7 Tips for choosing an engagement ring

What's sweeter than chocolate and more romantic than a bouquet of red roses when it comes to wowing your loved one on Valentine's Day? A well-planned marriage proposal, of course, sealed with a stunning engagement ring!

Romance is still very much in the air as we get nearer to Valentine's -- one of the top five most popular times for popping the question, after Christmas and New Year. But how do you choose the perfect piece of jewellery for your leading lady? Whether you're planning to whisk your future fiancee on a romantic getaway or cooking a surprise dinner menu, you need to read these top tips for getting the ring right from Ruth Donaldson of Heirloom London first.  

1. Stick to the first 'one' you like

On average, finding the engagement ring takes three months. This is because you’ll go online, talk to everyone, go in store, go back online, go to other store, etc. To save you time and hassle, stick to the first ring that you love rather than waste weeks comparing and debating over several different ones. 

2. Take safety measures

As soon as that ring passes into your hands – it's your responsibility! So look after it and make sure that you have it insured. 

3. Be romantic, yet practical

The location of your intended proposal may influence what you do with the ring and whether it's recommended to bring it with you:

• A winter sun beach holiday: If you are in a hotel or apartment with a safe, then you’ll have somewhere safe to keep the ring. But if you are in a beach hut this may not be a safe bet. Also think about what you are going to present your ring in. The elegant wooden box may not look as romantic full of sand.

• A city break: Care should be taken in romantic locations where pickpockets are known to operate. Also take care, if you are presenting a ring on a balcony, bridge, or anywhere else it could be dropped.

4. Consider the surprise element

If your beloved tends to react physically to surprises, you may want to propose first, and then present the ring once she has finished waving her arms around or punching the air triumphantly. 

5. Keep it safe

A large ring box looks very nice and romantic in the store, but if you are going overseas, it is not something that wants to be placed in the hold, with the ring inside it!  How do the professionals move rings? Often wrapped in tissue paper, in a discreet little plastic bag. Not the most romantic, but it protects the ring in your wallet, which is a good safe place to keep it secure while you are moving through the airport.

6. If the ring fits

It is always better with a proposal that the ring is too big, rather than too small.  An organised store should be able to provide a ring insert, to ensure that it will at least stay on.  If the ring is loose, then it may be too risky to wear until it has been re-sized.  

7. Cherish the moment

Never confuse fashion with style when choosing an engagement ring. Your buying decision should focus around the latter, rather than former. This is probably one of the longest discussions I have with my clients, but also the most rewarding, as I can then present eight designs to choose from. Following that, some men may choose a bespoke style to create a ring highly personal to her.

                     

Finally, don’t imagine that getting professional help will be expensive or result in you spending tens of thousands of pounds on the ring. A jewellery concierge can take the pressure off, save you hours of time and angst, and ensure your budget (whatever it is) goes as far as possible – meaning you get more ring for your money. With the right help, choosing the perfect ring for your partner does not need to be stressful – in fact it should fun!

With an added day to February, 2016 brings along an exciting tradition for couples, meaning that ladies can pop the question for a change. Now the only question remaining is which one of you will be asking the question first. 

Don't forget to check out Ruth Donaldson's advice feature on spotting  the difference between real diamonds and synthetics here.

Details
Heirloom London 
W: www.heirloomlondon.co.uk

How can you tell real diamonds from synthetics?

Do you know the difference between genuine diamonds and synthetics? And can you spot a fake when looking at engagement ring or wedding bands? If not, then you need to read this practical advice from Ruth Donaldson, jewellery concierge at Heirloom London, on what to look for when you go diamond shopping.

Lucky Loop platinum earrings by Atelier Helene Apitzsch, £480

Here are the key things to consider when diamond shopping, along with some of her favourite pieces from the Heirloom London collections:


1. The Cut 

The facets cut on the stone are often a give-away; a diamond can only be polished by another diamond, and therefore its facets usually have much sharper edges than a synthetic.  In addition, there is much more fire reflected from a diamond.  A cubic zirconia doesn't have a brilliance of its own, but this is often more apparent when light is shone on it.  A good diamond will still have a fire to it, even when not in direct light.

2. The Characteristics
A cubic zirconia will look more perfect.  Naturally occurring cubic zirconias are not large enough to be used in jewellery.  As a result, all stones are synthetic, and they are formed to be perfect.  A diamond is like a snowflake, each one with its own individual cut and personality generated through the microscopic inclusions which makes it unique.

