How to customise your engagement ring?
Getting your custom engagement ring is as simple as simple as two easy steps – choosing your gemstone and your setting! Reading our comprehensive list is absolutely essential when buying the most important ring of your life for your bride to be!
Choose your gemstone
While traditionally the diamond may have been the single most coveted gemstone for brides on that all important day. Recently there has been a trend towards the use of coloured gemstones used in engagement rings. While 2016 favoured the use of coloured stones such as sapphires and emeralds being used for rings, 2017 is forecast to favour a duality between diamond and coloured gemstone. Knowing what trends are currently popular is extremely helpful, but nothing can beat knowing your loved ones choose of stone before beginning your selection. Subtle questions are sure to provide the answers you seek before you head off to see the experts!
Choose your setting
This is often the most difficult side of the customisation process of your engagement ring – as there are countless types of settings to consider. Some of the most popular trending ring settings that should be considered are:
Prong
Most common setting in custom-cut engagement rings, it involves up to six claws that hold the gemstone firmly in place via a metal basket. There are variations that can occur to the prongs such as flat, v-shaped and pointed which can accommodate a variety of gemstone sizes and shapes.
Tension
A setting that involves a gemstone held together by compression-spring pressure. An extremely elegant and dainty settings, its major benefit is the amount of light that it allows into the stone.
Bezel
Includes an elevated collar which wraps around the rim of the diamond, either fully or partially. This setting is definitely one of the most secure for the stones as it protects the stones from chipping or falling out due to its security, though it can discolour the stone if it not matched accurately. Bezel cuts for diamond rings are extremely popular as they hold the most security for the diamonds placed in them.
Channel
This setting is extremely popular and involves a set of smaller accent stones such as small diamonds or gemstones being placed side by side in a channel which is formed by two strips of precious metals. Although difficult to resize if needed, it does offer a great amount of security for the stones and with an unobtrusive surface, there is less risk of the ring being damaged.
Bar
A similar setting to the Channel, the Bar ring setting involves sandwiching stones together with thin vertical bars of metal between the stones for added security.
Pave
Pronounced “Pa-vay” after the French word meaning ‘to pave” – this setting involves close set gemstones held together in rows of three with small holes and claws that allow the stones to be set level to the ring. Quite like its name it showcases a ‘paved’ setting of gemstones and allows for a continuous sparkle.
Gypsy
Possibly the most popular style for men’s rings, it involves the stone set flush in the band's hole.
Final notes
Whichever gemstone setting you choose you should take the point to consider the settings placement with your wedding ring selection. In some cases, it might be worth considering doing a double up purchase and select your wedding ring at the same time –as this will allow the two rings to easily match together.
However though without the input of that all-important special person – it can be hard to know exactly what ring to choose. Knowing their personality, make sure you take along a ring and head into your local jewellery store in Sydney and talk to one of the experts to help bring your creations to life!
