Engagement Rings London - A Guide to Finding The Perfect One
Looking for a bespoke engagement ring in London can be… intense. There’s so much to think about, from the style of the ring, to choice of stone, to finding a jeweller you feel comfortable and confident working with.
Well, consider this article your one-stop-shop for all you need to know about finding your perfect bespoke engagement ring in London.
Summary
Picking an engagement ring style
What types of engagement ring styles are there?
Which engagement ring cut is the best for you?
Choosing the engagement ring stone
Engagement ring band styles
Picking an Engagement Ring Style
Once you’ve decided to get engaged (congratulations!) it’s likely that your mind is turning to picking an engagement ring style.
First though, you might need to find out your partner’s ring size. It’s a good idea to have this information up your sleeve before you start your search for the perfect engagement ring, because the size and shape of your partner’s hands will influence the style of ring that suits them best. Don’t worry, we’ve got lots of clever tricks to help you find their ring size in secret!
As a side note, have you ever wondered how an engagement ring is made? Like many industries, many jewellery companies often use overseas factories to make their rings, or purchase their inventory pre-made. There’s nothing wrong with this, but at Simon Wright, we’re a little bit old fashioned, and our greatest pleasure is working with our customers to design and then craft a bespoke engagement ring that is unique to them. Have a look at this blog to see all the steps that go into making a custom engagement ring – you might be surprised!
2. What Types of Engagement Ring Styles Are There?
When it comes to engagement ring styles, the only limit is your imagination. Many couples choose to honour the significance of this occasion with a more traditional style, but increasingly, others are choosing to express their personality through their choice of engagement ring.
If you’re planning to surprise your partner with a ring, take a moment to think about two important factors: their style, and their lifestyle.
First, their style. Do they prefer a more classic look, opting for clothes and jewellery that stand the test of time? Or are they quick to adopt the latest trends? Are their fashion choices bold and colourful, or understated and elegant? Asking yourself these questions will help you land on a style of ring that your partner is sure to love.
Next, think about their lifestyle. If they’re an urban type, who tends to go from the office to the bar, or happily spends their weekend at an art gallery, you’re probably safe to choose a more ornate or delicate style of engagement ring. If, on the other hand, they’re regularly outdoors and very active, you might opt for a simpler style made from more durable materials, that will withstand the odd knock and bump.
Now you’ve got that sorted, you can start to narrow down your design choices for the perfect bespoke engagement ring. Here is just a quick snapshot of the many different styles available.
Classic engagement ring styles
Classic engagement ring styles are eternally elegant, standing the test of time. Think, beautiful diamond solitaires, sparkling in a white or yellow gold coronet setting. Or, a three stone setting, perhaps a coloured stone like a sapphire or rich emerald, flanked by baguette or pear shaped diamonds. A classic style will suit your partner whether they’re 25 or 85, and will be sure to win admiring glances from friends and family.
Classic diamond solitaire engagement ring.
Contemporary engagement ring styles
Although there are lots of traditions surrounding engagements, that doesn’t mean you have to be, well, traditional. Relationships have changed dramatically since these traditions were born (which most would say is a good thing) and many modern couples are choosing to go their own way when it comes to proposals, weddings, and their choice of ring.
Contemporary ruby and rose gold ring.
Maybe you’re thinking of a different band material, like titanium. Perhaps you’re thinking of scattered stones rather than a typical engagement ring setting. Maybe you’re thinking of having no stone at all. Whatever it is, at Simon Wright, we’re here for it – bring us your bold ideas, your rebellious choices, and let us help you turn them into something truly one of a kind.
Vintage Style Engagement rings
Vintage style engagement rings have an enduring popularity for a reason. Classic design has a timeless appeal, and vintage jewellery is no exception – like an Eames chair or a little black dress, it just always looks good.
Emerald and diamond art deco inspired engagement ring.
Of course, ‘vintage’ is a subjective idea, but most people tend to think of vintage stye engagement rings as having design elements from the Art Nouveau to the Art Deco eras. Think, geometric cuts, central sapphires surrounded by pavé diamonds, clean lines and bold shapes.
If you’re looking to bring a bit of speakeasy glamour into your life, this could be a perfect engagement ring style for you.
3. Which Engagement Ring Cut Is the Best for You?
The ‘cut’ of the stone in an engagement ring is usually a way of referring to its shape (also a technical grade on diamonds for the stone nerds). Cutting and polishing precious stones is a specialist skill, and an experienced gemcutter (or ‘lapidarist’) will choose a cut to maximize the sparkle and unique qualities of each stone (and, of course, to minimize any natural defects like cracks or discolouration, known as ‘inclusions’). The shape of the cut tends to be fairly easy to deduce from the name.
There are many different cuts to choose from, and no ‘right’ cut for a stone. It really depends on your taste and the style of the engagement ring you’re looking for (see above). For diamonds, round cuts tend to be traditional, because the small facets created around the edges refract the light and make the stone really sparkle. But diamonds can look equally striking in square cut, pear shaped or even as a ‘baguette’ shape flanking a central stone.
Octagonal and round cut blue sapphires.
Likewise with coloured stones, the cut will be designed to enhance the best qualities of the stone. You may often expect emeralds and rubies to be cut in more square shapes, with this being traditional, and sapphires may be round or oval. But once again, there are no rules, and a stone can be cut to just about any shape that a design calls for, so you can be as imaginative as you like.
To find out more about what cut and styles are best for you, read our previous blog post here.
4. Choosing the Engagement Ring Stone
There are many things to consider when picking a stone for your engagement ring, from the colour, to the number of stones you want.
