DIamond – Local biz blog

An engagement ring is traditionally offered by an individual to their prospective spouse to propose to them. It indicates that the person wearing them is engaged and will be married in the future. If tradition dictates that the man chooses the engagement ring alone before making his proposal, the choice is often made by both individuals as well.

While choosing this symbolic jewelry, one can sometimes encounter certain difficulties. What type of ring to choose? Which materials? What size? So many questions with answers that will mostly depend on the preferences of the future bride as well as the budget that you want to dedicate to this gem. Here are some tips to enlighten and inspire you to help you choose the right ring!

1) The Budget

First of all: you have to set a budget. There are different price ranges for engagement rings. It all depends on the size and amount of stone/diamonds in the ring. Generally, you have two options available. You can either choose a ready-made ring or have a custom-made one. Contrary to popular belief, custom-made rings do not necessarily cost more.

2) What Are the Different Types of Engagement Rings?

To find your way around the different types of engagement rings, here are a few pointers that you may find useful:

Which Metals?

Silver: for an engagement ring, silver is generally not recommended. If its shiny and stainless appearance may seem striking, silver is a metal that easily gets scratched and bend under pressure. Moreover, silver rings will eventually tarnish and have to be cleaned occasionally to maintain their shine. Hence, it’s not the best choice for a piece of jewelry that’s supposed to last a lifetime!

Platinum: used in fine jewelry, platinum is a precious metal which, like gold, has a long lifespan. On the other hand, platinum requires a lot of precise work and detailing, which makes it particularly expensive.

Gold: this is the main metal used. Jewelries made from pure gold (24 carats) are rare since the metal is not strong enough to last for a long period of time. The majority of them are designed in 18-carat gold, meaning that other types of metals have been added. It is this particular mixture of metals that provides jewelries the gold colour (yellow, pink, white or black). For example, rose gold is achieved due to a higher amount of copper in the alloy.

3) Which Stone to Choose?

Precious stones

There are 4 precious stones, namely,

Diamond

When we talk about engagement rings, diamond is the gemstone we most often think of. Symbolic of eternity and purity, the diamond remains the most popular stone.

Emerald

As one of the most auspicious stones for engagement rings, the shimmering green of the emerald is a symbol of hope and fertility.

Ruby

If you’re looking for passion and happiness, you can opt for ruby, one of the rarest and intensely red gemstones.

Sapphire

Brought back in fashion with Kate Middleton’s engagement ring, the deep blue sapphire evokes loyalty and symbolizes love.

Semi-precious stones

Semi-precious stones are more affordable than precious stones. However, it is generally not recommended to select a ring with a semi-precious stone. While these may seem tempting, they are of lower quality and may not last a lifetime.

4) Their Resistance

Although the stone’s beauty is a determining factor, it is also necessary to take into account its resistance. Indeed, scratches and oxidation (rusting) can deteriorate your ring over the years, so it is essential to know a little more about the complex world of precious stones and minerals.

5) The Style of the Ring

It makes sense to choose the ring that best suits the personality of your soulmate. If she has a very classic look, wears discreet jewelry, then avoid opting for a monstrously large stone! It is also useful to think of the ring in accordance with the type of lifestyle one maintains. For instance, you may consider whether your partner will be comfortable wearing the ring you chose daily. Lately, the trend has been vintage. People have been coming back a lot to traditional rings, with a slight vintage side and shape.

6) The Size of the Ring

One of the questions that will arise during the purchase of an engagement ring is the size of the ring finger. Generally, the dimensions are classified from the smallest to the largest. If you have no idea about it, don’t panic! Most can help determine which size will be ideal.

And yes, it is not an easy task to choose an engagement ring, but Hofland Diamonds Inc is always here to help you! They specialize in designing and creating custom luxury jewellery. Whether you’re drawn to vintage or more modern styles, you can be sure to find the perfect engagement ring that suits your budget at Hofland Diamonds Inc!

