How to choose an engagement ring?
What exactly is an engagement ring?
Traditionally, the engagement ring is the piece of jewelry that is given at the time of the marriage proposal. It should not be confused with the wedding ring, which is exchanged at the time of the wedding. Here are some tips for choosing the perfect engagement ring for your significant other: the future groom or bride.
Determine your budget before buying the engagement ring
You can sometimes read in some articles that the right budget to buy an engagement ring is "at least half of a net monthly salary" or even "a full month's net salary". We are happy to announce that these articles are obsolete. Indeed, we are now in the 21st century and from now on, the budget for an engagement ring is that of emotion and that which one can afford financially. It is no longer necessarily up to "him" to ask Madame to marry him and it is not necessarily to "her" that one should offer the biggest diamond.
What you need to know when determining your budget is that the more diamonds or a larger center stone (solo diamond or colored stone) the ring has, the more expensive the engagement ring will be. So your budget can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, or even more if you want an engagement ring from a major jewelry house.
To summarize, the price of an engagement ring depends on many factors, such as the quality of the materials, the style, and the size of the stones. Most engagement rings range from $500 to $10,000, but some can go up to tens of thousands of dollars.
Know your partner's tastes
If you want to choose the engagement ring alone, you need to determine your partner's style and ask yourself the right questions:
- Does your partner already wear rings?
The answer is yes: your partner probably already has a jewelry style of their own that remains to be determined.
The answer is no: your partner probably has a job that requires them to avoid wearing rings or doesn't necessarily embrace wearing rings.
- Does your partner wear flashy or discreet jewelry?
The exuberant style: favor rings with a special precious stone; with a large size; with a particular design.
The discreet style: opt for a traditional choice, a ring with small diamonds, with a fine and refined design and why not a solitaire.
- Will your partner be likely to wear the engagement ring with her wedding ring?
This is a matter of taste and comfort. If your partner seems to like wearing multiple rings on one finger, he or she can wear a wedding band and an engagement ring at the same time. Otherwise, one of the two rings can be moved to the right ring finger.
- Does your partner want a solitaire or prefer colored gemstones?
The most traditional choice is the simple solitaire on a yellow gold, white gold or platinum setting. However, some couples are increasingly choosing rings with a colored stone as a center stone, in a diamond surround. Different types of rings are concerned: daisy rings, marquise rings, trilogy rings. There is something for all tastes and all colors.
- What color of precious metal does your partner prefer?
It's a real question, between yellow gold and white gold, what to choose? In general, you just need to look at your partner's jewelry to understand at a glance which color to favor.
- How big is his finger?
Don't panic, to answer this question, just read our article " How to know your ring size " and that's it.
Call a friend
Have you tried choosing an engagement ring on your own, but you find it too complicated? Ask your best friend or a family member to help you with your decision. He or she will probably be able to help you determine the tastes of your future fiancé or bride.
The different types of rings
The Solitary
The solitaire is an engagement ring set with a single brilliant-cut or old-cut diamond, of varying size. The solitaire is the traditional engagement ring given when proposing.
The daisy ring
Like the flower, the daisy ring is a round or oval shaped ring featuring a colored center stone, traditionally surrounded by diamonds. Daisy rings can be set with any type of stone: a sapphire, like Kate Middleton's engagement ring (which once belonged to Princess Diana).
The marquise ring
Marquise rings take their name from the Marquise de Pompadour, with whom King Louis XV was very fond. He asked to have a diamond cut to resemble the shape of his favorite marquise's smile. These are rings in the shape of an elongated diamond, which fit the shape of the finger.
The trilogy ring
The trilogy ring is a ring that consists of three gemstones arranged side by side. These can be three colored stones or three white diamonds.
The You and Me ring
The Toi et Moi ring, also called "You and Me" consists of two gemstones of equal size, arranged side by side, where the two ends of the ring meet. The stones are almost intertwined. The ring can be set with a diamond and a sapphire, a ruby or an emerald. Today, there is no longer a rule, the ring can be set with two gemstones with a strong contrast, both in their color and in their size.
What metal to choose for an engagement ring?
There are several precious metals: gold, platinum and silver. Gold and platinum are precious metals known to be stainless. The advantage is that they have a better quality in the long term, especially for wearing a ring on a daily basis. They are also the most expensive materials on the market, due to their rarity and resistance. Silver, on the other hand, is a good quality material, but oxidizable, which means that it blackens over time. However, it is quite easy to clean. It is a very affordable material.
Traditionally in France, rings are made of 18 karat gold or platinum. It is very rare to see a diamond set on a silver ring.
Do you have to have diamonds in an engagement ring?
Engagement rings are traditionally set with diamonds, either in a solitaire or daisy setting, with a colored stone in the center. However, nothing is ever mandatory and nothing forces you to be conventional. What matters most is your partner's taste and style. If her taste includes one or more diamonds, go for diamonds on the ring. If her personal taste is less classic, simply identify her favorite colored stones and the design that she will like.
In case your choice leans towards a solitaire engagement ring or another style of ring set with a large diamond, we suggest you read our article "How to recognize a diamond on a ring?"
Opting for an antique engagement ring
If your partner is concerned about the subjects of second-hand, ecology, virtuous economy, the traceability of diamonds and the conditions of extraction of precious stones, why not choose an antique engagement ring ? ?
Choosing antique jewelry also means choosing to enhance our French jewelry heritage, to reclaim the jewelry of our parents and grandparents and, above all, to stop buying new and participating in the overconsumption that costs our planet so much.
The advantage is that there are engagement rings for all budgets, from all eras, in all types of shapes and rather UNIQUE!
Please note that Maison Mohs remains at your disposal for any project involving the purchase or search for rings or jewelry of any kind (as long as it is not new).
