How To Choose The Perfect Engagement Ring

An engagement ring is one of the most important purchases you will make in your entire life. Choosing an engagement ring is both a significant financial investment and a symbol of the important life decision to get married.

There are several important aspects to consider when choosing an engagement ring. Many people are familiar with the ‘5 C’s Of Diamonds’ but there is more than just cut and clarity to consider when choosing an engagement ring. Whether you are choosing a ring in secrecy, or together as a couple, consider these important factors.

Knife Edge Gold Band Ring, $295

Choosing An Engagement Ring Metal:

Choosing the ring metal is an important factor in both the design and cost of an engagement ring. The most common metal types for engagement rings are:

• Yellow Gold
• White Gold
• Silver
• Platinum

Other popular but less common metals include:

• Rose Gold
• Palladium
• Titanium
• Zirconium
• Tungsten
• Steel

Choosing a metal your partner will like is one of the easier design elements to figure out. Observe the jewelry your partner wears regularly or cherishes. If they wear a lot of gold this is an indication that they prefer this metal and that a gold ring would suit their current collection better than a silver, white gold or platinum style. If you decide to choose a gold ring you will also need to decide on the carat of the gold, either 18K or 14K gold, depending on your budget.

Choosing An Engagement Ring Stone:

In recent years, white diamonds have become the most common choice of stone for engagement rings. A classic white diamond is a safe stone choice that will be the expected engagement stone for many women.

However, in previous decades it was common for engagement rings to come in a wider variety of stones. Just like clothing, engagement ring trends can come and go. If your partner has a vintage aesthetic or prefers bolder colors and sartorial choices, then you may want to consider a colored stone over a white diamond. Many women love the sentiment of an engagement ring featuring their birthstone or favorite color.

Colored stones were incredibly popular in the 1980s, driven by the iconic blue sapphire gemstone which featured in Princess Diana's engagement ring. Colored gemstones like ruby, amethyst, and sapphire are also a popular choice amongst high profile couples and Hollywood celebrities. Orlando Bloom recently proposed to Katy Perry with a ruby and white diamond ring, Gwyneth Paltrow, Penelope Cruise, and Kate Middleton all wear Sapphire rings. Outside of the well-known gemstones, there are many other stones to choose from in every imaginable color, Princess Eugenie’s engagement ring is a blush-colored padparadscha sapphire ring and Heidi Klum has an unusual, yet sunning alexandrite stone.

White Baguette Diamond Ring, $1,250

Engagement Ring-Color & Clarity

Whether you choose a gemstone or diamond you will need to choose the color of the stone. Even white diamonds come in different colors. Many diamonds have a slight yellow or brown tint. Usually the closer to being colorless a diamond is, the rarer it is and thus more expensive. However, some unusually colored diamonds are just as rare, such as rings. Diamond clarity is a measure of the purity and rarity of the stone. Flawless diamonds are rare and very expensive, so most diamonds on the market are of lower clarity.

To Solitaire Or Not To Solitaire?

Before deciding on the shape, you will need to decide how many stones you want. A solitaire is a single diamond on the band, but other styles can include bands of several medium-sized stones, a large stone with smaller stones around the band, or a full eternity band.

A solitaire ring is timeless, and if you decide to spend more on a stone of high clarity and carat then this style will keep the diamond as the center of attention. Bands or styles with multiple stones often have a vintage aesthetic, with 1920’s currently enjoying a revival.

Choosing An Engagement Stone Cut

Shape or ‘cut’ is an important consideration for a ring and another element that comes in and out of style. Popular stone shapes include:

• Round
• Princess
• Cushion
• Emerald
• Radiant
• Pear
• Oval
• Asscher

1pt Diamond Eternity Band, $2,150

Non-Traditional Styles

There’s more to engagement rings than first meets the eye. Many couples are moving away from contemporary styles and taking their own paths with vintage inspired designs or unusual stones. Katy Perry’s flower shaper ring, Reese Witherspoon’s Ashoka-cut diamond, Olivia Wilde’s aqua emerald-colored ring, and Lady Gaga’s heart-shaped diamond ring are all examples of beautiful offbeat choices.

To explore some of the rings available at Phoenix Roze view our ring collection.