Engagement Ring Buying Guide
Ultimate Guide to Engagement Rings - Complete Buying Guide
ENGAGEMENT RING BUYING GUIDE
Choosing an engagement ring is an exciting milestone, but with so many options, it can feel overwhelming. This guide covers everything you need to know, from selecting a diamond or gemstone to understanding settings, metals, and budgets. Learn about the 4Cs, natural vs lab-grown stones, ring sizing and more! If at any point you have questions, our non-commissioned consultants are here to help!
Which Engagement Ring is Right for You?
Finding the perfect ring is about more than just beauty—it should reflect your partner’s style, fit within your budget, and showcase exceptional craftsmanship. From classic Solitaire styles to modern settings, we’ll help you make an informed decision.
Fits Their Style
The right ring should reflect your partner’s individuality. Do they love classic, unique, or contemporary designs? Consider their jewellery preferences, including the metal colour of their existing jewellery. Explore settings, cuts, and metal options to find a ring that looks and feels like “them.”
Fits Your Budget
An engagement ring is a meaningful investment, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Understanding pricing factors—like diamond size, cut, and setting—can help you find the perfect ring at the right price. Whether you're looking for a statement piece, or a traditional design, we’ll help you navigate your options with clarity.
Demonstrates Quality
A well-crafted engagement ring should stand the test of time. From diamond clarity and carat weight to the durability of different metals, understanding quality ensures you make a lasting choice for generations to come.
Introduction to Engagement Rings
Engagement rings have symbolised love and commitment for centuries, evolving in style and significance across cultures. From ancient traditions to modern trends, each ring tells a unique story. Whether you're drawn to the romance of tradition, or searching for a more contemporary design, we’ll help you explore the journey of engagement rings through time.
History of Engagement Rings
The tradition of giving engagement rings dates back thousands of years. Over time, the meaning and styles have evolved, from simple gold bands to the diamond rings we know today. Discover how history has shaped the way we symbolise love.
Proposal Traditions from Around the World
Engagement and proposal customs vary widely across cultures. From the exchange of symbolic gifts to elaborate ceremonies, each tradition carries deeply symbolic meaning. Explore how different cultures celebrate love and commitment in unique and memorable ways.
Modern Trends
Today’s engagement rings blend traditional influences with contemporary flair. From lab-grown diamonds and elaborate settings, to coloured gemstones and fancy cuts, modern designs offer endless choice. Find out what’s trending and how to choose a ring that reflects your love.
Decide How Much You Want to Spend
Finding the perfect engagement ring starts with understanding your budget. Whether you're looking for a classic solitaire or a lavish modern design, knowing what affects the price can help you make a confident decision. From traditional budgeting rules to smart ways to save, explore your options to find a ring that aligns with your style and financial goals.
How Expensive is an Engagement Ring?
Engagement ring costs vary greatly depending on the type of gemstone, metal choice, and overall design. While some opt for budget-friendly options, others invest in high-carat designs. Understanding what affects pricing helps you make informed decisions that align with your budget.
How Much Should You Spend on an Engagement Ring?
There's no fixed rule about how much you should spend. While traditional guidelines suggest 2-3 months' salary, modern couples prioritise personal financial situations and values. Whether you’re looking for a simple solitaire or an elaborate design, finding a ring that feels right is what truly matters.
Ways to Save When Buying an Engagement Ring
Smart shopping can help you find a stunning ring without overspending. Choosing alternative gemstones and exploring different settings are great ways to maximise value. Learn expert tips to make the most of your budget while finding a ring that reflects your love story.
Understanding Engagement Ring Categories
Engagement rings come in a variety of styles, each offering a unique aesthetic and symbolism. From the classic simplicity of a Solitaire to the profound significance of a Three-Stone, there’s a fitting design for every love story.
Solitaire
A Solitaire engagement ring showcases a single centre stone, letting its brilliance take centre stage. Traditional and elegant, this classic design symbolises enduring love and remains one of the most popular choices today.
