Engagement Ring Guide

This is your complete guide on how to buy an engagement ring, the types of engagement ring styles available to help you choose the perfect engagement ring for your significant other. All that you need to know about ring styles, diamonds, gemstones, metals, and sizes can be found below, alongside a few tips on diamond care and all the different ways you can choose the perfect ring.

HOW TO BUY AN ENGAGEMENT RING: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

Engagement Ring Styles

Halo

Maximum sparkle
A center stone surrounded by a halo of tiny stones.

Accent Stones

Breathtaking detail
A center stone is accentuated by smaller stones on the band. Also used for eternity bands and wedding rings.

Solitaire

Unadorned simplicity
A single center stone in a plain setting is a very popular engagement ring style.

Three-Stone

A brilliant trinity
A trio of brilliant cut round diamonds or a center emerald cut diamond framed by a pair of matched smaller stones or even baguette cuts.

Vintage

Romantic nostalgia
A style that harks back to another era for vintage-loving brides to be.

Choose a Gemstone

Whether you have your heart set on a particular gemstone, carat size, carat weight, color and clarity, or are open to all possibilities, becoming familiar with gemstone attributes will help you shop with confidence. Shop Gemstone Engagement Rings.

Learn about diamond. Learn about gemstones.

Choose a Metal

When selecting a metal, three major considerations are color, durability, and budget. Consider white gold, yellow gold, rose gold or platinum.

Learn more about your options.

Wedding Guide Find Ring SizeEngagement rings

Find Your Ring Size

Before ordering your ring, make sure you have an accurate ring size. We will teach you how to determine ring size in few easy steps.

Learn more

Care For Your Diamond Ring

Diamond may be the hardest material known to man, but it is not indestructible. Learn how to protect and care for your special purchase.

Care For Your Gemstone Ring

Gemstones are unique and yours may have special care requirements. Handled with care, it will last a lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Western countries, an engagement ring is traditionally worn on the third finger (ring finger) of the left hand. The origins of this can be traced back to the Ancient Romans who believed the finger had a vein which was connected to the heart. The vein is called the Vena Amoris or “Vein of Love”.

A generation ago, a man was expected to spend one month’s salary on an engagement ring, but the generally accepted “norm” these days is two month’s salary. This means that if you earn $1,000 each month, the engagement ring should cost $2,000. Many argue that in a world of equal opportunities, there should NOT be a defined amount.

The best and most accurate way to measure your ring size is to get professionally measured by a jeweller. However, you can order a plastic or papering ring sizer online which comes with a sizing chart. Alternatively, you could wrap a piece of paper or string around your finger, measure the size and compare it to a sizing chart. You can also check out our ring size guide for more information.

There are many places that you can buy an engagement ring such as at a high street jeweler, a boutique store or, more commonly these days, online. Purchasing a ring online gives you a far great choice than buying an engagement ring in-store and can often result in significant savings. However, always choose a reputable website when making your purchase.

To clean your diamond engagement ring, we would recommend that you prepare a solution of warm water and mild detergent. Leave your ring to soak for approximately 30 minutes and then gently, using a soft toothbrush, brush the ring taking care not to dislodge the stones. Rinse under running water and repeat if required.

Your engagement ring should be moved to your ring finger on your right hand for your wedding day, leaving the wedding finger free for your future spouse to place your wedding ring on. The engagement ring can be returned to the ring finger of the left hand after the ceremony.

An engagement ring is usually given as part of the proposal and a wedding ring is traditionally a plain metal band in yellow gold or white gold, or a diamond-encrusted eternity band that you receive when you exchange your vows during the wedding ceremony and wear throughout the rest of the marriage.

Research varies between countries but the average spend on an engagement ring in the US is between $1-5000.

A ring is generally presented as a gift by someone to their prospective spouse when proposing marriage or soon after a proposal has been accepted. It symbolizes a formal agreement to future marriage.

Platinum is a precious metal that is a popular choice for wedding and engagement rings and is more durable than other precious metals with greater longevity. Other options include slightly less expensive white gold and yellow gold.