Shopping for an engagement ring can understandably be a stressful experience, as you want to find the ring that will make your proposal as perfect as it can be. But, with so much choice it can be incredibly overwhelming. Where do you start? Well, relax and start with a bit of research and everything will fall into place.
The most common stone choice for an engagement ring is the diamond. These are complicated gems and those who fail to do their research can end up paying a lot more than necessary. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, be sure to brush up on your knowledge of the 4C’s. These are the factors that go into diamond classification, each standing for a different factor: clarity, colour, cut and carat. In terms of the engagement ring, you’ll want to focus on the cut and carat as some styles of rings will be better suited to various carat sizes.
Especially when you’re looking to buy an engagement ring from a well-known brand, doing your research is more important than ever. Thankfully, there are several reviews online for various brands including Tiffany engagement rings.
Once you’ve sorted the diamond out, it will be a lot easier to figure out its other characteristics. But, what else is there to sort out? We’ll take you through each characteristic below.
Mounting
For an engagement ring, there are two basic mountings; the classic round solitaire and the cathedral style. Each of these effects how close to the finger the diamond sits. People prefer each for different reasons; the classic showcases the diamond well and minimises any risk of snagging, whereas the cathedral exudes elegance and protects the diamond.
Prongs
The is the head detail of the ring, you can find a multitude of different prongs depending on whether you’d like more or less protection to the diamond. The less protection, the more light given off making the diamond sparkle more frequently. That being said, having a larger number of prongs can make the diamond appear larger than it is. Other styles include the tulip, buttercup and basket heads.
Metals
Thankfully, there are only a few metals that people tend to choose for an engagement ring; platinum, yellow gold, white gold and rose gold. Platinum takes the top spot in terms of popularity, being the most durable option. Yellow gold is the more traditional option, whilst white gold is more of an alternative to platinum, but one that requires more maintenance. Finally, rose gold is a more recent addition, growing in popularity thanks to its blush colour and lack of regular plate updates.
Settings
If you choose to have side diamonds, they’re typically set in the three following styles; pave, channel and micro-prong. Micro-prong sets are timeless and offer a more exposed view, becoming more and more popular in recent times. Channel offer a modern option, a carved ‘channel’ is put into the ring and filled with diamonds of various shapes and sizes, whilst finally, pavé set rings appear as if the ring has been paved with diamonds.
