At first glance, there may seem to be an overwhelming amount to choose from, however, if you know your budget and have an idea of the type of ring you would like, it becomes a fairly simple choice.
Before you make your choice, here are some things you should know ...
Yellow Gold: It's a safe choice and the standard for engagement and signature rings. 18 carat gold tends to have a much brighter, yellower look than 9 carat.
White Gold: Available in 18 carat and 9 carat gold. Some jewellers choose to rhodium plate white gold. This is not an expensive process but does wear off and requires replating. This practise is not employed by all jewellers, however, the fashion for 'super white' metal has made it more common.
Platinum: Whilst it's more expensive and more difficult to work, platinum has a big advantage over white gold in that it doesn't need to be rhodium plated — and it's hardier (meaning it's less prone to scratching and wear).
Platinum is more prestigious too — so it's a good choice if your partner prefers "silver-coloured" jewellery to yellow.
Often with two-toned rings, platinum is the white metal of choice. It is particularly good for fashioning claws.
Diamonds: We sell diamonds from non-conflict, legitimate sources only. They are cut and finished in factories that do not employ child or exploited labour. The polish and quality of cut of these diamonds is superior to much of what is usually available in the retail market and our stones are known for their consistency and resistance to breakage (this can be a major problem with 'bargain' stones) during the manufacturing and setting process.
(Terribly sorry, we are experiencing a technical glitch with this page - hope to have it up and running again soon)
Purchase an ingot of gold, platinum or palladium and add......
A number of small diamonds (10 points or under) for eternity or pavé* rings — or just to add some twinkle; *Pavé, meaning paved, describes a setting where numerous small stones are clustered together with no metal visible.
Whilst the individual small stones are relatively inexpensive, it is a labour intensive make for the jeweller and setting costs can be anywhere from $10 to $15 dollars per stone. Note, for a pavé setting, you'll need a reasonable quantity (say, half a carat) of tiny 1-2 point stones.
Purchase a number of slightly larger diamonds (10 to, say, 35 points) as accent stones to highlight a large feature stone you plan to buy later — get an even number for balance;
Purchase a feature stone (say, 30 points or bigger) and some smaller accent stones;
Purchase 3, 4 or 5 stones (15 to 50 points) of the same size to cover the top of the finger. Or purchase a larger central stone and two smaller side stones. We don't recommend two stones for a stand-alone ring — once set; the stones tend to look like eyes.; or
Purchase a single large stone (for a solitaire look) that can be added to later if desired.
Also, before you make your choice, here's a little homework. (Don't worry; you'll thank us for this later.)
Go right now and sneak a look in your partner's jewellery box and pay attention to what jewellery she's wearing/owns.
Is it predominantly white (silver-coloured) metal — or is it mostly yellow?
If it's mostly yellow, buy yellow gold. If it's mostly silver-coloured, buy platinum, palladium or white gold.
If she seems to favour two-toned styles (white and yellow metal), talk to us and we can provide you with a mixture.
Also, see if you can pick up a preference in shape of the gemstones. If most of the stones are round-ish, choose the round-brilliant cut. If the stones are mostly squared-off or rectangular, buy the princess-cut.
Another consideration is lifestyle. If your partner spends a lot of time working with her hands — in the garden, or building, playing sport etc. you may want to consider a smaller robust multi-stone ring that can be set in a practical, protective way. It's no good giving her a massive solitaire if her job or hobbies prevent her from wearing it.
There ... homework done! Now you're ready to choose. Simply email us for a quote.
