A simple step by step guide that will help you create the perfect engagement ring for your partner. So you’ve done the hard part and found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, the next step is your proposal and this can be frightening, but if you have the right ring then this will give you extra confidence. Below is a step by step guide to help you choose the perfect unique ring.
Research:
Chances are that you have no idea where to start, the easiest and safest options are to take a look at the jewellery they already wear, is it simple shapes and colours or more eccentric pieces that really stand out? If they don’t wear lots of jewellery then fear not, you can still use their clothing style for example. You want the ring to be an extension of the persons style.
Lifestyle:
The reason that an engagement ring is so important is that it will be worn for the rest of their life, therefore it needs to suit their lifestyle. If they have a fairly physical job which involves them using their hands then you may want to go with a harder wearing metal to help preserve the ring.
Budget:
Traditionally it was customary to spend 3 months wages on the engagement ring, with the current economy this may not always be possible so try to work out how much you can realistically afford to spend, remember to think of it as an investment, the ring is to be worn for life, therefore you want to ensure you get the best that you can afford.
Design:
Once you know your budget and the general style of ring you want you can then start the exciting part, the design process. Whereas a shop bought ring from a large chain might be fine for some people, you really cannot beat knowing that your ring is a truly bespoke piece that no one else owns, and it just shows your soon to be fiancee how much care and thought you have put into the process. Win Win.
See the below 5 design tips to get the perfect ring.
Metal:
There are many different precious metals to work with, the most popular are harder wearing metals such as gold, palladium and platinum. If for example you know you would like gold, then you have the options of white gold, yellow gold or rose gold, you also have the quality of the gold to consider, 18ct is a purer gold, but typically would not be quite as hard wearing as 9ct. Another point to consider is price, metal prices fluctuate daily, much the same as stocks and shares. Your jeweller can help talk you through choosing the right metal for your partner.
Diamonds:
Traditionally an engagement ring would feature a clean cut diamond, the size and clarity can differ hugely so a big part of getting the perfect diamond would depend on your budget. Another very important point to think about is whether the diamond is ethically sourced, not all diamonds have the attached stigma that we often think of, you can find natural diamonds that have been handpicked by diamond divers. Take a look at Ocean Diamonds based in Falmouth, Cornwall.
Gemstones:
If a traditional diamond does not suit the style of your partner, then fear not, you have other options. Other gemstones open up a whole world of colours and styles, allowing you to truly customise your design. If your partner has a particular favourite then they will likely have it in their other jewellery so keep an eye out for this. If you are unsure of which stone it is they have then send a picture of it to your jeweller and they should be able to help and find a match.
Settings:
Once you know what diamond/gemstones that you would like, you then have multiple choices on how you would like the stone set, certain settings will allow more light into the stone and make it shine brighter so these are worth looking in to in depth and discussing with your jeweller. Take a look at some of the most popular settings here.
Personalisation:
The perfect way to finish the perfect ring is to add a final touch to show how bespoke the ring truly is, this can be as simple as having a wave engraved if they love the sea, or having the GPS coordinates of where you met engraved onto the inside of the ring, there really is no limit to personalisation so get creative. Hopefully as you’ve worked your way through this guide you have been able to build up some ideas of what you think your partner would like, the final step is to send these ideas through to your designer and start the making journey together.