3.The Clarity 

While a cubic zirconia will wear away and in time the stone will look dull, a diamond does not wear and will stay sparkly for the lifetime of the ring.  You’ll quite often see with cubic zirconia jewellery, that after a few years the stones have lost a bit of their original sparkle.

Snowdrop platinum ring by Rachel Galley, £665

4. The Certificate
If you really aren't sure, the majority of good diamonds carry certification which you can ask to see.  Any reputable retailer is going to offer you a genuine diamond, the cost to their business reputation would be fatal otherwise.

5. The Cost
Finally, if the price seems too good to be true, it may be that the diamond you are buying is not as good as its marketing hype.

Lily Pendant by Heirloom Classics, £950 for platinum set with quarter carat diamond

But what are the alternatives if you simply can't afford a diamond this time? 

Lab-grown stones
Cubic Zirconia - a clear stone, it has a brilliance sometimes higher than that of a diamond, but they don’t have the same fire. It is mass-produced and a one carat cubic zirconia should not be more than a few pounds! 

Moissanite - promoted as a diamond alternative in many countries and like all gem quality stones, it is synthetically produced. Much harder than cubic zirconia, they also cost a lot more to produce and most stones will have some colour to them.

Fei Liu cascade earrings in silver plate with rose gold vermeil, £395

Natural stones 

Zircon - similar in brilliance and fire to a diamond, although colourless, these stones are more rare. Not recommended for everyday rings as they are quite a soft stone.

Dementoid Garnet - bright green stones, which are very rare, and seldom found in larger sizes than one carat.  They have higher brilliance and fire than diamonds, but again are unfortunately very soft and can blunt the edges of their facets.

Enaki Sun sterling silver ring set with white sapphires by Rachel Galley, £280

Heirloom London is a personalised jewellery buying service which combines the convenience of a concierge, with the support of a personal shopper and the buying advantage of an industry insider. 

Details

Heirloom London

W: http://www.heirloomlondon.co.uk/

For more inspiration when looking to buy your wedding rings, read our previous features with beautiful designs from Laings and Aurus here and top tips from Vashi Dominguez here.

The World of Wedding Rings

Choosing your wedding rings takes careful consideration and it reflects your personalities, style as well as budget. Luckily there's a wide variety of materials, colours and designs available and today's featured stockists - Aurus and Laings - offer an impressive collection of wedding bands at unbeatable prices. 

For more tips and a guide to wedding bands, check out our previous post here. 

Aurus Diamond and Wedding Rings is a wedding, engagement and eternity ring specialist with a showroom located in Clerkenwell, London. With one of the largest collection of wedding rings in the UK, over 1,500,  from leading suppliers around the world, it offers a tailor made service whereby the choice of 18K white, rose and yellow gold, palladium or platinum are all available in the design of your choice. 

You'll be pleased to know that rings can be customised or completely bespoke in accordance to your desired style and budget, with from rings starting at as low as £69 for a wedding band and going up to £14,119 for completely one-of-a-kind engagement rings.

 

               

 

For even more wedding and engagement ring inspiration we've turned to the superb collection from Laings of Glasgow. Paying particular attention to grooms, the stockist has carefully considered the design, shape, metal type when creating each style. Laings collection includes sculpted, brushed, patterned, satin and grooved wedding bands, available in platinum, palladium and bi-metals. 

Laings reveal: “Men don’t have the same challenges as women when it comes to choosing the wedding band, as it doesn’t have to be complementary to an engagement ring. For this reason, buying online is possible and we aim to offer a great selection of men’s wedding bands in our online store that take the hassle of the purchase.”

 

 

Marriage Proposals with a Festive Cheer

At West Weddings, we absolutely love this time of year – the holiday cheer, romantic winter backdrops and extra special presents under the tree. It’s a well known fact that December is the busiest month of the year for marriage proposals but planning how to pop the question is not the easiest when you want it to be special. To give our future grooms – and brides – a helping hand, we’ve found the ultimate Christmas gift.

Jewellery designer Karl Karter and Baileys Chocolat Luxe have teamed up to produce a unique Five Gold Rings jewellery creation and the new limited edition gold bottle of Baileys chocolate drink.

Five Gold Rings

KarlKarter, the London-based jeweller known for his flawless, hand-made fine jewellery, and whose fans include the likes of Jessie J, Alesha Dixon and Eliza Doolittle, has created five Baileys Chocolat Luxe-inspired one-off, luxurious gold rings in time for Christmas. Each of the custom-made Five Gold Rings pieces features both yellow and rose gold and studded with exquisite precious gems to make any woman feel special.

