Engagement Season: Your Ring-Buying Guide

As the holidays wrap up and summer hits us full force, it's peak engagement season! An exciting, magical, and romantic time of the year, we see an uptake in engagements as couples enjoy a summer of love.

Whether you're anxiously awaiting the perfect moment to pop the question or need help finding the perfect engagement ring, this blog post is for you. We cover everything from how to shop for engagement rings to how to prepare for engagement photos.

Buying the Perfect Engagement Ring

The perfect engagement starts long before the question's been popped. It all starts with picking out the right ring for your partner. Some couples collaborate when choosing an engagement ring; others will find the ring in secret to keep the proposal a complete surprise. Budget will be the first point to consider. Once you understand what you can afford, you can consider this simplified engagement ring-buying guide: 

The four C’s

The four C's refer to the cut, colour, clarity, and carat of a diamond, which determines the quality, appearance, and value of a diamond engagement ring. You must find a sweet balance between the four C's to ensure the most beautiful ring.

Cut: While some believe that a diamond's cut refers to the shape of a diamond, it is how well the facets interact with light. The cut of a diamond maximises its sparkle and brilliance.

Colour: The colour scale grades diamonds from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Colourless diamonds are the most visually appealing and are more valuable than their tinted counterparts.

Clarity: Clarity refers to any internal and external flaws in the diamond. Flawless diamonds are rare and expensive. However, those with slight inclusions can still appear flawless to the naked eye, with a lower price tag.

Carat: Carat is the size of your diamond. Larger diamonds are more valuable; however, the size doesn't necessarily guarantee a beautiful ring.

When choosing an engagement ring, the four C's collectively influence the overall beauty, value, and personal preferences. It's essential to balance these factors based on individual priorities, budget constraints, and the desired aesthetic. Many couples prioritise a specific combination of the four C's based on what matters most to them, be it the diamond's size, sparkle, or overall purity.

Style and setting

With an understanding of diamonds, it's time to choose your ring's style and setting. At Walker & Hall, the most popular engagement ring styles include the following: 

• Solitaire: Timelessly elegant, these rings feature a single diamond in a minimalist setting. This style lets the diamond shine without distraction from other embellishments.
• Accent Stones: This setting sees a main centre diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds or gemstones to accent it. These stones can help the centre diamond appear brighter and larger.
• Halo: Halo rings feature a small circle of diamonds surrounding a larger centre stone. This design enhances sparkle and radiance.
• Three Stone: The three stones in this setting represent the past, present, and future of a relationship, with the centre stone typically the largest. This setting is an especially meaningful one for engagement rings.
• Cluster: Cluster settings provide captivating visual appeal with their collective brilliance. Smaller gemstones are clustered together to create a larger-looking stone with a detailed appearance.
• Band: An engagement band is classically simple. This style sees the band itself becoming the focal point, with a single or small number of stones featured across the band.

The setting refers to how the diamond or gemstone is mounted to the metal band. Some popular ring settings include: 

• Claw Setting: A classic design that uses prongs, typically four or six, to hold a diamond above the band.
• Bezel Setting: The diamond is surrounded by metal, holding it securely. This setting helps protect the diamond while offering a sleek and modern look.
• Tension Setting: Tension rings bring unique visual appeal, as the diamond is set between two ends of a band without traditional claw prongs. This setting creates the illusion of a floating diamond.

 

Additional Ring-Buying Tips

Understand their style and ring size

Consider your partner's style to ensure your choice of ring is perfect. Do they prefer modern or vintage designs? Is their jewellery typically minimal or flashy? What metals suit their skin tone? These considerations will help you find that perfect ring your partner will love.

Consider a custom design

A custom engagement ring empowers you to make it extra special. You can add meaningful engravings, gemstones of significance, and other details that make it one-of-a-kind, made just for your partner.

Walker & Hall offers custom engagement ring design. You can collaborate with our experts to select the perfect gemstones, styles, settings, metals, and every little intricate detail of your engagement ring.

Whether a small, symbolic engraving or a complete custom design, a personalised touch brings even more magic to the moment.
 

Talk to your partner's friends and family

Besides yourself, nobody knows your partner like their friends and family. Don't be afraid to ask for advice or even team up with them to help you pick out or design the perfect engagement ring, especially if you want to keep the ring a surprise.
 

Creating the Perfect Moment

With the ring settled on, it's time for the somewhat daunting part – crafting the perfect proposal.

When planning the big moment, take cues from their personality, interests, and even those subtle hints they might have dropped in the past. Keep it personal; a proposal should reflect your unique connection.

Now, timing is key. You need to find that sweet spot between spontaneity and thoughtfulness. Consider the setting, from an intimate, candlelit dinner to a grand gesture under the stars. Pick somewhere that resonates with your shared experiences.

Whether you're proposing or being proposed to, embrace the unexpected – life rarely adheres to scripts. Embrace the moment and roll with the surprises that will soon be memorable parts of your love story.
 

Capturing the Moment

Consider a covert lens to capture and immortalise that magical moment.

Plan the logistics, ensuring your photographer or sneaky camera is ready for action. Consider the lighting and angles for that picture-perfect shot. If you're going for a candid shot, just ensure the photographer knows the game plan; you want them ready to capture the proposal without blowing your cover. After all, it's a photo that'll become a treasured keepsake, so investing extra effort here can pay off big time.

Here are some extra tips for taking closeup shots of the ring to share with friends and family once the proposal is all said and done:

 

1. Natural Lighting: Make the most of natural light where you can. Position your ring near a window or outdoors to capture the soft, diffused light.
2. Macro Mode or Lens: If you have a camera or smartphone with a macro mode or a macro lens, use it to capture the cut, facets, engravings, and any other intricate details of the ring.
3. Clean Background: Choose a clean and uncluttered background to highlight the ring. A simple and elegant backdrop allows the ring to take centre stage.
4. Experiment with Angles: Try different angles to find the best shot. Capture the ring above, below, and from the side to showcase its unique features.
   
   

Find Your Perfect Engagement Ring with Walker & Hall

Ready to embrace engagement season and write a new chapter in your love story? Shop diamond rings or work with our experts to design the perfect ring to represent your relationship.

Get in touch with us today to see how we can guide you through this magical journey.