Diamond engagement rings may seem like an age-old custom, but the term "A Diamond is Forever" was originally coined by De Beers' copywriter Frances Gerety in 1947. Since Marilyn Monroe's performance of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" in the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953, no proposal is complete without a diamond ring.
No matter how big or tiny the jewellery store is, the first thing the jeweller will want to know is how much you can spend, because that will determine the prices and quality of the gemstones they can show you. The 4Cs are relevant in this context. The degree to which a diamond sparkles and shines depends on how it was cut.
A more brilliant diamond results from precise cutting with facets that are well spaced and symmetrical. It's no secret that cut is the most crucial of the 4Cs for fashion labels like Hearts on Fire. What determines how well a diamond performs are its dimensions, symmetry, and polish.
In spite of possessing the world's most flawless diamond, improper cutting might render it useless. Hearts of Fire takes great pride in its diamond cutting expertise and offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all diamond purchases. Due to the extreme specialisation required, the brand only produces round diamond cuts.
It's not easy to meet your soul mate, and it's even more challenging to work up the nerve to pop the question. Here is a guide to help you pick the perfect engagement ring to represent your undying love, dedication, and promise to your future spouse.
The Ultimate Guide To Purchasing The Ideal Engagement Ring
Purchasing an engagement ring is a significant emotional and financial investment in the future of a relationship. You're on the hunt for the ideal engagement ring, but you have financial constraints.
It can be difficult to narrow down your options while searching for an engagement ring due to the sheer number of available models. These detailed instructions will help you find the perfect engagement ring for the person you love.
Looking for a one-of-a-kind engagement ring? Check out our stunning cluster engagement ring designs.
Determine The Size Of Your Ring Finger.
What is the best way to find out the size of her/his ring finger? This is a common enquiry that we receive. To begin, the ring finger on each hand may not be the same size. Because of this, it is important to inquire as to whether or not the left hand is prefered for wearing the engagement ring. If you have a suitable ring finger, you may simply borrow it and have the jeweller or us measure it using a ring sizer.
If your significant other doesn't wear a ring on their ring finger, you'll need to either measure it yourself or put on a convincing performance. For the latter, on your next shopping trip together, why not let your significant other try on a piece of costume jewellery at random? If you want to surprise your partner with an engagement ring, you can use our ring size guide or get in touch with us for assistance or a ring size. The most practical next step is to use a string and lightly encircle your sleeping partner's finger.
Knowing Your Partner's Ring Preferences
It is important to start the process of finding an engagement ring early on so that you can accommodate your partner's preferences. Naturally, you are the best one to make this choice. Still, here are a few suggestions that we have:
- Avoid fashion trends.
- Include others in the planning process, such as a local jeweller, a chic friend of your partner's, or even their inspired dad.
- You might ask your partner at random if they like their friends' engagement rings.
- Consult with a jeweller such as us for advice, as the choice of engagement ring is typically influenced by the wearer's sense of style and character.
- Find the right shade: Even if your companion always wears gold jewellery, he or she may prefer a traditional white diamond for the engagement ring.
Choose A Centrepiece Stone.
Most engagement rings feature a large stone set at the top. If a diamond is indeed what you have in mind, the next step is to choose the cut. Gemstones, too, can be purchased in numerous forms.
Shapes like the oval, pear, and marquise are great for visually elongating the finger. Brilliants in the radiant, round, oval, and princess cuts glitter like no other. Although they lack the fire of brilliant cuts, the glossy step facets characteristic of the Asscher and emerald shapes make them ideal for use in classically elegant designs. It's hard to deny the retro chic of the cushion cut, a silhouette that dates back to the early 20th century. In addition, heart-shaped stones provide for a charming and romantic accent.
Knowing The 4 Cs.
The 4Cs come next after the shape has been chosen. Diamonds are valued according to their cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. There is no doubt about the originality or quality of diamonds that have been verified and graded by a reputable gemological laboratory. Now, let's examine the 4Cs more closely:
- Cut: A diamond's cut must adhere to specific standards based on its shape. If you want a "perfect" cut, you have to make sure these facets are cut properly and in the precise proportions.
