What To Look For In An Engagement Ring: A Practical Guide For Modern Women

Engagement rings are a long-held wedding tradition that is still popular to this very day. These stunning pieces of jewellery are usually worn by women on their ring finger to show that they are engaged to be married.

Traditionally, men picked out a woman’s engagement ring and presented it to her when asking her for her hand in marriage.

Over the years, many things have changed in the world of marriage proposals. Today, more and more women are choosing to buy their own engagement rings.

There are many reasons why women should choose to buy their engagement ring themselves. It might be because the man isn’t sure what to buy or because the woman wants to assert her independence.

Alternatively, you could be one of many modern women who proposes to their partner rather than waiting for him to make the first move. Or, if your partner is a woman, then you could be buying engagement rings for both of you.

Whatever the reason, if you’re a modern woman buying her own engagement ring, then there’s a lot that you need to consider.

Engagement rings can be incredibly expensive, and they’re designed to be worn for many years to come, so it’s important that you make the right choice.

Rings are a prominent piece of jewellery that everyone will see, and traditional engagement and wedding portraits often use the ring as a focal point. That means that you need to think about every aspect of your engagement ring, from size to metal colour, so that you feel comfortable and wear a ring that fits perfectly and looks stunning.

To help, we’ve put together this practical guide to choosing the perfect engagement ring that you’ll love almost as much as you do your fiancé!

Ring Size

Before you start shopping for an engagement ring, you need to work out what size your ring finger is so that you can buy a ring that fits. Traditionally in the UK and many western countries, your ring finger is the fourth finger of your left hand, but if you want to wear your ring on a different finger, then you should measure that one.

Measuring your finger at home is surprisingly simple: just wrap a strip of paper around the base of your finger and mark the place where the two ends overlap. For a more accurate ring sizing process, you can buy small tape measures online or visit a jewellery store where a professional can measure your finger and give you your ring size. This approach might be best, as it will reduce the chance of an error that could mean that you have to return your ring or get it resized. Once you have your ring, you should check that it fits correctly and isn’t too tight or loose.

Over time, your fingers could swell, particularly if you’re planning on starting a family in the future. So, you should keep an eye on your engagement ring and if you notice that it becomes too tight, then remove it as quickly as possible. If you leave an oversized ring on your finger, then it could become stuck and have to be cut off, which would ruin the ring and all the lovely memories that you have associated with it.

Style

There are many styles and types of engagement rings on the market, so you need to explore the ones on offer and see which one will work best for you. When you’re considering a style of engagement ring, you should think about what you wear ordinarily, as your ring will be worn with everyday wear as well as more formal outfits.

Additionally, it would help if you thought about the size and shape of each style and whether or not it would work with your requirements. For example, if you work with your hands a lot, such as in the garden or cooking a lot of food, then you might not want a large, curved ring with lots of crevises where dirt can sit. However, if you like this style of engagement ring and don’t use your hands a lot, then this could be perfect for you.

Gemstone Sources

Once you’ve settled on a style of engagement ring and the size that you need, it’s time to think about gemstones and, most importantly of all, where they’re sourced. Gemstones that are sourced from developing countries are often unsustainable and might have a bad history, so instead, you should look for sustainably sourced gems.

Diamonds are a common stone for engagement rings, but they can take a lot of energy to mine. If you’re looking for sustainable moissanite engagement rings with stunning diamonds at the centre, then check out the selection offered by Infinity Diamond Jewellery. Their range is earth-friendly and stunningly crafted so that you can find the perfect diamond engagement band.

Cost

As you’re going to be wearing your engagement for the foreseeable future, you should try to invest in a quality piece of jewellery that will last for many years. Also, you should try to find the ring that you love, which might mean spending more than you bargained for.

That being said, you don’t want to break the bank when buying an engagement ring, as getting married will be expensive, and you want to save some money to plan your special day. If you spend a lot of money on your engagement ring, then you might come to resent it and struggle to enjoy wearing it. As such, you should set yourself a realistic budget and try to stick to it when buying an engagement ring. Talk to your partner about how much you’re both able to put in to cover the cost of the ring, and then try to find a quality engagement band that suits your style and costs as much as you’re willing to pay.