Designed in a luxurious style with timeless yet indulgent and intricate filigree detailing, the 16 carat gold rings feature rich chocolate brown diamonds and sparkling whiskey sapphires. The stunning bespoke pieces are valued at approximately £1,000 each.

                   

The Five Gold Rings celebrate the groundbreaking drink turning its bottle gold in celebration of the festive season.

“The drink is a decadent fusion of real Belgian chocolate and Irish whiskey cream, so I wanted to make sure these rings captured a real sense of indulgence and glamour that oozes from the liquid and limited edition gold bottle design. Every woman desires a beautiful piece of jewellery and that’s what we’ve tried to capture in these pieces,” Karl Karter explains.

Contemporary creations

Karl creates custom-made contemporary jewellery using striking shapes and exquisite stones – working at the intersection of art and fashion. Karl is truly passionate about the relationship between design and pattern, each piece being created with unrivalled precision. 

With almost 20-years experience in the jewellery business, Karl enjoys working with timeless shapes and styles from a wide range of inspirations, most specifically Mayan and Aztec ornaments right through to 1920s Art Deco chic.

As well as running his own shop and studio - the charismatic, charming and passionate designer leads the London Rocks collective. A showcase of London Rocks' work can be seen in an exclusive boutique in London's Hatton Garden.

A taste of luxury

BaileysChocolat Luxe was created by Anthony Wilson, the principal scientist at Diageo and son of the man who led the team behind Baileys Original Irish Cream.

Travelling over three continents to personally taste the world’s finest chocolate - 200 varieties in all - Wilson worked tirelessly to crack the previously unfathomable code to create a fusion that would see chocolate perfectly mixed with Baileys Original Irish Cream.

You can find more information about the featured brands on their websites: www.baileys.com and www.karlkarter.com/

For more ring inspiration and tips, read our wedding rings entry here. And don’t forget to share your exciting engagement news on our Twitter and Facebook pages!

Happy Holidays from the West Weddings team!

Fashion Friday: Wedding Rings Guide

We're delighted to bring you a special jewellery Fashion Friday focus this week: wedding bands! They may be the smallest accessories on your wedding list, but you'll be wearing them for a very long  and happy time - and they carry an enormous sentimental value - so careful consideration is needed. The precious metal bands symbolise a union of commitment and love between two people; wearing them acts as a reminder of the promises of love and devotion the bride and groom have made for each other on their wedding day. 

To guide you on your planning journey, we talked to diamond expert Vashi Dominguez, owner of www.Vashi.com - here are the four main things you need to know before hitting the shops: 

Style

Style is down to individual taste and there is no right or  wrong way to encapsulate this in your wedding ring. With that in mind, consider a style that you’ll love for a very long time – your taste is likely to evolve and change, just like you. In tone with tradition, plain wedding bands and diamond encrusted rings are a much better choice than the latest trends with over-the-top embellishments. That doesn’t mean you can’t have bespoke design that matches your engagement ring.    

Shape

Choosing the shape of your wedding band can often leave you spoilt for choice as there are various things to consider i.e. the band width (thick or thin), curved or straight, mixing metals and having a tiered, paved or plain setting. Fancy designed shapes (tiered and paved settings) are a perfect choice for a glitzier styled ring. These settings are ideal for diamond encrusted or gemstone wedding rings. For a more sleek and elegant wedding ring, I would strongly recommend a slim and/or twisted wedding band. It’s important to try on a few different styles to decide which shape suits you best.

Budget
Like every other detail of your wedding, you decide how much you want to spend – it has to feel right for you and fit within your budget. Plain wedding bands tend to be cheaper than fancy styled rings i.e. diamond encrusted or gemstone rings. Another point to consider is your wedding band setting. Wedding bands range from white gold and platinum, to yellow gold and silver. Gold, whether white or yellow, is the most popular and enduring choice. Platinum is the strongest jewelry metal, resistant to damage and tarnishing, making it a great choice if you can afford it. Prices tend to be cheaper for online purchases compared to retail stores – just make sure you buy from a recognised brand, as they can offer additional services for the future.

Matching rings

If opting for matching designs, you must be able to combine both of the partners' style and personal taste. There are many ways to do this: his and her sets, engraving or choosing the same metals. Should you prefer to have individual bands but still like the idea of coupling your rings, why not choose a bespoke service, which allows you to create a ring that combines matching ideas? 