As most experts will tell you, ‘cuts’ and ‘shapes’ do not mean the same thing when comparing diamond types. They cannot be used interchangeably. While the ‘shape’ refers to the outline of the stone, the ‘cut’ refers to the stone’s facets arrangement. Virtually all diamond cuts sold for use in jewelry are one of ten round or fancy diamond shapes. The most common diamond shapes on the market include round, princess, oval, emerald and more.

These diamond ‘shapes’ can be ‘cut’ in a wide range of ways. The most common cut is called a brilliant cut. This brilliant-cut has 57 to 58 facets and consists of a top flat surface, 16 kite‐shaped facets, and 40 triangular-shaped facets.

Knowing the various cuts and shapes used when designing diamonds is the first step to purchasing a piece of jewellery or ordering a custom-made one. Below are more details about the ten most popular cut shapes:

Diamond Shape: Round

This cut has been around since the 18th century and is one of the most popular diamond shapes.
Round shaped diamonds are usually superior in quality when compared to the other shapes.
It looks good as a solitaire in an engagement ring, a pair of earrings, or in a pendant

Diamond Shape: Princess

This cut was first created in 1980 by Betzalel Ambar and Israel Itzkowitz.
The princess diamond shape is a fancy design used mostly in engagement rings.
Its square shape design creates the illusion of a larger diamond.
This cut is versatile and can suit any style of ring.

Diamond Shape: Oval

Although it exists since the 1300s, the oval-shaped diamond became popular only in the 1960s. The most famous oval-shaped diamond is the Koh-I-Noor.
Like all round cuts, this shape is a modified brilliant-cut and has a unique brilliance to it.
Its elongated shape can make the finger look longer and slimmer as well as create the illusion of greater size.

Diamond Shape: Marquise

The marquise cut diamond got its name from the mistress of Louis XV of France, Marquise de Pompadour, in 1745. It is said to have resembled her mouth.
Its football, symmetrical shape has a modified brilliant cut.
Carat for carat, it has one of the largest surface areas of any diamond shape.
Additionally, its long and narrow shape makes it seem like it’s even larger than its real size.

Diamond Shape: Pear

This diamond cut traces its history to the 15th century,
It looks like a combination of a round and marquise shape and has a tapered point at one end
In addition to having a unique design, it is also very symmetrical.
Its teardrop shape is very appealing.
Tradition dictates that the point should never be directed inwards, but that it needs to point out towards the fingers of the wearer.

Diamond Shape: Emerald

Although the emerald cut was created specifically to highlight the features of emerald stones, it transfers exceptionally well to diamonds.
This cut has a cropped octagonal shape with chiseled step cuts and straight linear facets. These facets are usually parallel down the stone.
Unlike the previous shapes, it does not have the sparkle of a brilliant cut. Instead, its cut produces a hall-of-mirrors effect.

Diamond Shape: Cushion Cut

Also known as old mine cut diamond, this cut has been around since the mid-1700s. Until the 1900s, this cut was the most popular diamond shape.
Much like a pillow, the cushion cut diamond has a square cut with rounded corners
This cut can retain as much diamond weight as possible.

Diamond Shape: Asscher

It was first designed in 1902 by the Asscher Brothers of Holland
Similar to the emerald cut, the Asscher is square in shape. But compared to the emerald cut, its step facets are larger, its crown is higher, and its table is smaller.
This cut has more sparkle than the emerald cut.
It gained popularity in the early 2000s after modifications were made so it is more brilliant than in the earlier cuts made by the Asscher Brothers.

Diamond Shape: Radiant

It is a relatively new cut and is the first rectangular cut to have a complete brilliant-cut facet pattern applied to both the crown and pavilion.
With this design, the right balance was struck between a cushion and a princess cut.
This cut looks beautiful with both rounded and square cornered diamonds.

Diamond Shape: Heart

This is the perfect shape to buy for your significant other.
Its shape symbolizes love and romance and is very popular in solitaire pendants, engagement rings, and promise rings.
Symmetry is a fundamental characteristic in this shape as the two halves of the heart have to be identical.

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6 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring