Choosing an engagement ring is one of the most important steps before proposing. If you decide to go a step further and have a custom-made engagement ring, the choice becomes even more personal and meaningful. Below are some key aspects and steps to consider in order to find the perfect engagement ring.
1. Understand your partner’s style and preferences
First, it’s important to understand what style your partner prefers. Does she like something simple and classic, or is she more into a modern style or perhaps something extra eye-catching and sparkling? Pay attention to her everyday style, as the engagement ring should be something she can wear daily. It’s also worth noticing her existing jewelry, which may give you clues about her preferences.
Or perhaps your bride has already dropped hints about the type of engagement ring she would like!? In that case, you already have a direction!
2. Think Through Your Budget
Before choosing an engagement ring, it’s important to set a budget that fits your financial situation. Engagement rings come in a wide range of prices, so deciding early on how much you’re willing to spend will help narrow down your options. Traditionally, it is thought that an engagement ring should cost about two or three months’ salary, but this is definely not a strict rule you should follow. The most important thing is that the ring symbolizes your love and is also financially affordable for you.
If you decide to order a custom-made engagement ring from FRONT, the budget is often the factor that sets certain limits. The largest part of the engagement ring’s price is usually the centre stone. Since the entire design revolves around the stone, it’s crucial to know the price range of the stone we’re looking for in the ring!
3. Choose the Right Metal
For engagement rings, the most common material is gold (white, yellow, or rose), but platinum, silver, and interesting materials like zirconium (black) and Damascus steel are also used.
When choosing the material for the engagement ring, you can consider your partner’s existing jewelry – if all the jewelry she wears is made of yellow gold, then she’d probably want the engagement ring to be made of the same material.
Examples of metals used at FRONT:
4. Choose the Central Stone
The central stone is the heart of the engagement ring and often the most significant (and expensive) element. Diamonds are commonly preferred for engagement rings due to their durability and timeless beauty, but other stones, such as sapphires or rubies, can also be beautiful choices.
If you want to learn more about diamonds, you can find a dedicated blog post that goes into more detail about diamonds HERE.
Examples of rings created by FRONT with various stones:
Consider the Shape, Size, and Quality of the Stone.
When choosing a diamond for the engagement ring, remember the “four Cs”: carat, clarity, color, and cut – below is a diamond grading chart. If you need to make compromises due to your budget, consider whether you’d prefer to sacrifice in size to maintain quality, or if you’d rather have a larger stone with lower quality.
Diamond grading chart:
If you want your engagement ring to be even more unique, you can have the stone specially cut for your engagement ring! If you prefer a gemstone other than a diamond, at FRONT we often have them custom-cut specifically for your engagement ring. For this, we work with a professional stone faceter who will find the perfect raw stone and then shape it exactly as you wish, giving it an exceptionally brilliant cut.
Most common stone cuts:
5. Stone setting
Prong setting
Advantages:
– Prongs (small metal “claws”) securely hold the stone in place and are one of the most common types of settings
– A prong-set engagement ring looks elegant and timeless & is consider the most classical syle on engagement rings
– The prong setting allows the stone to shine to its maximum potential
Disadvantages:
– The prong setting generally extends more from the ring, meaning the ring may more easily catch on clothing, for example.
– A prong-set engagement ring is usually higher in profile, which can make it uncomfortable to wear under gloves for example (this, of course, also depends on the size of the stone).
P.S.! If the ring is well-made, there’s no need to worry about the prongs bending and the stone falling out. A properly made prong setting is a safe and secure choice!
Bezel setting
Advantages:
– Bezel setting surrounds the edges of the stone with metal, holding it securely and providing excellent protection. This is a great choice for people with an active lifestyle.
– Bezel-set engagement rings can be made with a lower profile, which may be more comfortable to wear (this, of course, also depends on the size of the stone).
Disadvantages:
– The stone may appear smaller or less shiny compared to a prong setting.
Halo
Even more sparkle – A halo ring features small stones placed around the central gemstone, adding extra brilliance to the engagement ring. This makes the ring visually more striking and makes the central stone appear larger.
Optical illusion – Thanks to the halo stones, the central stone of the engagement ring appears bigger, allowing you to choose a slightly smaller and more affordable central stone without compromising the overall look of the ring.
Elegant and timeless design – Halo engagement rings have a classic and elegant appearance that remains fashionable over the years. This type of ring is perfect for those who appreciate a luxurious and romantic style.
Tension ring
Advantages:
– A tension ring uses the natural tension of the metal to hold the stone in place, creating an airy and modern look.
– This type of setting allows the stone to shine to its maximum potential.
Disadvantages:
– If you put in a lot of effort, the stone could potentially come loose from the ring. But you’d REALLY have to try! 🙂
– Since the stone is more exposed in the ring (less metal around the stone), there is a higher chance of damaging the stone.
P.S.! Engagement rings with a tension-like appearance can also be designed in such a way that, in reality, there is a “bridge” or similar support behind the stone, ensuring that the ring is held together in addition to the tension. This way, the stone definitely won’t go anywhere.
Which style to choose?
When selecting a design, consider how the engagement ring will fit your partner’s lifestyle. If they do a lot of hands-on work or are involved in sports, it might be more practical to choose a more secure stone setting, such as a bezel. On the other hand, if your partner appreciates a classic design and a sparkling appearance, a prong setting might be more suitable.
6. Consider adding details and embellishments
With a custom engagement ring, it’s possible to add various details to make the ring even more special. For example, you could add smaller side stones or intricate engravings or other elements that carry symbolic meaning for your relationship. It’s also possible to engrave an important date, symbol, or message on the inside of the ring.
When adding embellishments, it’s important to keep in mind that the overall design of the ring should not become too busy with all the symbols and decorations – everything should come together to form a cohesive and beautiful whole. A professional jeweler will certainly be able to help create a balanced design.
At FRONT, we don’t expect you to have everything figured out – having a rough vision is enough. If you want to incorporate symbolic elements into the engagement ring, we can certainly include them in a stylish and tasteful way!
7. Find the right jeweler!
If you have decided to go for a custom-made engagement ring, one of the most important steps is finding the right jeweler! Choose a jeweler who has experience in making custom engagement rings, whose style resonates with you, and with whom you feel comfortable communicating. A good jewelry designer will help you make informed decisions and offer advice on everything from choosing the stone to the design details of the ring.
If FRONT’s style speaks to you, come to us, and together we will find the perfect solution just for you!
8. Determining the correct size
It’s very important to find the correct size for the engagement ring. Depending on the design and materials, an incorrect size may require remaking the entire ring from scratch, which can result in significant extra costs. However, it’s not always that drastic, and if you’re having trouble determining the right size, you can mention it early on. We can then choose a design where resizing the ring later won’t be too complicated.
To ensure the measurement is done discreetly and the surprise is maintained, here are a few tips on how to find the right engagement ring size:
Measuring in secret
- Use an existing ring: If your partner already wears a ring on their ring finger, you can use that as a reference. Just make sure that the ring fits them perfectly and is worn on the same finger where the engagement ring will go.
- Borrow a ring: If your partner occasionally removes an existing ring (worn on the engagement ring finger), you can secretly borrow it and take it to a jeweler for measuring.
Collaborating with close ones
- Ask for help from family and friends: Sometimes a friend might know the correct size or can discreetly find out. Friends are less likely to raise suspicion, especially if they casually suggest going to try on rings together in a jewelry store.
Creative methods
- Go to a jewelry store together: Casually drop by a jewelry store where you can try on different rings. Depending on your usual activities, this might seem suspicious to some, but for certain couples, it could be a fun and natural experience.
- Try while they’re asleep: If your partner is a deep sleeper and you’re brave enough, you can carefully try to measure their finger while they sleep. You can borrow ring sizers from a jeweler for this. Of course, this method requires caution and awareness of your partner’s sleeping habits, as imagine their surprise if they wake up and catch you in the act!
Successfully determining the right size ensures that the ring won’t need resizing after the proposal and will fit perfectly from the first moment.
9. In conclusion
Choosing a custom engagement ring is a journey that should be an enjoyable and delightful process. Creating an engagement ring for your loved one is a significant decision you make for your future spouse, so try to approach it thoughtfully. It’s important to find an engagement ring that not only reflects your love but also suits your partner’s style.
Remember, an engagement ring is something worn every day, so its practicality and durability are just as important as its appearance. A well-planned budget, the right style choice, and the preference for high-quality materials will ensure that the chosen ring brings joy for a lifetime and perhaps even to future generations. After all, the engagement ring symbolizes your commitment and love, which is far more important than anything else.
If you’ve decided to enhance your special moment with a unique custom engagement ring and FRONT’s work resonates with you, we at FRONT are more than happy to help you create that one perfect engagement ring!
Contact us at FRONT for getting the perfect custom-made engagement ring just for You!
Mariliis & Miikael Danieljants
+372 53542921 / +372 56643595
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