Choosing perfect Engagement Ring

The festive season is one of the most fabulous times of the year in which to get engaged.  Now if you are a gentleman who has taken the decision to choose a ring and get down on one knee, how do you go about choosing perfect engagement ring?

Kimberley Selwood winner of the New Designers Award for Jewellery and whose jewellery is now part of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths Modern Collection, provides some invaluable advice on what to look for and how to choose the perfect engagement ring.

Kimberley:

“Choosing the perfect ring for your partner is a very hard thing to do.  There are so many different styles, shapes and designs; technical information, the 4 C’s, it can be very confusing.

So here’s my advice of how to find the perfect engagement ring:

• The 4 C’s.  Cut – This means both the shape of the diamond and how well it is cut.  Square is Princess, Round is Brilliant, Emerald is rectangular and then there are many more to choose from.  Think of your girlfriends hand and what would suit her.
• Clarity – How flawless the diamond is, ranging from IF – internally flawless to I included and there are many variations between.
• Colour – This is the degree of whiteness that the diamond is, starting at D – the whitest the commercial colours are usually from F – I.
• Carat – The weight of the diamond, which means the size.
• Visualise the ring on your partners hand. Look at the thickness and see if you want white or yellow metal, set with diamonds or plain.
• Think if you want Classic or Modern or someone to combine elements of designs you like.
• See what you don’t like, this can be as helpful as knowing what you do like.
• Size doesn’t always matter! You may want a rock of a diamond, but it’s important to make sure you get a beautiful stone with the right colour and clarity. It’s better to have a slightly smaller stone with a great sparkle, than have a larger one, which is more yellowy and flat looking.
• Always bear in mind how the wedding band will sit with it. If you need a shaped band or will a plain band do. There might be times when you will want to wear the band on it’s own, so make sure this looks beautiful on it’s own too.
• If you want something truly beautiful, see somebody like me who can show you a range of diamonds that you can choose from and will do sketches of designs that will suit you. And will get all elements of the design of both rings perfect for you.
• Go to someone you trust. Getting a cheap deal usually means something is not quite right. You want a certified conflict free diamond.  There’s no such thing as a free lunch!
• My last bit of advice is about budget. I have been reading many bridal magazines where the budget for both rings is about £450! This is so minimal you won’t be able to get beautifully designed rings, just plain gold thin bands. No platinum and certainly no diamonds. But remember after the day the rings will be with you for the rest of your life. These are the only things left from the day. So leave a bit more for the perfect rings. Budget by getting flowers in season, loosing the canapés, forgetting the chair covers (who really notices them anyway?) and having sparkling wine instead of champagne. Then you can have the ring of your dreams forever that truly sparkles.

Enjoy the process and remember that it will be treasured forever.”

Thank you to Kimberley for her sparkly jewellery advice and visit Kimberley Selwood Designer Jeweller to view her range of fabulous jewellery designs.

Good Luck to all those who are planning to propose and I would love to hear from all those newly engaged and about your engagement stories.