It's that cheery time of year again, gentlemen. And while for most of us that means tree decorations, ironic beard baubles and lots of booze, for a select few it will mean proposing. You won't be alone, though: Christmas Eve is when proposals reach their peak in the UK, with nearly a third of 7,000 people surveyed by a stag and hen weekend planning site choosing Santa’s busiest day of the year as the best time to pop the question (perhaps unsurprisingly, Valentine's Day is second most popular).
But, obviously, before getting down on one knee you'll need to find that perfect ring. We spoke to personal jewellery shopping specialists at London-based luxury jeweller Astley Clarke to get the dirt on how to approach the most difficult engagement ring-buying dilemmas men face.
How do you know what she wants?
There are some key considerations when picking jewellery for the lady in your life. Firstly, you need to decipher her preferred metal type. Look at the jewellery she currently wears — is it Rose Gold, Yellow Gold or White Gold? You can use this as a starting point for design too. When looking at her everyday jewellery, look out for whether it is simple and classic or bold and adventurous. If she is always wearing statement earrings and a bold cuff, then she probably does not want a simple solitaire diamond — go for something more unique.
The best deciding factors are her metal preference, jewellery tastes and any anecdotal references she has provided along the way.
What are the most popular designs and styles this year?
A modern take on the classic diamond ring, like the Starburst silhouette. Normally eternity rings aren't used for popping the question, but this year they're very popular,
Also Rose Gold and Morganite rings are having a moment; the peachy colour combined with a Rose Gold band suits any skin tone.
Where is your budget best spent?
It really all depends on the design of the ring as some designs require better quality stones than others. For example if you have a single solitaire diamond you should look for excellent colour, cut and clarity but if you were to go for a pavé set ring (lots of small diamonds set together to make one larger one), we would recommend investing in carat weight and clarity.
The most important thing is not to compromise on clarity. Sometimes a larger ring is preferred over a better quality diamond. In our opinion, quality diamonds look the sparkliest and often create bigger impact than a lesser quality larger diamond.
How big does the diamond need to be? How small is too small?
No diamond is ever too small. Often clustered pavé diamonds can have just as much impact. However in our recommendation if the diamonds in your price range are not creating the impact desired, then go for a different precious gemstone, for example Morganite or Rose de France. They create impact not only for their vivid colour, but also because you can often get a much larger stone for the cost.
Should the band be thin or thick?
This is a stylistic choice, however thinner bands are more delicate and tend to make the stone look bigger.
How do you avoid dodgy diamonds?
The only way to avoid this is to buy from a trusted retailer that adheres to the Kimberley process (a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds). We adhere to this process and are committed to sourcing our diamonds in the most ethical and environmentally responsible manner. Make sure you ask for a certificate of authenticity, which validates the qualities found in the ring. A trusted retailer will also protect you from bad quality or damaged pieces. They should also give you a fair price and recommendation.
Is the old theory on having to spend 1 months' salary still true?
There are lots of theories flying around as to whether it should be one month or three months, however our advice would be not to try and choose a ring based on this. We suggest picking a style and stone you think she would like and then work to find a piece that fits within your budget. The best advice in terms of budgeting for an engagement ring is to know your budget before you walk into an appointment so you know exactly what pieces to browse. The worst thing is falling in love with a piece of jewellery that's not within your budget.
Do you have a plan B?
A plan B would be to use the stones in the engagement ring and re-design them into another ring. By keeping the original stones, it will still keep some of the original sentimentality. If, however, you are really unsure, propose with a holding ring and then choose the engagement ring together. Ultimately she will be getting two rings — she's sure to be happy with that.
Quick Facts:
- For a diamond, avoid any colour grade below H (too yellow) or any cut grade below 'Very Good' (not enough sparkle).
-
The most popular cuts:
Princess – A square cut diamond that looks great with a diamond band
Brilliant – The facets make this diamond/ stone really shine
Emerald – Classic, Vintage and Elegant in a rectangle shape
Cushion – A round-edged square or rectangle. Classic, all the facets really make the diamond stand out
Asscher – A vintage square look (like the emerald cut but with smooth corners)
From left to right, top row. Princess cut diamond, round brilliant cut diamond, pear shaped diamond, baguette cut diamond. Lower row : Marquise cut, oval brilliant cut, trilliant cut, emerald cut, and finally heart shaped diamond. Not shown: asscher and cushion.