Timeless
Timeless engagement rings offer a greater depth of design than Solitaires by featuring additional diamonds in the band that enhance the brilliance of the centre stone. Think classic beauty, with extra sparkle.
Halo
A Halo engagement ring enhances the centre stone with a circle of smaller diamonds around the outside. This added sparkle can create the illusion of a larger, more dazzling centre stone at a more affordable price point.
Three-Stone / Trilogy
Representing the past, present, and future, a Three-Stone engagement ring features a centre stone flanked by two complementary diamonds, beautifully balancing tradition and brilliance in a meaningful way.
Modern
Modern engagement rings embrace contemporary aesthetics with unique settings and innovative designs. Whether minimalistic or bold, these rings cater to those who seek something distinctive and fashion-forward.
Gemstone
For a colourful twist, Gemstone engagement rings feature sapphires, rubies, and emeralds alongside or in place of diamonds. Perfect for those who want a unique and meaningful expression of their love.
Understanding Diamond Cuts
The cut of a diamond shapes its brilliance, style, and overall appearance. From classic Round to distinctive Heart-shaped diamonds, each cut offers a unique balance of sparkle, beauty, and personality. Explore the differences to find your perfect match.
Round Cut
The Round Cut is the most popular diamond shape, renowned for its exceptional brilliance and timeless appeal. Its 58 facets maximise light reflection, creating unmatched sparkle in both classic and modern engagement ring settings.
Pear Cut
The Pear Cut combines the elegance of a Round Cut with the sophistication of a Marquise, resulting in a unique teardrop shape. This cut elongates the finger and offers brilliant sparkle with a touch of vintage charm.
Oval
The Oval Cut delivers stunning brilliance while creating an illusion of greater size due to its elongated shape. A perfect blend of classic and contemporary, it flatters the hand and maximises carat weight.
Heart Cut
A romantic symbol of love, the Heart Cut diamond makes a bold statement. Its distinctive shape requires expert craftsmanship to achieve perfect symmetry, ensuring maximum brilliance and a beautifully balanced, eye-catching design.
Cushion Cut
The Cushion Cut features rounded corners and larger facets, enhancing its fire and brilliance. With a vintage feel and soft, pillow-like appearance, this cut is a favourite for those who love a classic yet distinctive look.
Emerald Cut
Sophisticated and timeless, the Emerald Cut showcases step-cut facets that highlight a diamond’s clarity rather than brilliance. Its elongated shape and hall-of-mirrors effect create an elegant, understated sparkle with a vintage-inspired aesthetic.
Princess Cut
The Princess Cut is known for its sharp angles and contemporary brilliance. Its square or slightly rectangular shape delivers exceptional sparkle, making it a modern choice that beautifully balances elegance and bold, geometric appeal.
Marquise Cut
With its elongated, pointed shape, the Marquise Cut creates the illusion of a larger diamond. Its regal, boat-like silhouette maximises carat weight while offering an elegant and flattering look on the finger.
Understanding Diamond Settings
While a Solitaire engagement ring features a single setting type, more detailed engagement ring styles can feature multiple settings: one for the centre stone, and additional settings in the halo or band. Each setting type enhances a diamond’s beauty while reflecting personal taste and lifestyle.
Prong / Claw Setting
A prong setting secures a diamond with small metal claws, allowing maximum light to enter for enhanced brilliance. This classic setting is popular for its timeless appeal and ability to showcase the centre stone.
Bezel Setting
A bezel setting surrounds the diamond with a thin metal rim, offering a sleek, modern look with added security. Ideal for active lifestyles, this setting protects the stone while maintaining a sophisticated and minimalist aesthetic.
Floating / Tension Setting
A floating or tension setting creates the illusion of a diamond suspended in mid-air by using precise metal pressure. This contemporary design enhances the stone’s visibility and brilliance while offering a bold, modern appeal.
