What to consider when designing an engagement ring

So, you’re romantic/brave/silly enough to try to design your partner’s engagement ring. Good for you! As you can imagine, organising a custom made engagement ring isn’t as easy as scribbling a design on a post-it note and handing it into a jeweller. Here are just a few things that you need to keep in mind when designing the perfect ring.

Choose your jeweller wisely

Personal recommendations are always best when it comes to finding a jeweller, but if you don’t want to ask too many people for fear of the secret getting out, use online reviews to steer your decision. A good jeweller can make a huge difference to the final product.

Give yourself plenty of time

Things go wrong. There might be a fault in the design when the jeweller first delivers it to you. You may have a change of heart on the design halfway through the process. If you’ve got a set date that you’re aiming to propose on – an anniversary, a birthday, and overseas holiday – ensure that you give yourself a few months (yes, months) to play with.

The diamond standard

Traditionally engagement rings are adorned with a diamond. When choosing a diamond, you need to remember the four Cs – cut, clarity, colour and carat weight. These will all change depending on your budget, but perhaps the most marked change you can make without splurging on a paperweight sized diamond is to do with the cut. The cut has the greatest effect on a diamond’s sparkle and brilliance. Get your jeweller to help find the right cut for you.

Considering your partner

If the ring is a surprise, consider your partner’s preferences. Check the rings they already own to get a sense of their style. Take the opportunity to measure one up, or better yet, borrow a lesser used ring for your jeweller to gauge the size. Think about their lifestyle as well. If they’re active, outdoorsy types, something more low-profile may be best.

Designing a custom engagement ring can be a risky and stressful business, but if you think carefully about how to do it, and take on as much professional advice as you can, you’ll be sure to get a ‘yes’ when the question’s popped!