- Colour: The colour of a diamond is measured on a scale from D to Z. D stands for "colourless," while Z is a pale yellow. As yellow gold can hide diamonds with warmer tones, you may want to downgrade to a lower quality if money is limited.
- Clarity: In terms of sharpness, grades go from Flawless (FL) to Contained (I). The diamond was examined at 10x magnification to arrive at these grades. There are also intermediate ratings such as Very Very Slightly Included (VVS), Internally Flawless (IF), Slightly Included (SI) and Very Slightly Included (VS), .
- This is where we introduce the fourth "C" word: carat. The value of a gem can be significantly affected by even a single decimal point in its carat weight. There is little visual difference between a diamond that weighs 0.90 carats and one that weighs a whole carat, thus the price increase is justified.
Think About Adding Colours.
Unlike diamonds, coloured gemstones are not graded on the same scales. It is important to consider the gemstone's colour saturation and hardness while making a purchase. Gemstone's worth is determined by its colour.
Ruby prices are higher than those for diamonds because rubies are more rare and have more vivid colours. You should also exercise caution when choosing a soft stone (such as an opal) as the focal point of a ring. Because of their fragility, softer gems aren't ideal for daily wear.
Choose Your Setting And Metal.
You can now cross "finding the ideal gemstone" off your list. Finding out what metal works best for your surroundings is the next step.
White gold is the most common choice because it is cheaper than platinum but still looks just as shiny in an engagement ring. In terms of metals, platinum is the hardest available, but it also has the highest price tag. Gold and copper are combined to create rose gold. Rose gold, which gives jewellery a rosy glow, is currently all the rage.
Choose The Details.
Add side stones to your centre stone? You might even have diamonds set into the band itself. At this point, feel free to provide any supplementary information you deem necessary for a more individualised experience. Birthstones are a popular addition to a diamond ring, especially for some customers.
Diamonds make beautiful accent stones. You should take care to select a side stone whose shape goes well with your centrepiece. A halo created around a centre stone serves the same purpose.
If the ring you purchased is perfect and you don't want any changes made to it, you could wish to have a special message engraved inside the ring. In addition to the words "I love you," you may also have your initials, a monogram, a short quote, or even the date of your engagement engraved on the ring.
Make Arrangements For Payment.
You'll need a payment plan worked out before you can leave with the ring. The ability to spread out your payments is a perk offered by many retailers, Brilliance! included.
Buying an engagement ring is a complicated endeavour. Setting a budget, investigating your purchasing possibilities, and finally settling on the ring's specifics all require careful consideration of your needs, wants, and financial constraints. Talk to the jewellers for as long as you need to in order to feel comfortable with your purchase.
Think About Getting Ring Insurance.
An engagement ring is a significant financial commitment. Think about getting insurance coverage for your engagement ring in case of loss or theft. An umbrella policy can often be added to a homeowner's or renter's insurance policy to protect high-value items like jewellery. But first, you should get the ring evaluated. Find out what kind of coverage your insurer suggests by contacting them.
Set Your Budget
Some people may tell you that you should spend one month's salary or more on an engagement ring, but we believe that you should spend whatever you feel comfortable with. Ingle & Rhode engagement rings start from about $1500.
Choose Your Style
If she isn't directly involved in the process of selecting or creating the ring, pay attention to how she responds to other women's engagement rings, or whether she specifically points out rings that she likes. With these "hints," we'll be able to locate or design the ideal ring. It could help to seek the opinions of her close female friends and family members as well.
There is a broad variety of ring designs from which to choose, including the time-honoured solitaire, the contemporary trilogy, and the enchantingly antique engagement ring (often set with lots of small diamonds). Maybe she has a thing for Art Deco engagement rings that evoke a more enchanted era. Or perhaps she leans for the understated beauty of a modern engagement ring.
Choose Your Gems
An engagement ring's cost is often driven mostly by the diamond or gemstone's quality. We have a beautiful selection of diamonds and gemstones that have been mined legally and responsibly.
The 4 Cs, which refer to carat weight, colour grade, clarity grade, and cut grade, determine how much a diamond is worth.
A gem's shape has a major role in determining the design of the accompanying ring. The most common shapes are round, princess, pear, emerald, cushion, radiant, oval, and marquise cuts.
