Australia
When you’ve met the woman of your dreams, you’d definitely want to put a ring on her. But you’ll want to make sure you get the engagement ring right – so how do you choose a ring she will love, and where to even begin?
The decision on what engagement ring to buy is a considerably difficult one, especially with the myriad of options available on the market today. For all the overwhelmed guys out there shopping for a ring and planning for a proposal, we’ve got you covered!
Here’s an unbiased guide to buying an engagement ring for your significant other.
Decide on a budget
Although the value of an engagement ring lies in what it symbolises, there’s no denying that money is a significant factor in determining your choice of the ring that you’ll propose with. Deciding on your budget should be the first step in your purchasing process so that you can fully explore all your options in gemstones and ring designs that will fit into your budget.
You shouldn’t feel pressured into spending a certain amount of money based on societal expectations. Instead, set your budget on what feels comfortable to you, because you’ll also have to keep your upcoming wedding expenses in mind.
Pick a ring style
Choosing a ring style is one of the trickiest things to decide on when buying an engagement ring. For a start, think about your partner’s taste in clothing and accessories – this will give you some hints on whether she’d gravitate towards a ring that’s modern, classic, glamourous or a combination of a few styles.
You can also consider going for a fancy case to give your ring a sophisticated twist. Here is where the centre round cut diamond is encased by a path of smaller diamonds, which creates the illusion of size and offers a brighter sparkle on her finger.
Star Carat Fancy Princess Diamond Ring
Paved in 18K white gold, this gorgeous lab grown diamond solitaire is set in a unique triangular tip setting that provides a striking elegance – fit for royalty!
If the two of you have discussed engagement before, there’s a chance that she’ll drop some hints on her ring preferences. Make sure to stay alert to these clues that she drops – they can help you out massively.
Learn about the 4Cs
When shopping for a diamond ring in Singapore, it’s crucial to understand how the stones are classified. The quality of a diamond is graded according to the 4Cs – cut, colour, clarity and carat. Striking a balance between the four characteristics helps you to get the best diamond to place at the centre of your ring.
Cut:
A diamond’s cut contributes to its overall beauty. When a diamond is cut correctly, its ability to reflect and refract light is enhanced tremendously. Modern diamond cutters have determined a precise set of angles and proportions that harness the stone’s internal brilliance and display it in its best light.
Colour:
A diamond with less colour appears more fiery and brilliant. It’s considered rarer than a more colourful diamond, making it more valuable.
Clarity:
Beyond its sparkly surface, most diamonds have natural inclusions and blemishes on and within them. Inclusions can be crystals formed by foreign material or structural imperfections like small cracks, which could look whitish and cloudy. Diamonds with little or no inclusions have a higher clarity grade, making them rare and highly valued.
Carat:
A diamond’s carat is used to measure the total weight of the diamond and is often what comes to mind when comparing diamonds.
Decide on a precious metal
Engagement ring metals include white gold, yellow gold, platinum and rose gold. Platinum and white gold are popular choices today, as they provide a sleek, modern look. While the two look very similar, platinum is more durable and tends to cost more than white gold. Rose gold is also rising in popularity over the years.
Take note of the jewellery your partner wears on a regular basis. This will give you a sense of which precious metal she would favour and help you to pick a ring that matches the rest of her jewellery.
Consider going custom
If you’d like to propose with a completely unique ring as a symbol of your love, you can collaborate with a jewellery designer to create a custom engagement ring. From a simple sketch and discussion, the designer will be able to help you bring your vision to life – so your partner can flash a ring that stands out from the crowd.
Find out her ring size
Determining your partner’s ring size without her knowing can be a tricky task. And you may need to do some snooping around to do so. You could obtain one of her rings and take it with you to the jeweller to have it sized or compare your fingers with hers as a rough gauge while looking at the ring size chart. If you do get it wrong, however, don’t panic! Most jewellers allow for rings to be resized, so be sure to check their resizing policy when making your purchase.
Consider giving her a semi-surprise
If you’re eager to surprise your girlfriend with your proposal but are daunted by having to choose the correct ring size and style, consider giving her a semi-surprise. You can purchase a diamond and have it set in a temporary ring setting. Once you’re engaged, you can then let her choose a setting she likes and have the diamond re-set into it. That way, you can give her a surprise while still being assured that the ring is something she’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Conclusion
Follow our guide to equip yourself with the essential knowledge you need to choose the best engagement ring for your special someone. At SK Jewellery, save more when you shop for your wedding jewellery without compromising on quality. Our Star Carat collection features Type IIA lab grown diamonds that are IGI certified – so you know you’ll be getting the purest and most valuable diamonds at an affordable price.
Browse through our selection of Star Carat diamond rings online or head to our showrooms to pick out a stunning engagement ring for your dream proposal!