Diamond engagement rings are an enduringly popular choice, because they signify eternity. And of course, they’re simply stunning, with the added bonus of neutral colouring, so they match whatever you happen to be wearing.
As we’ve noted before, the days of hard and fast rules for engagement ring design are long gone. However, we do have some helpful tips, to guide you through the process of finding the best gemstone for your engagement ring.
Read our blog post here, or explore some of the options below.
Diamond Engagement Rings
Do engagement rings have to be diamond? It’s a common question we hear from people starting out in their search for the perfect ring. Of course, there are no ‘have tos’, but many people feel the pressure to follow tradition and are worried about getting it wrong on such an important occasion. Don’t worry! We’ve got your back.
Diamond engagement rings are traditional for a reason – diamonds are one of the most durable materials on earth, and so their use in engagement rings signifies eternal love. Romantic, isn’t it? This also makes diamonds an extremely practical choice for a ring that will be worn day in, day out for many years, while the neutral colouring of white diamonds mean they suit nearly all personal styles.
Cushion cut diamond trilogy ring.
Of course, engagement rings can be any stone of your choosing (or no stone at all!) but if you do opt for a diamond, it can be helpful to know a bit about these stunning, classic stones.
If you’re not sure quite how to choose a diamond engagement ring, don’t worry – there can be a lot to learn. Check out this article, where we help you to get your head around some of the jargon, and bust a few myths along the way about what really matters when you’re looking for the best custom diamond engagement ring.
Diamond rings make a classically elegant, perfect choice for an engagement ring. Looking for inspiration? Take a look at a selection of our bespoke diamond engagement rings here.
Coloured Diamond Engagement Rings
Of course, white diamonds are just one option when it comes to selecting a stone for your engagement ring. Did you know that diamonds in fact come a wide range of colours, from champagne hues to vibrant pinks?
Matching fancy pink diamonds.
Fancy coloured diamonds are rare and beautiful stones, that can make an engagement really truly unique, and perhaps something that even invites a little bit of envy.
See our fancy coloured diamonds.
Sapphire Engagement Rings
Can engagement rings be sapphire? Absolutely! If it was alright for Princess Diana and the Duchess of Cambridge, we think it’s alright for the rest of us! To learn more about just how beautiful a sapphire engagement ring can be, take a look at this blog.
Why choose a sapphire engagement ring? Sapphire has been a traditional choice for engagement rings for centuries. The ancient Romans were believed to be the first to use engagement rings, and sapphire was a popular choice of stone in Roman society. Other early cultures chose sapphire because they believed its colour would fade if an unfaithful person wore it. These days, many consider sapphire to signify devotion, wisdom and healing, and it is the birthstone for the month of September – a thoughtful touch if your partner is a September baby.
Oval blue sapphire with oval diamodn halo and pear shaped diamond shoulders.
Are you looking for a Teal Sapphire ring? Teal sapphires are a gorgeous marine-blue colour, particularly popular right now. But, you might be surprised to learn that it may not actually be a teal sapphire you’re looking for! Find out more here. Or pick a different colour and opt for peach sapphires.
Want to see just how lovely a sapphire engagement ring can look? See our sapphire rings here.
Coloured Stone Engagement Rings
What colour engagement ring should you look for? Coloured stones make a perfect choice for engagement rings, and with stones coming in almost every shade that nature can conjure, you will have no trouble finding exactly the right coloured stone for your bespoke engagement ring.
Our clients often ask what types of stones are best for coloured engagement rings, but the answer really depends on the person who’s going to be wearing it. Sapphires are a classic and enduringly popular choice, but no one said you had to follow the crowd! You could consider choosing a coloured stone that matches your partner’s eye colour, or a favourite colour that she wears a lot. Or, you could choose a stone that reminds you of a special occasion you shared – a holiday by the sea or a memorable sunset, for example.
Oval ruby with pear shaped diamond shoulder stones.
There are many unique coloured stones you can choose for an engagement ring. Alexandrite that changes colour with the light, while rubies offer a strong bold colour that is always popular. Aquamarine is a light blue colour with hints of green.
See our coloured stone rings here.
5. Engagement Ring Band Styles
Now that you have an insight into the style of engagement ring and type of stone you might be looking for, the final step is to consider the style and material of the band.
Bands of engagement rings are typically a precious metal such as white, yellow or rose gold, or platinum. These metals have a beautiful soft sheen, tend to work with most styles of engagement rings, and are durable, ensuring they will last a lifetime.
When choosing your band style and material, consider how it fits with the style of the ring you’ve opted for, and whether it suits the wearer’s skin tone, personal style, and any existing jewellery that’s worn often. If you’re opting for a coloured stone, you’ll also want to consider how the colour of the metal and the stone work together, to ensure they bring out the best in each other. This is something our experienced designers are always happy to talk to you about.
18ct yellow gold band on a fancy yellwo diamond halo ring.
Bespoke Engagement Rings London
There’s lots to know when you’re thinking about selecting an engagement ring, but with the right information in your hands (or your head), we know you’ll end up with a ring that will delight you for many years to come.
Simon and his team are engagement ring specialists based in Clerkenwell, and take pride in involving their clients in the design process, from initial sketch through to the last polish on each unique piece.
The team at Simon Wright is always here to help. Please get in touch with us with any questions.
Be sure to follow our Instagram page to keep up to date with our latest creations, including some of the finest bespoke engagement rings London has to offer, including sapphire engagement rings, peach sapphire engagement rings as well as wedding rings, bespoke cufflinks and diamond initial pendants..
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