Most weddings may still be all about tradition but times are changing and so is the engagement ring. This is our guide to the new designs on offer, how to choose the best quality diamond and the engagement ring styles to pick from.
The man drops to one knee, whips out a small box from his jacket pocket and whispers, "will you marry me?". It is a classic dramatic stereotype of a marriage proposal. But increasingly, any proposal is made sans ring, as women re becoming more discerning about the style of ring they desire - leaving men unsure quite what to buy. For many couples buying an engagement ring is something they choose to do together as a romantic occasion, complete with champagne appointment in our shop. But before that starry-eyed appointment is made, it is worth spending some time researching styles and prices. Buying an engagement ring is likely to be the largest purchase most newlyweds make, after a house and car, and requires similar degrees of deliberation.
An engagement ring is best tried on in the shop with matching wedding band. Many rings are sold as 'Jigsaw' which means the ring and the band have been carefully crafted to sit snugly together on the finger. Platinum is the most expensive metal but a better investment than white gold for a ring that will be worn every day, as platinum doe not tarnish or scratch. The shine on a white gold ring is not the gold itself but a rhodium plating, which eventually rubs off, so a white gold ring will need to be re-plated from time to time in order to keep its original lustre. Yellow gold is less popular for wedding rings than it once was, but for women who like a more ethnic look, or prefer to wear more yellow than white gold jewellery, hand made yellow gold rings can be spectacular.
Wedding bands have traditionally been rather plain but over the past few years have been set with rows of pave diamonds (small stones set closely together) or even coloured stones. These rings can also be worn as an alternative to the traditional eternity ring to celebrate the birth of a child or a special anniversary. Start a new jewellery tradition: one stacking ring worn as a wedding band and further rings then added to celebrate special moments in the marriage.
Diamonds are forever
Diamonds are still by far the most popular choice of precious stone for wedding jewellery and more unusual coloured stones are now sought after. Natural coloured fancy diamonds include pinks, yellows, blues and greens. At one time, brown and black diamonds were considered virtually worthless but are now becoming popular colours. Brown stones are usually called champagne, cognac, cappuccino or even chocolate diamonds, depending on the intensity, and are used in more contemporary designs set in warm yellow or pink gold bands. Dramatic black diamonds are often sprinkled around wedding bands for men giving a subtle and masculine dark shimmer.A Choice of Styles
The most popular style of engagement rings is the solitaire, which has one single diamond. The archetype of this ring is the solitaire Tiffany Setting, which was introduced by Tiffany & Co in 1886 and featured the first Tiffany mount, which holds the diamond with six claws.
Another popular design is an engagement ring with side stones, which has a larger diamond set in the middle and smaller diamonds on the side. Three-stone diamond engagement rings, sometimes called trinity rings or trilogy rings, are rings with three matching diamonds set horizontally in a a row with the bigger stone in the centre. The three diamonds on the ring are said to represent a couple's past present and future.
Vintage-inspired engagement styles with tiny pave diamonds that sparkle on the shank or the ring with filigree detailing are also popular for their romantic and timeless looks.
Ultra modern, vintage romance or a traditional Tiffany mount - we have all these styles and many more in store that will match every couple's diamond dreams.