However, keep in mind that purchasing diamonds is not your only alternative. You might also think about getting a ruby engagement ring, emerald engagement ring, or a sapphire engagement ring.
Choose Your Precious Metal
Both recycled gold and platinum and gold that has been verified as being from Fairtrade are available. You can get it in 18k white gold, 18k yellow gold, 18k rose gold, or 950 platinum.
Look at the jewellery she already owns to determine what kind of metal she likes. White gold and platinum are even more popular than their more typical yellow counterpart. Even though it's more expensive, platinum can be a better choice for jewellery settings due to its higher strength and durability.
If you're in the market for something a little bit out of the ordinary, rose gold could be a good choice.
By purchasing the Fairtrade-approved gold, you'll be aiding in the improvement of small-scale miners' and their communities' standard of living. Alloying our recycled gold and platinum back into its original form first ensures that it is of the same quality as newly mined precious metals without the negative effects on the environment.
Your Wedding Ring Finger
Your wedding band will serve as a constant reminder of the commitment you made with your engagement ring. A wedding ring is a sign of the wearer's promise to their partner for the rest of their lives because the shape of the ring is round and has no beginning or end.
At the wedding ceremony in the West, the bride and groom usually place their wedding bands on the ring finger of the other. This may leave you wondering what will happen to your engagement ring. Traditionally, the wedding ring is worn on the left hand, closest to the heart, while the engagement ring is switched to the right hand, where it will remain, just before the wedding ceremony. It is traditional to wear the engagement ring over the newly weds' wedding bands immediately following the ceremony.
Conclusion
Frances Gerety introduced "A Diamond is Forever '' in 1947. De Beers developed GIA's 4Cs diamond selection system. Cut affects diamond brilliance. Heart Stones on Fire guarantees all diamond purchases, including round-cut engagement rings. Borrowing a friend or loved one's ring finger and having the jeweller or us measure it with a ring size is the best way to find the right size.
To find the right engagement ring for your partner, start early, avoid fashion trends, invite others, contact a jeweller, and find the right shade. A reputable gemological lab's cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight determine diamond value. Cut, shape, colour, clarity, and carat weight are evaluated separately. Colour is D (extremely light) to Z (very dark), and clarity is FL to Con (I). Consider the gem's colour saturation, hardness, and carat weight when buying.
The 4 Cs—carat weight, colour grade, clarity grade, and cut grade—determine the quality of a diamond or gemstone and the price of an engagement ring. Ruby, emerald, and sapphire engagement rings are now popular. The most important facts are that wedding rings are worn on ring fingers and that recycled gold, platinum, and Fairtrade-verified gold are available. Pre-wedding engagement rings are worn on the left hand. Engagement rings cover wedding bands after marriage.
Content Summary
- Diamond engagement rings may seem like an age-old custom, but "A Diamond is Forever" was originally coined by De Beers' copywriter Frances Gerety in 1947.
- Since Marilyn Monroe's performance of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" in the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953, no proposal is complete without a diamond ring.
- De Beers was the first company to use the Gemological Institute of America's (GIA) worldwide system for grading diamonds known as "the 4Cs" to help its customers select the ideal diamond.
- The degree to which a diamond sparkles and shines depends on how it was cut.
- It's no secret that cut is the most crucial 4Cs for fashion labels like Hearts on Fire.
- Hearts of Fire takes great pride in its diamond-cutting expertise and offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all diamond purchases.
- Due to the extreme specialisation required, the brand only produces round diamond cuts.
- Purchasing an engagement ring is a significant emotional and financial investment in the future of a relationship.
- You're searching for the ideal engagement ring but have financial constraints.
- These detailed instructions will help you find the perfect engagement ring for the person you love.
- If you want to surprise your partner with an engagement ring, you can use our ring size guide or contact us for assistance or ring size.
- It is important to start finding an engagement ring early to accommodate your partner's preferences.
- You might ask your partner if they like their friends' engagement rings.
- Please consult with a jeweller such as us for advice, as the wearer's sense of style and character typically influences the engagement ring's choice.
