How to choose an engagement ring 

If you are newly engaged, congratulations! Such an exciting time! 

There’s so much to consider when choosing an engagement ring, we need to make sure the wearer will love it forever.

So whether the ring is destined for yourself or your partner, here are some key questions to mull over to help you narrow down the search. This is also relevant for wedding and other commitment rings. 

Stones, shapes and cuts

Are you after a ring with a central stone? If so, what about the shape and cut? Do you like traditional cuts, like this brilliant cut (round) diamond or baguette cut (rectangular) diamond?

 Or something a bit different, like these?

Do you want a sparkly ring without going down the solitaire route? Smaller, scattered diamonds set into a band provide extra sparkle, like these:

 

Colours

What colours speak to you? I’m all for tearing up the rule book and going for whatever gem you love - as long as it’s hard wearing enough to withstand everyday wear. That rules out opals and emeralds sadly - unless you are very careful - but there are still a LOT of options for you to choose from.

We all know that diamonds are the go-to for engagement rings but have you thought about salt and pepper diamonds? They’re a lovely alternative choice.

Sapphires (which can be found in a spectrum of beautiful colours) and rubies are both extremely hard wearing and work brilliantly for an engagement ring.

Spinel is also a gorgeous option and can be found in some beautiful pastel shades.

Tourmaline is probably my favourite gem and very popular with colour lovers. It’s slightly softer than the aforementioned stones but if you’re mindful and actively take care of your jewellery (perhaps not wearing it ALL the time) it’s got a lot to offer with striking colours ranging from pink to green to blue with many hues in between.

 

Metals

Which colour metals do you wear? What suits your skin tone? This might be a no brainer but if you’re not sure do try different metals on and see which works for you.

All my jewellery is available in yellow, warm white or high palladium white, and rose gold. You can find out more about our materials here.

Another idea is to mix your metals like these pairings:

 

Stacking

Would you like this ring to stack? If you plan to wear an engagement and wedding ring together, it’s a good idea to think about how that will work early on. Plus you might want to add to your stack later down the line with an eternity band. Many of my rings are stackable, talk to me if this is important to you.

 

Shape and style

It’s worth considering how delicate or bold you want to go.

For fans of statement jewellery, a standalone piece works brilliantly.
Opting for a high profile, large central stone or wide band also adds drama. 

 

For others, petite rings suit their style more. 

Consider whether your chosen ring complements your everyday style - after all, the ring needs to feel like YOU.

My jewellery works brilliantly for those looking beyond traditional offerings. If you enjoy contemporary, architecturally charged, geo-inspired jewels then take a look at my engagement, wedding and commitment jewellery edits. 

I’ll cover coloured gems in more depth soon.