For more information about the rings featured above and a list of prices, visit the website. You should also check out our article about grooms rocking the ring and those who prefer to give it a miss in our summer issue of West Weddings. If our guide got you thinking, come on over to our Twitter and Facebook pages and show us your engagement and wedding ring pictures! 

The Everything-You-Need-To-Know Guide to Getting Engaged INFOGRAPHIC

Sainsbury's Bank has supplied us with this handy-dandy everything-you-need-to-know guide to getting engaged; from proposals - to buying the ring - to which hand to wear it on!

Our editor vividly remembers getting thrown into the deep end when shopping for a ring with her fiance back in 2010. How helpful it would have been to have had this information all in one place before the ring shopping began!

Click to share on Twitter or Facebook!


Guide about getting engaged from Sainsbury's Bank.

A gem of an idea

Marilyn Monroe sang that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and ever since the deBeers advert campaigns of the 1930s, diamonds have been the favoured stone for engagement rings. If you’d like something a little different, however, there are lots of other gemstones available for those wanting to rock the non-diamond look. The list of alternative stones to diamonds is endless, ranging from the better-known rubies, emeralds, pearls and sapphires to semi-precious stones such as tourmalines, moonstones, topazes and peridots.

Aquamarine ring from Diana Porter

One beautiful alternative to diamonds is aquamarine; with its light blue colour and subtle sparkle it is becoming increasingly popular. Diana Porter, the jewellers on Bristol’s Park Street, sells a 9-carat white gold ring set with a princes cut aquamarine (pictured), and with prices for this starting at £600, it can be a much more affordable option than a diamond. Another idea for a less-expensive yet still beautiful stone is to use spinels, which are a type of gemstone that closely resemble more expensive rubies. If you like the rich red hue of a ruby but don’t have a budget to accommodate this, then a spinel can be a much more affordable alternative.

 

Clare Chandler, who runs Bristol jewellers Clifton Rocks, uses a range of stones in her work. One of her latest pieces was an unusual stack ring that used the customer’s own gold and featured sapphires, aquamarine and amethyst. Clare says: “I have had people using this style of wedding ring to represent them and their children's birthstones.” By selecting an engagement ring that features a stone personal to you in this way, you’ve instantly made it a talking point!

Stack ring from Clifton Rocks

You can take this a step further and have your engagement ring made as a one-off design especially for you, which is a great way to ensure that you can customise it exactly the way you want. "I can source any stone that the customers requires," says Julie Anne Palmer, who specialises in bespoke jewellery. "I will work with the customer through the making process to ensure the ring is exactly as they wanted." And as John Titcombe Jewellers say, who also offer a bespoke service, "the designs are only limited by your imagination!"

 

In this era of thrift and vintage, there is always the option of refashioning an heirloom piece to create something new. Perhaps you have a ring from a family member that doesn’t suit you, or an old brooch that you don’t wear any more. Diana Porter recently made a tourmaline ring for a customer who wanted to put a gemstone to good use. “The tourmaline stone was a customer’s own, which is a wonderful way to keep an heirloom yet have a contemporary design that suits the customer.”

 

When it comes to wedding bands, gold and platinum have certainly dominated the market for quite some time, but recently couples have started looking for alternative metals and designs. One metal that is becoming popular is palladium, which is from the same group of metals as platinum but with the added bonus of being cheaper than its more expensive cousin. Clare has certainly seen an increase in the use of palladium. “We sell a palladium slate ring which has been really popular for men buying a wedding band.” This trend has also been seen at Diana Porter. “Palladium is great alternative to traditional metals of gold and platinum. Its silvery colour is close to that of platinum but is lightweight and more affordable.” Another option is zirconium, a grey-white metal that Julie Anne has used for wedding bands and which can be grooved to create an unusual texture.

Palladium ring from Clifton Rocks

Grooved zirconium ring from Julie Anne Palmer

As well as an alternative metal for wedding bands, there are other ways you can personalise your wedding band so it’s unique to you. Diana Porter is well known for her etching and customers are utilising this by having their own words etched around rings. This can be great for a wedding ring, with the date of the wedding picked out in Roman numerals – simple yet beautiful.

Maybe it’s time to rewrite that song…

 

This article first appeared in West Weddings' sister publication Folio, a monthly magazine celebrating the best of Bristol and Bath. Folio publishes a wedding guide every six months, so keep an eye out for the next one in Spring 2012.