Proposing marriage by offering an engagement ring to the woman of his life is a unique and emotional moment, a moment of unforgettable happiness for the two lovers, which marks their commitment for life.
This romantic custom dates back to the 15th century. Deeply in love with the beautiful Mary of Burgundy, Archduke Maximilian of Austria secretly chooses a jewel worthy of his love for her. After a long search, he chose a precious gold ring, adorned with a pure and sparkling diamond. Marie, surprised and touched in her heart by the beauty of the ring, accepted her request without restraint.
Since then, jewellers have spread and each one offers more and more models, stone sizes and gem varieties. Choosing an engagement ring and wedding band can be difficult for the future bride and groom, so we have prepared a guide full of useful tips to help you find the ideal engagement ring. Before that, they need to find good addresses of shops that sell jewelleries. On
www.the-shops.co.uk website you can find many useful addresses once you are in the United Kingdom.
What style of ring to choose?
The solo ring
Simple and elegant, this model of engagement ring is a sure value. Decorated with a diamond or a colored stone, it seduces all women.
The solitaire accompanied
Refined and delicate, the accompanied solitaire is a variant of the solitaire that is very much appreciated by women with refined tastes. The central stone that adorns the engagement ring is enhanced by a sparkling diamond paving.
The trilogy
Poetic and sophisticated, the trilogy is a ring full of meaning. The three stones symbolize the past, the present and the future. This engagement ring is reputed to charm romantic women.
The ring you and me
Symbol of union par excellence, the ring you and me is a timeless design composed of two intertwined stones. The S, or 8 shape of this ring also symbolizes eternity and balance.
What shape of stone for your engagement ring?
The round brilliant cut
The round brilliant diamond cut is the most coveted form in jewellery for engagement rings. The stone is cut in 57 facets, which allows light to circulate inside and bring out the maximum brilliance.
The oval cut
Soft and delicate, the oval cut is composed of 55 facets and is one of the so-called "shiny" cuts. Specially designed to bring out the full brilliance of the stone, this timeless cut is ideal for engagement rings.
The water drop cut
Called "drop" or "pear" cut, this stone shape brings refinement and chic to engagement rings. Round on one side, pointed on the other, it combines two other highly appreciated stone cuts: the round brilliant cut and the marquise cut.
The Emerald cut
Emerald is a fragile stone. It is not cut in facets, but cut on the sides in steps, which gives it a rectangular shape called "emerald cut". Delicate stones are often shaped in emerald cut, so as to protect their corners in case of impact. This very elegant cut makes the stone more resistant over time and is very suitable for an engagement ring.
The princess cut
This square-shaped stone is composed of 50 facets. Only its lower part is cut in a circle. The rounded shape is not visible when the stone is mounted on the ring, but it is essential to bring out all its brilliance.
The cushion cut
Cushion size dresses the engagement rings in softness. With its delicate angles and curves, it expresses all its beauty on a solitaire. It owes its brilliance to its rounded base and its multiple facets. This cut is very appreciated for stones such as ruby or sapphire, surrounded by half-moon cut diamonds for example.
The marquise cut
Fine and sophisticated, the marquise cut brings sophistication and elegance to engagement rings. Solo or accompanied solitary, it sparkles with brilliance. Its brilliance is due to its meticulous and precise cut, round on the lower part and pointed at both ends.
Which stone to choose?
The colour
Timeless, precious stones are the most popular choice for engagement rings. Tradition dictates that the engagement ring should be made of diamonds, but it is not uncommon for women to prefer more original and modern coloured stones. Less expensive, coloured gemstones and fine stones also allow the choice of larger stones.
Don't choose it according to its value but rather by following the taste of the future bride. For example, a woman who often wears blue is more likely to be seduced by a sapphire ring than a ruby ring. Discover all the colours by visiting our page dedicated to the colour of fine and precious stones.
To avoid any lack of taste if you have any doubts, the best remains of course the diamond. Neutral and pure, it gives off a sparkling and timeless whiteness.
The symbol
To choose a stone full of meaning we advise you to discover our birthstone calendar. Sorted by month, you will find the stone that corresponds to the month of your soul mate's birth, the month of your meeting, and much more.
Which gold for your engagement ring?
As with the choice of stone, observe what your partner wears most often before selecting your gold. If you notice that she is wearing a silver-coloured watch, for example, choose a white gold setting.
Regardless of its colour, 18-carat gold is the most popular metal for engagement rings. We do not recommend that you choose silver, as it is not as resistant. Very malleable, it wears out faster than gold and can become deformed when worn daily.
If your half does not wear jewellery, it is best to choose white gold. Timeless and neutral, it suits all styles.
18 Karat pink gold
Pink gold has been a very popular gold for several years. Romantic and original, it seduces more and more for engagement rings. It brings softness and sensuality to rings adorned with fine or precious stones, and reveals the beauty of diamonds.
18 Karat white gold
Simple and refined, white gold is one of the most popular colours of gold for engagement rings. Neutral, it blends with all shades of precious gemstones, especially diamonds, whose radiant whiteness it brings out.
18 Karat yellow gold
Luminous and warm, the colour of yellow gold belongs to the classics of high jewellery. It goes well with fine and precious stones of all colours. Like white gold, its brilliance enhances the diamond's unique sparkle.