Pavé Setting
A pavé setting features small diamonds set closely together along the band, creating continuous sparkle. This elegant design enhances brilliance and adds a luxurious touch while beautifully complementing the centre stone.
Channel Setting
A channel setting secures small diamonds within a metal groove along the band, creating a smooth, seamless look. This design offers added durability while enhancing the ring’s brilliance with a refined, elegant touch.
Selecting the Right Gemstone
Diamonds are the most popular choice for engagement rings, prized for their brilliance, durability, and timeless beauty. Understanding diamond quality and characteristics can help you choose the perfect stone that balances sparkle, size, and budget.
Guide to Diamonds
Choosing a diamond involves more than just size – factors like cut, clarity, and setting impact its overall beauty. Learn how to select a diamond that meets your style and quality expectations.
The 4 C's
The 4C’s—Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat—determine a diamond’s quality and value. Understanding these factors helps you make an informed choice based on what matters most to you.
Colour Grading
Diamond colour ranges from colourless to faint yellow, with subtle differences affecting value and appearance. Higher-grade diamonds appear whiter, while lower grades may show warmth or unique character.
Natural vs Lab Grown
Natural and lab-grown diamonds share the same durability, but their origins differ. Natural diamonds form over millions of years, while lab-grown options offer a more cost-effective alternative with comparable brilliance.
Other Precious Stones
Beyond diamonds, a world of vibrant colours and captivating stories awaits. Explore the allure of sapphires, emeralds, and rubies, each with their own unique beauty and significance.
Guide to Sapphires
From the deep blue of Kashmir to the fiery pink of Padparadscha, sapphires offer a spectrum of colours and a timeless elegance. Learn about their history, meanings, and how to choose the perfect sapphire for your special occasion.
Guide to Emeralds
With their rich green hues and captivating inclusions, emeralds symbolise growth, renewal, and eternal love - the ultimate trifecta for a long and happy love story.
Guide to Rubies
Passionate and powerful, rubies are known for their fiery red colour and association with love, courage, and vitality. Explore the world of rubies and learn how to assess their quality for choosing the perfect ruby engagement ring.
Carat & Ring Sizes
Finding the perfect ring involves more than just choosing a design. Understanding carat weight and ring sizes is crucial for ensuring your ring is both stunning and comfortable.
How to Find Your Ring Size
Finding your ring size is the first step to a perfect fit. Explore our guide to discover various methods for measuring your finger, from printable ring sizers to professional sizing options.
Carat Sizes
Understanding carat sizes is essential for balancing your budget and desired look. Learn about the different carat weights and how they impact a diamond's appearance, brilliance, and overall value.
Ethical Considerations in Gemstone Choice
Choosing a gemstone is a significant decision, and it's important to consider the ethical implications of your purchase. We believe in responsible sourcing and transparency, ensuring that your beautiful gemstone also represents a commitment to positive social and environmental impact.
SH Jewellery's Ethical Sourcing
At SH Jewellery, we are dedicated to ethical sourcing practices. We work closely with trusted suppliers who adhere to strict labor standards and environmental protections.
GIA Partnership
We partner with the GIA, a world-renowned authority in gemology, to ensure the quality and authenticity of our diamonds. This provides our customers with confidence and peace of mind, knowing their gemstone has been rigorously evaluated and certified.
Choosing a Metal
The metal you select for your engagement ring plays a significant role in its overall look, durability, and feel. Explore the unique characteristics of each precious metal to find the perfect complement to your diamond and personal style.
White Gold
White gold offers a sleek, modern look with a bright, silvery-white finish. Its durability and affordability make it a popular choice for engagement rings and other fine jewellery.
Yellow Gold
A classic choice, yellow gold exudes warmth and richness. Its enduring appeal and lustrous shine make it a beloved option for traditional and vintage-inspired engagement rings.
Rose Gold
Romantic and sophisticated, rose gold's unique blend of gold and copper creates a feminine, blushing hue that complements a variety of skin tones.
