Pick The Perfect Ring

You have picked the perfect partner; now pick the perfect Engagement Ring!

Now that you´ve found that special someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, the next step is the proposal.

You might have somewhere exotic, fun or sentimental to pop the question. Or maybe it's somewhere that the two of you `just get´. Either way, when the moment's right, you´re going to want to produce the perfect engagement ring.

We totally understand that finding the perfect engagement ring can feel like quite a challenge. After all, it´s a once in a lifetime purchase. That´s why we're here by your side to make the whole process as simple, easy and perfect as possible.

It doesn´t matter whether you're choosing the ring together, or you're planning a romantic surprise. We´ll take you through everything you need to know.

Find a ring as unique and special as your partner

There are so many different types of engagement rings, it can be overwhelming to choose. You're going to be bombarded with all sorts of information, choices and budget options. But don´t panic, we´re here to take you through all the important stuff and to keep things simple, easy and quick to understand.

To begin with, here's a list of what we believe are the most important points for you to consider:

• What kind of style and shape you have in mind for the ring?

• What type of stone you want mounted in the ring?

• What kind of metal you want the ring to be made of?

• What the carat size of the stone should be?

• What your partner's finger size is?

• Does the engagement ring need to match the wedding band?

So let´s talk about diamond engagement rings

As they are undoubtedly the most popular accompaniment to popping the big question. There are lots of things to think about when you consider buying a diamond. Happily, we´ve boiled that down to four main points that define the quality of a stone and its value.

We call them The Four of Diamonds:

♦ Carat

♦ Clarity

♦ Colour

♦ Cut

Now that might sound like odd points to ponder, but just knowing the answer to one of these can help dramatically narrow down your search for the perfect engagement ring. If you need a little more help and information regarding The Four of Diamonds, we´ve gone into more helpful detail here.

What´s a Carat and how many do you want in an engagement ring?

For a start, why on earth are diamonds measured in carats? Well, the word `Carat´ comes from Ceratonia Siliqu (commonly known as the Carob Tree). It turns out that back in ancient times, before reliable scales were invented, diamond traders compared the weight of diamonds to the seeds of the Carob Tree. 1 Carob seed weighs 1 Carat.. There you go, you´ve just learnt today´s fun fact! If you´re not sure what carat (or weight) your Diamond needs to be, you should always look for a carat size that suits your budget. The larger the carat size, the higher the price of the diamond or gemstone, so just make sure you choose something that both your bank manager and your partner will love.

Size isn´t everything

With the price tag of carats in mind, the clarity of the stone also plays a very important part in the value. With carat size and clarity going hand in hand to determine price. It›s worth remembering that rings with a large carat size but lower clarity are not necessarily the most expensive. So carat size really isn´t everything in the world of diamonds and gemstones. Our advice would always be to focus upon what you can afford, then match the clarity and carat size to your budget.

Let´s talk about price

There used to be a rule of thumb that you have to spend three months' salary on your engagement ring. Here´s the really good news – you can totally ignore that! There is in fact, no formula or set amount that you are meant to allocate to your engagement ring. It´s simply a matter of what you budget is and what style of ring you feel would be perfect for your partner.

A perfect fit. Fit for a perfect future

Once you´ve made your decisions regarding budget and style, then it´s time to get ready to pop the BIG question. However, if you're planning to make the whole thing a romantic surprise, how do you make sure that the ring is going to fit your partner´s finger? Don´t panic, we´ve got some ideas for that too.

It´s not just a lovely moment when the ring fits perfectly, but making sure that happens is also a sensible thing to do. As it will most likely save you money on resizing costs, plus your partner is going to want to wear it from day one. There are a number of ways to quietly find your partner's finger size. Have a quick look at Our Top Six Tips here. There´re only a little bit sneaky in the best possible way. Plus your partner's going to love you for the extra effort you're making.

Lastly, from all of us here at Warren James - Congratulations!