Engagement ring .. Erm help??

[Ringsming]

Soooo it's fairly clear that my DP is going to pop the question. Presumably at an opportune moment, no rush! Anyway the other day he said something about being worried about getting a ring for me, he's not the best at style let's say. I guess I might just say he shouldn't worry and we can look together or something???

But then I thought about it and realised I have no clue about engagement rings?

What should I think about? I guess I probably don't need a big rock per se, maybe more into vintage like art nouveau style?? Is it nice to have a bit of colour?

Erm help??

My DH bid on diamonds from several big auction houses including Bonhams and ended up winning two! So he asked his work colleagues to decide between them! Then had to resell one, apparently at a small profit

He then had it set in a white gold ring with smaller diamonds either side. I love it and the fact that he chose and designed it and went to such trouble to get it right means the world to me.

It's also a reflection on how stingy he is that he paid about a third of what a retail ring would have done and the insurance value of my ring means I should probably get myself mugged and buy a Hermes bag instead

My ring has a big blue topaz in it, I just loved it as soon as I saw it, it is also my DH's birthstone so it was perfect.

Ethical stones here: www.ingleandrhode.co.uk

I would say to just go window shopping and have fun looking at and trying on loads before you decide.

Also, I had my heart set on a solitaire, was adamant I would never want a cluster... I fell in love with a cluster!

This is mine

How exciting! I agree with the others who have said to shop around, you need to try a few on to see what suits your hand. Think about what wedding ring style you'd like too. You might not always want to wear both together so you'd need to like the rings by themselves as well as a pair.

Agree with suggestions to try independent jewellers too. My dad bought my mum a ring for their sapphire wedding anniversary and they still shop at the jeweller they bought mums engagement ring from in 1950 something! Anyway, she couldn't find one that was right so the jeweller brought out some other stones and they made her one up in the style she liked but in the sapphire colour she preferred.

When I got engaged back in 1999 I was adamant that I wasn't going to have a diamond solitaire......but that's what I got! I narrowed it down to two (DH was losing the will to live by that point) but I kept going back to the solitaire. It's a practical rubover set, not a huge stone but top quality and the sparkle it has is amazing. Simple and won't date. My wedding ring is a plain band but I'm thinking one day I may have small diamonds set into it instead of having an eternity ring as my fingers aren't long and delicate enough to wear more than two rings together.

Pinterest also a good idea for ideas too. Happy shopping, and congratulations!

I have a platinum .5 carat solitaire, knife edge band from Tiffany. It's a classic Tiffany set which means that DP very much paid for the brand name when buying it - it's beautiful and I adore it, I get lots of compliments on it. Think about the metal that you want - everyone I know who has had white gold has had to have it redipped at some point, and I'm hoping to avoid that with platinum. Go and try lots on so that you can give your DP ideas!

I wanted three diamonds, bigger one in the middle with smaller each side, like my mum and her mum. Also I have very short fingers and a cluster style would have swamped them. I don't really like solitaires either. I didn't want claw setting because they catch. Platinum becauuse I never wear yellow gold. We found mine in a local independent jeweller, once I'd seen it there was no doubt in my mind it was the right one. I still look at it every day (17 years later) and think how perfect it is for me.

I went for a sapphire! I love it. I chose this gem as I like colour.
Different perspective here:
I personally wouldn't feel comfortable buying a diamond as I wouldn't know how ethical it was.

I also feel they are over priced for what they were. If I wanted that look I'd go for a moissanite ring.

www.moissanitevsdiamondrings.com/benefits-of-moissanite/

DH proposed to me with a Claddagh ring, and then we went and picked my ring out together. I hadn't a clue what I liked until I saw it...a pear shaped diamond solitaire...it's gorgeous :-)

Grays Antiques as mentioned by someone upthread has some really gorgeous pieces on its website. Much more variety in antique jewelley.

I'm not going to post an image of mine but it's a large square cut diamond set flush in a deep band of matt rose gold.

It was made by these people and, to be honest, was cheaper than buying from Hatton Garden.

Have a read up on the 4c's of diamonds before you go anywhere and you will realise that they vary greatly.
The High Street is easy to navigate but the prices are sooooo different. I decided I wanted mine from Boodles for some reason...then went to Hatton Garden.

There are so many good suggestions here, really appreciate it. Currently falling in love with many rings on the grays website! I'll have to stop my "research" soon - could end up waiting a couple of months! I'll keep you ladies posted if there's any developments!

I think the most important things when choosing your ring should be:

Budget
Practicality
Taste

I don't need to explain the first, but for practicality, do bear in mind that any high set stones will get scratched more easily, will catch on things (do you ever wear tights, for example...?), can get caught in your hair, and - in my personal opinion - are generally a massive pain in the arse.

Large stones aren't particularly indicative of quality either - there is colour, cut, clarity and carat.

As others have said, have a think about what kind of wedding ring you want, as you will need to match the metals (since most metals discolour differently over time). I specifically wanted a plain wedding band, so matching the metals was very important.

Diamonds are the hardest, and therefore strongest. I also have sapphire rings, and they do take much more damage than diamonds, even though I wear them less frequently.

The other thing I would point out would be insurance. It is worth putting your engagement ring onto the house insurance once you have it.

My fiancée proposed at the weekend and one if my presents (also my birthday) was a gorgeous handmade 14 carat white gold eternity ring with diamonds all the way around. It's gorgeous (though too big and needs resizing )

I was looking at engagement rings and know what style I like. I'm thinking of a wedding/engagement set in this style...

OP if ethics are important to you and you want something a little less conventional, try this designer - she made my ring and I

Hello! Just to say that he did ask me! Exciting times. And I was all prepared to go ring shopping but turns out there's a family ring. Really delicate diamond, I love it! And helpful given that we're now saving for the wedding. We agreed he could always buy another rock in a few years...

Well there is also the eternity ring to look forward to. :)

Ha indeed:-)

You could always get one from
www.brilliantinc.co.uk
No one will ever know...and have a blow out honeymoon instead.

Lovely news thanks for updating the thread . Best wishes for the wedding and your future together . Ring sounds gorgeous !

Congratulations!

I think a pic is in order.

Mine is a bit like this, but with a slightly lower profile.

Oops, I see now that you're not looking for ideas now.

Congrats!

Go on a lovely break to Brighton and chose something gorgeous from one of the many antique jewlers or have one made there. Sooooo much cheaper than high street shops, so much more choice, old diamonds so not involving you in modern day blood diamonds and a lovely trip!! And you will just spot something and love it as there is so much more choice!