Platinum
Platinum is a rare and precious metal known for its exceptional durability and naturally white sheen. Its strength and hypoallergenic properties make it a premium choice for those seeking the finest quality.
Where to Buy Your Engagement Ring
Online vs. In-Store Purchasing
Weighing the pros and cons of online and in-store shopping can help you make the best decision for your needs and preferences. Consider factors like selection, personalised service, and the overall experience when deciding where to begin your search.
SH Jewellery Store
We have over 200 exclusively designed engagement rings available in store. Our patient, multilingual and non-commissioned consultants will guide you through a tried and tested selection process to help you find ‘The One’.
SH Jewellery Online
We make buying engagement rings online easy, thanks to our Virtual-Try On feature and ring sizer tools. All online orders include industry-leading support, free insured delivery, and 30-day exchange for complete peace of mind.
Why You Should Choose a GIA Partner
Choosing a GIA partner like SH Jewellery means your gemstone has been graded by the world's foremost authority in gemology. This guarantees the quality and authenticity of your stone, giving you confidence and peace of mind in your investment.
Engagement Ring Care, Insurance & Maintenance
Proper care, including regular cleaning and professional inspections, will help maintain the brilliance of your engagement ring for years to come. Protecting your investment with insurance is also crucial for peace of mind.
Free Cleaning & Inspections for Life
Keep your SH Jewellery engagement ring sparkling with complimentary cleaning and inspections for life. We recommend 6-monthly visits to maintain your ring’s brilliance and catch any potential issues early on.
Should You Insure Your Engagement Ring?
Protect your precious investment with insurance, providing peace of mind against loss, theft, or damage. Consider the emotional and financial value of your ring when determining the appropriate coverage.
Engagement Ring Jewellery Care Tips
Learn essential tips to keep your ring looking its best, from daily wear to proper storage. Avoid harsh chemicals and consider removing your ring during activities that could cause damage.
How to Clean a Diamond Engagement Ring
Discover a simple and safe method to clean your diamond ring using an Ultrasonic Jewellery Cleaning Machine to maintain its brilliance conveniently at home.
More Tips & Advice
6 Unique Alternatives to Diamond Solitaire Engagement Rings
Explore unique alternatives, each with its own captivating beauty and symbolic meaning, to discover a ring that perfectly reflects your partner's individuality and style.
What Your Ring Says About You
Your engagement ring is more than just jewellery; it's a statement about your personality and relationship. From classic Solitaires to modern designs, discover what your ring choice reveals about your style and values.
11 Men's Engagement Rings Proven to Seal the Deal
Who says engagement rings are just for women? Explore these stylish and masculine designs exclusive to SH Jewellery. Find the perfect ring to symbolise your commitment and start your forever together.
What to Do Once You've Decided
You've found the perfect engagement ring - now what? From insuring your ring to planning the proposal, we'll guide you through the essential tasks to ensure a smooth and memorable experience.
FAQs
An engagement ring is a symbol of love and commitment, traditionally given by a prospective spouse to their partner to signify their intention to marry. It often features a precious gemstone, like a diamond, and is worn on the left ring finger.
There's no set rule for how much to spend on an engagement ring. It's typically a personal decision based on your budget and personal preferences, rather than following any outdated guidelines.
In Western cultures, engagement rings are traditionally worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, also known as the ring finger.
In most Western cultures, the engagement ring is worn on the left hand. This tradition dates back to ancient times, with the belief that a vein in the left ring finger (the "vena amoris") led directly to the heart.
While less common, men are increasingly wearing engagement rings as a symbol of their commitment. These can be simple bands or more elaborate designs, often chosen to match the style of the bride-to-be's ring.
The wedding band is typically worn closest to the heart, meaning it goes on the finger first. So, the wedding band is placed on the left ring finger before the engagement ring. This way, the wedding band is "closer" to the heart and the engagement ring sits on top.
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