important purchases that you make in your life, so it is key that you take the time to consider what you are buying and whether it is right for your partner. After considering these 4 things, you will be so much more prepared to choose the ring of your partner’s dreams!
Your Budget
The first thing you need to do that will make the entire process much easier is to consider your budget. This will significantly cut down the amount of rings out there to choose from, so it is a significant first step! You don’t want the start of your married life to be consumed with financial burden as you spent too much on the ring, so make sure that you only buy what you can really afford.
You can get beautiful rings no matter what your budget is, but being realistic from the very beginning is key. When you go to a jeweller, be honest about your budget and they will be able to pick out the perfect rings for you to choose from.
Choose The Era
The next step in choosing your engagement ring is to choose the era. Completely new, modern rings are one option and can be great for some couples. You can benefit from modern designs and cuts that are really beautiful.
However, an alternative is to choose a vintage engagement ring. There are so many benefits, such as standing out, they’re timeless, they make a statement, you can continue the historical journey of the beautiful ring, they are more affordable than modern equivalents and they are much more environmentally friendly!
Georgian engagement rings are big and bold featuring unbelievable craftsmanship that is often not found in modern rings. Edwardian rings are more simplistic, featuring unique settings and amazing quality gemstones that are beautifully unique. The Art Deco period was a time of cultural change following World War I and the jewellery from this era was heavily influenced by the sharp lines and statement designs seen in the early modern art movements. Art Deco engagement rings are still extremely popular well into the 21st century.
Overall, whilst new engagement rings are stunning and the right choice for many couples, looking into vintage jewellery is a good idea too!
Choose Your Gemstone
Next up, you need to choose the gemstone you would like for your ring. Diamonds are classical, timeless and they are the strongest gemstone, making them ideal as an engagement ring. These are the most traditional choice when it comes to engagement rings, although there are so many other beautiful gemstones out there that are often overlooked and might be perfect for your partner. However, there are plenty of other options. So, let’s look at a few alternatives!
Firstly, we have sapphires, a beautiful velvety blue coloured gemstone with strong royal associations. These stunning gemstones are known to be representative of truth, inner peace and good health, all qualities that you would want in something that represents your marriage. Plus, they have been long worn by the Royal Family to protect them from harm and bad spirits. Sapphires score a 9 on the Mohs scale, meaning it has an excellent toughness ideal for daily wear!
Next up we have rubies, a precious stone that is a breathtaking deep red colour. Rubies are known to be protective stones that represent happiness and passion for the wearer, as well as positive energy. If you see your partner as a passionate person, rubies might just be the perfect choice. Like sapphires, rubies also score a 9 on the Mohs scale, again making them great for engagement rings.
Although there are plenty of other gemstones out there, emeralds are the fourth and final precious gemstone along with the others mentioned above. For centuries, emeralds have been seen as a symbol of truth and love, associated with the goddess Venus. Not to mention, they are absolutely dazzling with their deep green colour. Emeralds score 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, meaning they have a good amount of toughness but this stone does require slightly more care and maintenance than sapphires, rubies and diamonds. This being said, they can still last for generations when you avoid wearing them for any strenuous activity, you don’t expose them to chemicals or water and you regularly take the ring to a professional jeweller to have them cleaned!
Hopefully this proves that you don’t need to limit yourself to diamonds (although this is a wonderful choice for many couples).
Choose The Metal
Last but not least, it’s time to choose the metal for your ring. Platinum and gold are the two most popular choices. Platinum is considered to be one of the most durable materials when it comes to engagement rings as they do not tarnish and require less maintenance compared to gold. So, in its purest form, platinum is the harder metal. However, 18K gold is actually only 75%, with the other 25% being made of a combination of different metals that actually makes the gold equally as strong as platinum. So, there is little difference when it comes to the structure of the metal.
So, the decision really comes down to which metal your partner wears more often. Keep an eye on whether your partner wears more platinum or gold, as you want the engagement ring to look good with the jewellery they wear most often! This will also help you to cut down the options to make a decision on the right ring.
Final Thoughts
Choosing an engagement ring might seem complicated to begin with, so just break it down into these simple stages and you will find the process much easier! If you are really struggling, then a jeweller will be more than happy to guide you in the right direction. This is a big decision but it should be a happy experience, so enjoy it! .