When deciding on a piece of jewellery the first thing which draws you to a piece is the aesthetics. This is understandable as the reason we buy jewellery is so the item looks pretty to us and importantly to others.
It is vital when you are deciding on buying your jewellery you consider several aspects of the piece; namely durability, wearability and cost. You may decide if buying a lower value piece just to wear it and enjoy it. The more important pieces will need greater thought and consideration.
As an example an emerald ring should not be worn if you regularly carry out heavy manual work. As an emerald is a delicate stone it easily chip and crack compared to harder gems like a diamond or sapphire. Common sense should always prevail and if in any doubt feel free to call or email us your questions to our highly trained team. Our team will not simply try and sell you product but will listen and steer you in the right direction.
You’ve decided you are going to pop the question, but now you need the perfect engagement ring. So where do you start?
Firstly, don’t rush into buying an engagement ring, make sure you have thought about what you want, and taken your future fiancée's personal taste into consideration.
One of the best ways of judging the type of jewellery that she likes is to look at what type of pieces they wear on a daily basis. From this you can find out if they like chunky or dainty, dramatic or conservative, and what type of metals they like to wear.
Engagement rings are made from 9ct, 14ct, 18ct yellow, white or rose gold, or platinum. The carat and type of metal will make a considerable difference to the price. Platinum is the most expensive metal. It is extremely hardwearing and its colour brings out the colour and clarity of the diamonds. Gold is a traditional metal, it is not as hardwearing as platinum. 18ct carat, followed by 14ct gold, whether yellow, white or rose, is always the preferred choice for an engagement ring. You should always take the colour of the gold and your partner’s preference into consideration when purchasing a coloured metal.
You should by now have a good overall grounding of the style she likes to wear, once you have decided on the type of metal to go for, you need to think about the practicality of the ring you choose. It is traditional for engagement rings to be set with a diamond. All shapes and sizes are popular; some people choose to have a single solitaire diamond, whilst others choose to have a cluster ring, or a three stone ring.
This area is really down to how much you are comfortable in spending; the carat weight of a diamond plays the biggest role in the price of the ring. This needs to be measured against the diamond colour and diamond clarity which additionally are major factors in determining the diamond's value.
Our section on the four C’s can give you detailed advice on what to look for when purchasing a diamond.
The next area you need to consider is the style of setting; there are many different types available:
Claw setting – The claws are very small, so this setting shows more of the diamond. This style of setting is generally less expensive than more intricate setting designs. However, the girdle of the diamond is exposed, which can lead it to more at risk from damage than enclosed settings.
Bezel setting, often referred as rub-over setting – a metal band fully covered the entire diamond, because of this, it is an extremely secure setting, which is popular with large stones. It is however a bold design, which may not suit all tastes.
Channel setting – This type of setting arranges the diamonds into a line, which is then set within the band. There are no claws, but metal lips which keep the stones in place, generally between 5 – 7 stones are set within the band. Brilliant cut are the most popular however Princess and Emerald cut diamonds are also sought after because it ensures there are no gaps between the stones. It is a popular setting that ensures the diamonds are held securely.
Pavé setting – The pavé setting, creates the illusion of one large diamond, that when looked at closely is actually made up of many smaller diamonds. The diamonds are set with an invisible setting, which makes the setting look beautiful, but can be almost impossible to repair if a stone is lost.
The next section for you to think about is the design of the ring, this is the most exciting area of choosing an engagement ring, and it’s your chance to let the ring show your partner exactly how you feel about them. When it comes to design, Personal Jewellery Service is here to help you every step of the way. We are experts in design and handmade Jewellery, and would love to be part of this special experience with you. There is nothing more special than an unique piece of jewellery made just you for you.
High standards and excellent quality workmanship is the hallmark of Personal Jewellery Service. We always go the extra mile not only to make sure our customers are delighted with our product but importantly our award winning service.