- Find the right shade: Even if your companion always wears gold jewellery, they may prefer a traditional white diamond for the engagement ring.
- Cut: A diamond's cut must adhere to specific standards based on its shape.
- If you want a "perfect" cut, you must ensure these facets are cut properly and in precise proportions.
- The value of a gem can be significantly affected by even a single decimal point in its carat weight.
- Unlike diamonds, coloured gemstones are not graded on the same scales.
- It is important to consider the gemstone's colour saturation and hardness while purchasing.
- Their colour determines the gemstones' worth.
- You can now cross "finding the ideal gemstone" off your list.
- Gold and copper are combined to create rose gold.
- You'll need a payment plan worked out before you can leave with the ring.
- Consider getting insurance coverage for your engagement ring in case of loss or theft.
- If she isn't directly involved in selecting or creating the ring, pay attention to how she responds to other women's engagement rings or whether she specifically points out rings she likes.
- Or perhaps she leans toward the understated beauty of a modern engagement ring.
- An engagement ring's cost is often driven mostly by the diamond or gemstone's quality.
- A gem's shape has a major role in determining the design of the accompanying ring.
- Both recycled gold, platinum, and gold verified as being from Fairtrade are available.
- Look at the jewellery she already owns to determine what kind of metal she likes.
- Your wedding band will serve as a constant reminder of the commitment you made with your engagement ring.
- At the wedding ceremony in the West, the bride and groom usually place their wedding bands on the ring finger of the other.
FAQs About Engagement Rings
One of the most typical engagement rings is a solitaire diamond ring, consisting of a single diamond set in a metal band. The solitaire ring has been the standard for engagement rings for many years. In addition, rings with three stones, pave diamonds, and halo settings are also common. It's important to keep in mind, though, that the vagueness of a given ring's design can shift with the seasons, local customs, and individual tastes.
Some people have different ideas on which ring shapes are the most lovely. There are, however, ring shapes that are more traditionally associated with elegance and sophistication. For instance, the round brilliant cut diamond is one of the most well-liked and long-lasting diamond forms because of its exceptional brilliance and fire. Emerald cuts, oval cuts, and cushion cuts are examples of diamond shapes frequently considered exquisite and timeless. You love and feel best in the most sophisticated ring shape.
An engagement ring's size is a personal preference that shifts with factors like the wearer's budget and preferred appearance. Because everyone has their taste, there is only sometimes an ideal size for an engagement ring. Yet the wearer's finger size, occupation, and the ring's design are all important considerations.
A diamond or gemstone with a reduced carat weight can be more flattering if you have large hands. Similarly, someone who uses their hands frequently in their work would prefer a ring with a lower profile or fewer prongs, making it less likely to get caught on things or scratched.
Ultimately, it's up to the wearer to decide what works best for them in terms of style and comfort regarding the size of their engagement ring. Remember that the ring's significance to the couple's history together is often more important than the monetary worth of the ring.
Traditionally, the wedding band is worn on the left hand's third finger, and the engagement ring is moved there after the wedding. While some may prefer to wear the wedding band first and the engagement ring second, this is different from the preferred order for everyone.
As a matter of custom and decorum, the engagement ring should not be taken off after the ceremony. Instead, it complements the wedding band as a public declaration of the couple's devotion to one another. Some couples have their engagement and wedding bands welded together into a single ring for convenience.
It is important to remember that there are no steadfast regulations regarding the continued use of an engagement ring after the wedding. It is up to the person to determine what is most familiar and significant to them. Others may retire the ring and save it as a keepsake, while others may continue wearing it on a different finger or as a necklace.
Several factors, including one's taste, financial means, and cultural norms, might affect an engagement ring's "typical" carat weight.
It should be noted that carat weight is only one of several aspects that define a diamond's value and beauty. The cut, the clarity, and the colour of the diamond are also significant characteristics. Sometimes, a smaller diamond with superior cut, clarity, and colour can look bigger and brighter than a larger diamond with average qualities in these areas.
It's up to the couple's budget and the recipient's taste to determine how big of a diamond to get them. When selecting an engagement ring, the most significant consideration is how well it symbolises the couple's love and devotion to one another, not the diamond's carat weight.