A month from now, you will be the happiest man on earth. You will be next to your fiancée, looking down at your ring, the one that proves your devotion and eternal love.
Choosing the perfect engagement ring is tough. No, it’s really easy. No, wait, I think it’s really difficult. But, honestly, you don’t have to go broke to get something great. You just need some patience and a clear picture of what qualities are most important to your future bride. With these six steps, I made it easy for you and put together a list of tips worthy of John Cusack holding a boombox above his head. However, instead of playing “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel, I’m going to divulge my tried and true methods for picking out the perfect engagement ring.
1. Know her well enough
You know her well enough to know that you want to marry her. Well, consider yourself one of the lucky ones because only a few have gotten this far. You have been entrusted with the privilege of planning the most important day of the lives of two people who love and respect each other.
A guy must be very sure of his relationship and love for the lady before he proposes to her. Also, he should know her very well enough to know that she will definitely accept his proposal. But if things are not going according to plan, then a simple error in selecting the perfect engagement ring UK may render your efforts useless.
2. Always listen to her
A woman never gives away the secret of her engagement ring. It is a well-guarded secret. There are various clues to figure out what she likes. One of which is to notice what she says about other people’s engagement rings. You can also read what cut she choose for diamonds by looking at old pictures of celebrities’ engagement diamond rings.
Getting the perfect ring requires you to think about the girl you are buying the ring for (your girlfriend or bride-to-be) and about yourself. You want a ring that says she will be your wife one day, but you also need a ring that says that it is for you, not for her. You want a “Big Rock” size diamond so everyone will get jealous, but you also don’t want to spend all of your money because weddings cost a lot.
3. Her style
Before you go ring shopping for that special girl in your life, take a little bit of time to find out what type of jewelry she prefers. After all, it’s her engagement ring, so she’ll have to wear it for the rest of her life!
Every girl is different. Some like diamonds. Some don’t. You need to look at what kind of girl she is to decide which ring she will like best. When you are shopping for rings, there are a lot of things you should keep in mind. Some of these things include the style of ring you want and the type of girl she is. There are so many different kinds of engagement rings. The best place to start is figuring out the style plan to find the one that she will most like.
Before proposing to her, you should find out if she likes diamond rings.
4Cs of Diamond Rings
The 4Cs are your reference when buying diamonds. The price (and beauty!) of a diamond is strongly influenced by its carat, color, clarity, and cut. But when determining whether to buy a loose stone, certification is also crucial. Why? Because the authenticity and purity of diamonds can only be guaranteed if they have been verified and graded by one of the top gemstone laboratories.
Grades are given for cut, clarity, and color in certified stones. The labs’ certificates also include information regarding the stone’s carat weight, fluorescence, and the kinds of flaws and inclusions that were discovered in or on the stone. Let’s examine the 4Cs more closely.
GIA is an acronym for the Gemological Institute of America, considered the world’s leading geological research institute.
Cut: The technique of cutting a diamond requires mathematical precision. For a form to be considered beautiful, a specific amount of facets must be present. These facets need to be properly trimmed. The cut grades are Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor; the stone must also have the proper proportions for the cut to be considered “ideal.”
Color: The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), considered the world’s leading geological research institute, grades a diamond’s color on a range from D to Z. D stands for colorless, whereas Z stands for pale yellow. Of course, as the letters rise up the scale, there are variations in between. If money is scarce, you can decide to downgrade this C as yellow gold may conceal warmer-hued diamonds.
Clarity: This is as the diamond’s brilliance. Based on how inclusions show when magnified by ten times, clarity can range from flawless (FL) to included (I). Perfect stones are extremely uncommon and expensive. In-between ratings include Internally Flawless (IF), Very Very Slightly Included (VVS), Very Slightly Included (VS), and Slightly Included (SI).
Carat: The fourth C stands for caratt. Larger stones cost more, and even a single carat weight decimal point can have a big impact on a stone’s price. Although prices will increase when customers choose a full carat weight, the size difference between a 0.90 carat diamond and a complete carat is negligible.
Different cuts and their meaning
Choosing amongst engagement ring cuts might be the most thrilling and difficult part of the engagement process. This is, after all, your longest-ever commitment in terms of personal style. Fortunately, diamonds are timeless. Learn the features of each common diamond cut as well as its pros and downsides. Here are the most typical shapes for engagement rings, along with what each design reveals about the wearers.
Round: For someone who is inclined to a traditional and timeless look, choose the round cut. A round brilliant is ideal for someone who wants a classic appearance that will never go out of style; women who desire the most sparkle will also love the brilliant faceting.
Princess: A princess cut diamond is square on top, has four beveled edges, and enters the ring at a point (similar to an upside-down pyramid). The ring cut for you if you want the most glitter in a contemporary style is this one. The ring looks modern because to its simple lines.
Radiant: The radiant cut is formed like an octagon and is comparable to the emerald cut. The radiant, however, is quite the dazzler since it has 70 light-reflecting facets, unlike an emerald. Women who choose brilliant cuts are frequently vivacious and outgoing. For those who enjoy a lot of dazzle and flash, the bright faceting and rectangular form are fantastic!
Cushion: The cushion cut is both stylish and feminine, according to Landau. The rounded edges and bright facets of a cushion are ideal for someone looking for a delicate appearance with a lot of glitter.
Asscher: Asscher cuts are sophisticated in the manner of the past. Asscher cuts are more popular among women who enjoy vintage fashion and distinctive patterns because of their nostalgic appeal. Asscher cut diamonds, like emerald cuts, feature step-cut faceting as opposed to brilliant-cut faceting, which makes them subtle and beautiful. The ’20s and ’30s were known for their short, octagonal cuts, which had a certain Art Deco vibe.
Emerald: Emerald cuts radiate class and sophistication. For someone who prefers to keep things modest, the elongated design and step-cut faceting are ideal. Women with refined taste—those who lean more toward the traditional with an edge—are best suited for this cut.
Oval: One of the most recent and well-liked diamond forms is the oval cut. This cut is ideal for folks who enjoy keeping up with current fashions while also enjoying a timeless, elegant look.
Pear: The pear cut provides the finger an extended appearance and is shaped like a tear (of pleasure). One of the less typical cuts for engagement rings is this one. Women who follow their own path and choose a pear over an engagement ring tend to be independent thinkers.
Marquise: The marquise cut is the height of sophistication. This cut is also known as the Navette cut (meaning “little boat” in French) because of the way its oval form meets at pointed ends, suggesting the hull of a ship. This cut is not only distinctive but also excellent for those who want to give the appearance of longer hands.
Heart: Rocking a heart-shaped engagement band is a brave decision because it may be the loveliest of all ring shapes. The ladies who favor it tend to stand out in a crowd since this is not an engagement ring cut you see every day.
Conclusion
Poor engagement ring choice may make life a little difficult and tricky. Although choosing a ring can seem like a simple task, an engagement ring is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to demonstrate to her how much you genuinely care.
The adage “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, made famous by Marilyn Monroe, still holds true today, with diamonds being the most preferred gemstone for both engagement rings and wedding bands for women. While diamonds are undoubtedly the most conventional option, you may also select from a variety of other valuable jewels, which might make your engagement ring much more unique or better suit your girlfriend’s or boyfriend’s personality.