Wedding And Engagement Rings

There are a wealth of wedding and engagement rings out there to celebrate your special relationship, but how do you even start to try to choose the right ones for you? It's usual to start by choosing your engagement ring first, and normally it will be the proposer who instigates this exciting process. Contrary to popular belief both women and men can wear engagement rings, though engagement rings for men are quite different and generally aren't found in your average high street jewellers window. Choosing your wedding rings can be something you do at the same time but its more common to choose wedding rings later.

How to choose an engagement ring

Once you have decided whether you are going to choose an engagement ring as a surprise or propose first and let your partner choose the ring which suits them best, here are some tips on choosing an engagement ring that will make the experience a pleasurable one.

1. Don't just dive in headfirst

Engagement rings come in all shapes and sizes. Traditionally they will have stones in them, though they can be anything you like; and that's important, it should be exactly what you like. If you are the proposer and this is a surprise proposal, then its best to make sure you consider and few things before you move to the next step ... the most important being what does your partner like as it is they who will be wearing this ring for the rest of their lives. So look at their style, their likes and dislikes, perhaps ask a friend if you're not sure. We're not going to dwell on this here as we'll assume you know your partner well, but if you are unsure what they really want, then perhaps you should propose with a token item and let them actually choose their own ring.

2. Set your budget

To start with, it's best to decide on a budget that suits you - there's no hard and fast rule as to how much you should spend, but what you should have is a figure in mind which you are comfortable with as its likely to be the first question a jeweller will ask you when you go to see them. From there on, choosing an engagement ring that is perfect for you is just a case of following a few easy steps.

While we are on the subject of budget, it might be wise to mention that if the main feature of your engagement ring is going to be a stone, then apportion the larger part of the budget to buying the best stone you can afford. If you are more interested in having a specific design, then perhaps the stones, if any, will be less important when apportioning the budget.

3. Choose what kind of stone you like

Tradition has it this is a diamond, although it could be a ruby, sapphire, emerald or one of many other precious or semi-precious stones that you like. Its best to talk to a jeweller about which stones are suitable and practical for engagement rings as some are too soft to suitable for everyday wear - for instance amber is a very poor choice, as are pearls as they are organic materials and are not hard wearing. What you are really looking for is a stone that is suitable for your, or your partner's lifestyle. You can read about emerald engagement rings, ruby engagement rings and sapphire engagement rings on this site, but you should always ask the jeweller their opinion on suitability for your lifestyle before buying.

If you choose an engagement ring that has a large stone or is shaped with, for instance, an emerald cut stone, then you may find that when you come to choose your wedding ring, a traditional band will not sit comfortably next to your engagement ring. If this is the case then you will need to look for a shaped wedding ring which will accomodate your engagement ring. Many bespoke jewellers will make these for you to fit your engagement ring which means you will get a perfect fit.

If you want a specific stone and you can't find what you like already set in a ring, or you like the stone but not the ring, consider buying a loose stone. If you do this, then make sure you do your research and go to the jeweller armed with some information. If they can't answer your questions or you don't feel comfortable, then find a specialist who can help you buy a loose stone.

Perhaps you don't really want stones in your engagement ring - in which case, you can relax and choose a great design that speaks to you or find a bespoke jeweller who can help you design your own engagement ring. The main point to remember is anything goes. It's your expression of love so its your choice.

4. Engagement ring styles

The next step is to decide what style of engagement ring you would like. For example, a modern ring with a contemporary feel or something more traditional. This will define where you go to choose your engagement ring, or in fact whether you have a bespoke engagement ring made for you. Here are a few of the more common terms you will hear when choosing your engagement ring:

• Solitaire Ring

  - usually one that has a single stone as the main feature. Normally this will be a diamond.

• Three Stone Rings

  - as the name suggests, these engagement rings have 3 stones in them, though this terms normally refers to rings with three stones in a line. There are also 5 stone rings, 7 stone rings, etc.

• Cluster Ring

  - a group of stones usually surrounding a larger central stone

• Traditional Rngagement Rings

  - usually describing one of the above styles

• Contemporary Engagement Rings

  - this doesn't really describe a particular style of engagement ring per-say, but you may hear it a few times - it just means that the ring is up to date in design rather than traditional - just make sure the design is not so radical that you might regret buying it some years down the line.

• Classic Engagement Rings

  - again, this is not really an engagement ring style, it just means that the ring is a classic design that will be more likely to stand the test of time and changing fashions.

• Wedding Engagement Rings

  - this refers to a ring which acts as both wedding and engagement ring - one ring for both
  

5. Metals for engagement rings

Its also a good idea to think about what metal you would like. For this, you need to consider not only what you like, but also what goes well with your skin tone - for example: rich yellow and red gold are suited to warmer skin tones, tawny brunette or dark colouring and redheads, whilst white metals such as white gold, platinum and palladium look good on pale complexions and pale colouring. With all that said, you can write your own story with your engagement rings. Some people even like to mix up metals, and white and yellow golds look great together and have a very contemporary feel. Normally precious metals will be used for engagement rings, these include:

• Silver

  - usually 925 sterling silver

• Gold

  - depending on which country the carats of gold are 9ct, 10ct, 14ct, 18ct, and 22ct and these refer to the amount of gold in the alloy and is often described by the content in g/kg, such as 375 for 9ct and 750 for 18ct. Gold can be yellow or white in 9, 10, 14 and 18ct but due to its very high content 22ct is always yellow. 18ct is the most usual metal for an engagement ring.

• Palladium

  - this has only just become recognised as a precious metal, though it became popular about fifty years ago

• Platinum

  - this is the strongest and most dense of the precious metals for engagement rings and a great choice
  

Choosing Wedding Rings

When it comes to choosing wedding rings, many couples opt for plain rings as these are easy to find and easy to wear. You might like to consider matching engagement wedding rings sets, and many rings come in variants for men and women so its easy to find rings that will compliment each other.

You could choose matching wedding rings made with your own special symbols, engraving or pattern - perhaps a wider version for the gentleman and a softer, more delicate version for the lady.

Its also an option to only have one band which covers both the criteria of an engagement wedding ring. Men often like this choice as it allows them to wear an "engagement" ring, and many women find it less complicated to only wear one ring instead of two. The option of just one wedding engagement ring or band is also popular with couples who are maybe getting married or engaged for a second time - you may choose to have a wider band than normal as you will only be wearing one ring and the band can have stones or a pattern or engraving.

Whatever you choose, take your time and consider all your options - your wedding and engagement rings will see you through a lifetime of experiences, so it pays to choose with care and buy something that you will always love and treasure.