Choosing An Engagement Ring

Your Engagement Ring: What to Look For

Engagement rings are stunning.  Though with so many engagement rings to choose from and all that engagement terminology it can be hard to know where to start when embarking on your quest to choose the perfect engagement ring.

To choose your engagement ring, there are essentially three factors that you need to decide on. They are:

  • The diamond
  • The metal
  • The design

Engagement Ring Diamonds

You may have already made some sense of the Diamond grading system-called the 4C’s- (Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat) For detailed information on diamonds, please see our education on Diamonds 101.

Engagement Ring Metal

Next, you need to consider the quality of the metal used in the construction of engagement rings.

Most engagement rings are made in either gold or platinum.  The gold can be 18 kt, 14 kt, or 10 kt and be either white, yellow or rose gold.  Platinum is a very durable metal.  It is also heavier and significantly more expensive – however, it usually wears better than gold.

Engagement Ring Design

How do I choose my engagement ring design?  After over three decades of helping people by selling and custom making engagement and wedding rings, you would think we would have the answer to that question, but we don’t!

Explaining how people choose an engagement ring design is a bit like explaining how people choose a baby’s name.  You can’t mathematically or scientifically analyze how you made your final decision. It’s simply a matter of personal preference.

However, although the final choice of your engagement ring design is a matter of individual preference, we can help you by providing useful engagement ring tips and pointing out some pitfalls in engagement ring design.

An Engagement Ring has to do 4 things:

  1. Easy and practical to wear
  2. Withstand everyday wear
  3. Hold the diamond securely
  4. Look good

Easy and Practical to Wear
What is easy and practical depends on your lifestyle.  The higher set diamond in your ring, the more often it will catch and wear. (But it allows more light into the diamond.) Are you working in an office, in a school room, or in a manufacturing plant?

Withstanding Everyday Wear
Your engagement ring must withstand constant everyday wear.  Some environments are destructive to engagement rings and jewelry than others. Remember, everything your hand touches and/or rubs against, so will your ring and the setting of the diamond. Even paper can be abrasive over time.

Holding Diamond Securely
Your engagement ring must hold your diamond securely.  The following is a general guide for engagement ring settings.

  1. Six Prongs: Also known as claws or fingers, six prongs are best. This type lets in the most light, though a good heavy duty secure four-prong would work also. This should be either platinum or 14 kt white gold for holding the center diamond.
  2. Bezel Setting: A bezel or (1/2 bezel) setting is safer than a prong setting, however, the diamond usually sits down lower and doesn’t allow as much light in.
  3. Heavier Setting: A heavier setting is stronger than a lighter setting. (The sturdy shank/band)
  4. Lower Setting: A lower setting is less likely to be damaged than a higher setting.

Looking Good
This one is up to you!