Engagement ring advice needed pls!

[Wonderbug81]

I've just got engaged and we're going ring shopping!

I'd love some advice on my ring. Definitely want an asscher cut ring.

I love the style of tapered side baguettes but also want some sparkle (which asscher isn't known for) so thinking of pave band instead.

A lot of the settings like prong hide the beautiful octagon shape and I really want a setting that doesn't hide the stone (so not a bezel). Considered a tab/squared prong instead.

Any help on this as well as anything else I need to consider e.g. how much cleaning etc would be really helpful.

Would you be able to spend a day in Hatton Garden, OP?

That would give you the opportunity to look at a range of engagement rings with that particular cut.

I've had to google asscher cut ring as wasn't sure what it was. One thing to think about is how high does the ring project out/up from your finger and what job you do? A friend works in healthcare and although she can't wear her engagement ring during patient care, it was something she considered.

Thank you, we're actually going to Hatton Garden tmrw. Wanted to do some research, particularly re practicalities.

I think it is a more unusual cut, hard to get good clarity.

Thank you, useful to know, I'm office based but I am also quite clumsy. 😁

My advice is be very very careful to not overpay for a stone which you could buy for a third of the price somewhere else. There is a weird thing happening with the diamond market after it has been flooded by lab diamonds. Mined diamonds are losing value rapidly as their prices were hiked up artificially for years by DeBeers. They were never worth what jewellers were charging for them, they’re not that rare. Make sure you learn about stone characteristics (clarity etc) so that you can compare them and pay what they’re actually worth at the moment. The pricing between different jewellers for the same stone can be very very different

I've name changed. I got an Asscher cut engagement right earlier this year. I absolutely love it. I think it's more sparkly than I'd expected, I do have a pave band and it is bezel set but I think that shows the shape off really well. Its very art deco in style which really appealed to me and I like the fact that its a bit unusual.

That sounds lovely.

I am so tempted by the side baguettes rather than pave band but was worried it wouldn't be sparkly enough overall. Will try some on and see.

Be very careful with how large/high you want the stone. They get knocked out so easily, my mum doesn't wear hers anymore because she lost the stone.

Also plan around the wedding band. Some cuts don't accommodate a wedding band.

What stone and metal are you planning on going with?

@Wonderbug81 the main thing will be the stone clarity. You always need a higher grade for asscher/emerald/baguette cuts. A lower profile setting is more suitable for daily wear. This ring has tapered baguette and pave shoulders so you could go for both!!

Everyone I know with a pave band has constant issues with the little stones falling out and is constantly paying c£70 a time to get them replaced

Congratulations! I think once you actually are in a shop and trying on rings you will find what you like. You may have a vision in your mind, but then it doesn't actually suit your hand once on.

Personally I like a gold ring, a bit wider, with baguettes on the side, but we are all so individual in our tastes. Go and have fun trying on rings!

The 5 Cs of diamonds
Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat, and Certification.
I loved ring shopping. Although Hatton gardens wasn't what I expected ( i think i thought it was going to be a posh lots of shops). But loved looking at all the diamonds. And choosing the one I wanted. Have fun!

Asscher cuts need to be quite deep, so the larger the stone the higher it will sit from your finger.
Bezel settings are protective, if it were me I would go for a thin(ish) bezel that is cut quite sharp and slopes away from the stone.
If you have any kind of claws in the cut corners it detracts from the shape. Tab prongs are ok if they are done well, but think carefully where you want them. If you having yellow gold the setting is much more obviously separate from the diamond, if you have platinum or white gold the distinction between stone and metal is less pronounced.
I love an Asscher I have been on the search for a step cut regular hexagon diamond, which is a similar design.
I would not go for pavé, I think it will look a bit mismatched and less classy. I would go for step cut trapezoid, if you’ve got a large centre stone.

I'm thinking of getting an asscher cut in platinum.

Good tip re lower profile. And nice idea to combine baguette and pavè!

Thank you. I just fell in love with asscher but also feel in love with sparkle so trying to find a way to mKe both work in the same ring!

You really need to try on options with a wedding ring you like the style of
I ended up with a higher set solitaire as it was neater with wedding ring and eternity rings

Yes it wasn't something I'd thought about to be honest. Will definitely ask about this.