Wedding Ring Style

Once they get married, most women choose to wear their engagement ring below their wedding band. As such, you need to consider the type of wedding ring that you would like to wear and how it will fit with your engagement ring. If you choose a large engagement ring, then your wedding ring will need to be smaller to accommodate it.

Also, you’ll need to choose an engagement ring that will suit the style of the wedding ring that you would like to wear. As you’re going to be wearing both of these rings for many years to come, it’s wise to take the time to consider how they will look together and find the perfect option for you. If you’re not planning on buying your wedding ring just yet, then consider opting for a plainer, smaller engagement ring that will be easier to style with another piece of jewellery in the future.

Metal Colour And Type

The colour and type of metal that the engagement ring band is made of will determine the style of jewellery that you choose, as well as the cost. As such, you should think about the type of metal you want to wear when selecting a ring.

Check if you are allergic to any specific metals by wearing other rings or jewellery of that type. If you notice any discolouration of the skin around where the jewellery sat, then you are probably intolerant to that metal and should not choose it for your engagement ring.

Higher-quality metals, such as gold, sterling silver and platinum often don’t produce a reaction, so these could be the best choice for anyone with sensitive skin. Once you’ve chosen a metal type, you also need to think about its colour. Many metals, such as gold, come in different colours- there’s traditional yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold, which has a pinkish hue. Consider the other jewellery that you wear and figure out the colour that goes best with it.

Gemstone Colour

Alongside the colour of the metal that your ring will be made from, you also need to consider the colour and quality of the gemstone that you want the ring to have set in it. Most engagement rings incorporate gemstones, although some plainer designs don’t, so you could consider one of these options if you want a simpler style of engagement ring. If you want a gemstone ring, then you need to think about the colour, cut and clarity of the gemstone.

While funky, colourful engagement rings might be a key engagement ring trend right now, this ring style quickly goes out of fashion. Also, a colourful ring with a bright stone won’t go with every outfit and occasion. Therefore, you should consider going for a classic style of engagement ring, such as a diamond, which will match everything and transcend temporary fashions.

If you want something a little bit different, then you could go for a white opal or another clear stone, such as quartz. If you’re committed to choosing a colourful gem, then make sure that you choose one that suits your style and will look great with almost every outfit.

Gemstone Quality

Colour is just one of the factors that you need to consider when you’re exploring gemstones for your engagement ring. Gemstones are usually valued using the three Cs: carat, colour and cut. Some gemstone experts also add clarity to this list to make it 4 Cs.

The depth of colour, clarity and carat of the gemstone will depend on your budget and the type of stone that you’ve selected for your ring. A jeweller can advise you on the different colours, clarities and carats of gemstones that they have available and help you to select the perfect option. Generally speaking, the more unique the colour and the higher the carat, the more expensive the gem will be, so think about your budget when you’re making your decision.

The cut is the one factor that you can, to a certain extent, control when choosing a gemstone. You can select the cut that you like. There are many different types of gemstone cuts, ranging from traditional round brilliant or princess cuts through to more unique and innovative styles such as baguettes or solitaire gems. Remember that the cut of the gemstone will partially depend on the type, size and setting, so you should view all of these factors together when selecting your engagement ring.

Brand

Often, when you think about buying an engagement ring, you don’t think about the brand. That’s because, unlike items such as clothes or bags, a ring is harder for a brand to put its logo or name onto. After all, the ring is so small that you probably wouldn’t notice even if it did have branding on it. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t consider the brand you’re buying from when you’re purchasing an engagement ring.

The brand that you choose will determine the customer service that you get, as well as the cleaning and fixing options that you are offered. Many large jewellery brands offer cleaning and care packages for engagement rings, so you should check these out when buying a ring. If a specific brand has a store nearby, then you can easily pop in if there’s something wrong with your ring, whereas, for smaller brands, you might have to send the ring away.

On the other hand, a smaller brand will offer you more unique styles, and many will also be able to help with fixing the ring or resizing it. You might also get better customer service from a smaller brand, and you won’t ever have to worry that someone else has the same engagement ring as you. Think about the brand and business that you’re buying from to make sure that you make the most out of your beautiful new engagement ring.

Choosing your dream engagement ring can be a challenge, particularly as there are so many stunning designs to choose from and types of ring, colours and materials to consider. Use these tips to narrow down your search and help you on your journey to finding the perfect engagement ring.