Your engagement ring is something precious you will hopefully wear everyday for the rest of your life. It signifies the love you and your fiance share, and the commitment you are making to one another. With all this in mind, it’s no wonder that many couples decide to design their own engagement ring. Some men will do this before their proposal, while others will get their partner involved during the design process. The way you go about it is a completely personal choice, and is individual to each couple.
Regardless of whether you want to surprise your partner with a unique, one-of-a-kind ring or whether your loved one will be assisting with the design process, the first steps and must-know information is the same. Here we’ll walk through how to design your very own engagement ring, and the important factors you need to be aware of.
1. Choosing your diamond or precious stone
For the majority of couples, the centerpiece to the engagement ring is usually a colourless diamond. While this is a traditional choice for many, some couples also want to incorporate other precious stones such as sapphires, emeralds, or rubies into the design as well. There’s also the option of choosing coloured diamonds. Pink diamonds in a variety of shades from pale pink to reddish pink have become popular in recent years.
- Clarity: When it comes to grading a diamond there are two types of flaws that are noted. These are external flaws like chips and scratches, and inclusions which are internal flaws that include things like crystals and pinpoints. The fewer imperfections, the higher the clarity.
- Carat: This is the form of measurement used to assess the size of a diamond.
- Colour: The colour of the diamond refers to the slight tone of grey or brown that may be present in a stone. This is caused by the way the light passes through it, and will have an impact on how it sparkles. Therefore a colour scale is used to grade diamonds. They can range from D to J, with diamonds graded as D through to F being regarded as colourless and therefore much more expensive than stones graded from G to J.
The exception to this is the sought after pink, blue and red diamonds, which this scale does not apply to. - Cut: A diamond’s ‘cut’ should not be confused with its shape. The cut of a diamond actually refers to a number of things, including the diamond’s proportions and finishings. The shape is the outline of the diamond, for example, cushion or pear. The cut is often seen as one of the most important factors when choosing a diamond, as it can not only make the diamond appear bigger but it can also mask inclusions in the stone and improve the face up colour.
It’s important to remember that if you don’t have a huge budget, it doesn’t mean you have to settle for something you aren’t completely and utterly in love with. Working alongside your diamond broker and jeweller will ensure you will end up with a diamond you and your partner both love without breaking the budget.
When it comes to selecting a diamond you need to be aware of 4 key elements that help determine the overall quality of a stone. These are:
2. Choosing the band material
Once you’ve chosen your stone, you need to choose the material you want the band of your ring to be made from. Gold – both yellow and white – are common choices for band material when it comes to engagement and wedding rings. Platinum is also a popular choice. Consider what you like best and what would best suit your skin tone when making your final decision.
3. Selecting the setting/design
Once you have your stone and you know what you’d like the ring to be made from, you can start looking at different ways the stone can be set and the various designs it can work with.
The prong setting is one of the most common settings used for engagement rings. This is where a small metal claw holds the diamond in place. The prongs of this claw can either be rounded, flat, pointed or even V-shaped, and cause minimal distraction from the diamond itself, making them a popular choice for many couples.
The bezel setting is also a popular choice. This setting incorporates a very thin metal frame around the stone as opposed to using prongs to hold the diamond in place.
Tension settings are created by using two sides of the band to make the diamond appear as if it is suspended.
Other types of setting styles to look into include the pave setting, Tiffany setting and halo setting.
If you are really struggling to find a design you love, try browsing the internet and printing off images of different rings you like, even if it’s the combination of elements you are interested in. These images are very useful to your jeweller. You can also sketch what you are envisaging with your engagement ring.
Remember, this ring is something you or your partner will be wearing for decades to come, so keeping the design and style timeless and classic will ensure the look of the ring won’t date as the years go on.
4. Waiting in anticipation and excitement for your engagement ring
Give yourself plenty of time to allow for the ring to be made once you’ve worked through the design process and are happy with what you’ve decided on. Custom designs take longer to make, so planning ahead of time from when you’re wanting to propose is the best way to go.
Creating your very own, one of a kind engagement ring is something very special and personal. Take your time and enjoy every step of the process. It’s a ‘once in a lifetime’, so you don’t want to be rushed but rather have fun and enjoy every step.
by Australian Diamond Brokers : October 14th 2015 Come visit our store or browse our website to find out more.