5 Things to Consider When Buying an Engagement Ring

Finding the partner of your dreams and deciding on forever is an exciting time, but can also be overwhelming and confusing. You might be wondering where to start, but don't worry - we've got you covered with our list of 5 things to consider when buying an engagement ring.

1 - Your Partner

Or rather, your partner's personality and taste in jewellery and accessories. Your partner's engagement ring should reflect their unique sense of style, personality and lifestyle. 

If your fiancé-to-be has an active lifestyle and values simple design, you should choose a minimalist engagement ring with a thinner band that won't get in the way of their day-to-day activities. 

Likewise, if your partner is an avid jewellery wearer who values a statement piece with some 'wow' factor, a multi-stone ring with a larger centre stone is a more sensible choice than a minimalist style. 

Pay attention to your partner's existing jewellery and accessories in the time leading up to the day you go shopping for their engagement ring to best get a feel for what they might like, or ask one of their family members or friends for better insight. 

2 - Traditional or Contemporary?

Now more than ever, people are diverting from 'traditional' engagement ring styles in favour of more contemporary designs, including choosing alternative stones to diamonds as their centre stone. 

You might choose a more traditional piece if your partner values the classic style and meaning of a diamond ring, which traditionally signifies strength, love and health between partners. Diamonds also register as a 10 on the MOHS scale of hardness, making them the most sensible choice for a piece to be worn every day. 

Alternatively, you might decide that a sapphire adds a touch of unique beauty and modern flare to an engagement ring, while still maintaining enough hardness at a 9 on the MOHS scale to make it hard enough for daily wear. Or maybe your partner adores the colour red, and a ruby is impossible to pass up instead? 

Asking our professional staff at Speirs Jewellers about the best choice of stone for your particular situation is the foolproof way to ensure you make the right choice for both you and your partner. 

3. Sizing

One of the most difficult aspects of buying an engagement ring is the sizing. If your proposal is a surprise, it can be tricky to find a way to get a general or exact size for your partner's finger for their ring. 

 A few ways to find your partner's ring size without them knowing include: bringing one of their dress rings from a similar-sized finger in store and asking the staff at Speirs Jewellers to measure it; buying them a dress ring as a gift and seeing how it sizes on the third finger of their right hand; or asking a family member or friend for their ring size. 

While you can always get a ring resized if it doesn't quite fit, having a general idea for sizing before you head to the jeweller can help get you in the right ballpark and have a higher likelihood of landing a comfortable size on the first try.

4. Budget

Setting aside a realistic budget is a must before shopping for an engagement ring.

Factor in your take-home income; how long you have to save for the ring; the amount of and type of stones you want to feature in your ring; how big you want the stones to be; whether the stones will be lab grown or mined; the metal type of the ring; and most importantly, how much you're comfortable spending on the ring. 

If you bond with your partner over a simple way of living and neither of you are materialistic, a ring with a high price point won't make much sense. If you and your partner value the finer things in life, you may want to reflect this through a more lavish style.

Letting your jeweller know your budget will help them select the best ring to fit your spending limit. 

5. Custom or Ready Made?

Choosing a ring from a selection of stunning designs is a perfectly special experience on its own, but having a piece of jewellery custom-designed to bring your vision to life is something extraordinary. 

We offer in-house design and manufacturing for engagement rings and other custom pieces, just get in touch with us about starting your custom design journey today and we'll kickstart your process to the perfect ring.