We all know that an engagement ring is one of the most important purchase your will ever make. It is a symbol of love for your partner and a token of your willingness to take your relationship to the next level. Whether you're couple in love picking an engagement ring together or someone looking for a surprise for your intended, our easy-to-read guide will help you making an informed decision and choosing the perfect ring. Our engagement ring experts are happy to walk you through each step of the process, as we always focus on empowering and educating our customers in helping them find the perfect engagement ring.
FIRST...ESTABLISH A BUDGET
The sky is the limit with diamonds so, it's a good idea to start looking with an ideal price range in mind. Our experts can give you various options of rings and stones to suit your price range, leaving you to make a decision based on where you see value-perhaps a better cut, more carat weight or exceptional purity. If you would like to discuss what you could get for your budget, please get in touch with us and we'll happy to answer your questions.
BESPOKE ENGAGEMENT RINGS
Majesty Jewellers specialise with both bespoke and pre-set engagement rings. If you have a special date in mind to propose to your intended and want to create your own bespoke engagement ring, please note that our bespoke service will take about 3 - 4 weeks, so plan ahead !
If you and your better half-to-be browse our website together for an engagement ring then you can be certain it will fit and that she will like it. However, you are also denying the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show them how thoughtful and romantic you are. If you can pull off the following trifecta of surprises, imagine the look on your girlfriend's face.
You propose to her
The ring fits, and
It's exactly what she wanted
We will help you find the perfect combination of brilliance, fire & sparkle.
FIND OUT HER RING SIZE
Many people fall at this hurdle, so be careful not to make the same mistake. If you can't find out for sure do not despair, changing size afterwards is easy enough for our master craftsmen. Getting it right first time just helps to show you have put genuine thought into the process. Majesty Jewellers have unique resources that will help you find your partner's finger size. It's really just that simple. Want to keep it a surprise ? That's not difficult either.
START WITH THE AVERAGES
The average ring size for most women is between a size "J" and size "L". We also know that the average sized women in the U.K is about 5 feet 6 - inches tall. You can off these averages to determine her ring size without her knowing. If she's shorter or weighs a little more, you can go up a size or two. If she's thinner and smaller, maybe try a size down. You get the idea. While this might work, it isn't the best way to find a ring size. Our success rate is 9 out of 10.
Everyone is different and not every woman is going to fit in with the average. Some women also like a tighter-fitting ring, while others prefer a loose fit. So here is another ground-breaking and exclusive formula invented by the founder of Majesty Jewellers of determining the ring size according to your girlfriend's dress size. The average dress size for most women in U.K is between a size "8" and size "14". This exclusive formula of determining the finger size according to the dress size has been invented after years of sales, research and surveys.
Dress size (8) - Finger size - Letter "I" or "J" but " J" would be an safer option. Best option for small and petite fingers.
Dress size (10) - Finger size - Letter "K" or "L" would be an safer option. Best option for someone who is taller.
Dress size (12) - Finger size - Letter "M" or "N" would be an safer option.
It's a good idea to keep in mind that the dominant hand might be a little bigger. So if she's right handed, her ring finger on the left hand - where she'll wear an engagement ring - might be one size smaller than the one on the right. This formula has worked for many of our customers and we hope it has now made it easy for you find her ring size.
RESEARCH HER STYLE
Most people will find this part the most daunting as you want to pick a ring that fits your partner's unique style & preferences. You have to consider the lady's taste in fine jewellery and even what shape diamond will look best on her hand ?
Does she have classic taste or prefer more contemporary designs ?
Does her sense of style lean towards antique or period styles, such as Art Deco or Victorian ?
Does she favour white or yellow metals ?
If you are struggling to choose then ask our experts to help you. Our jewellery designers and expert professionals have spent years in the jewellery industry trying to figure out what women want ? We provide the style definition for free as, we don't think it's something you should have to pay for. If you have any other questions or would need more help with your partner's style, taste or fashion trends, please get in touch with us for free personal consultation and we will be happy to answer all your questions.
PICK THE ENGAGEMENT RING BAND
Your girlfriend will likely have a preference of the type of metal and colour for her engagement ring setting and we've created some guidance to help you get started. If you've done your research you will know what she prefers to wear but, we will educate you a bit further to aid your decision.
Yellow gold is made by mixing pure gold with alloy metals such as copper and zinc.
Rose gold is made using a mixture of pure gold with various alloys, with a higher concentration of copper than yellow gold. The copper gives it the rose-reddish tint.
Platinum is naturally silvery-white in colour so, no alloy is used.
If your partner doesn't have a distinct preference for metal colour then you might have to make a judgement call. If she is a traditionalist then she might prefer yellow gold but, at the moment the most popular engagement rings are white in colour (Platinum), so we will focus on these two. One other thing you can do is by just looking at the other jewellery she wears such as a necklace or a earring and see what colour they are.
Platinum is extremely hard wearing and will last a very long time although, this is reflected in it's price as platinum is a bit more expensive than yellow gold. Platinum is the hardest metal and hence it keeps the diamond safe. Another advantage of platinum is that it is naturally white in colour, therefore does not need rhodium plating like white gold.
18ct Yellow Gold is rich in colour and a classic metal with high purity. Gold is less expensive than platinum, yet highly valued. Yellow gold has a warm glow.
This will help you considering her personal preferences and decide on the best metal for you and your budget.
A ring's "settings" refers to the way in which the diamond is placed on the ring. Like everything else with an engagement ring, which setting you to choose depends on your girlfriend's preferences. The easiest way is to browse engagement ring settings on our website. If she is quite hands on or participates in outdoor activities, then might want to consider a lower setting so it does not catch on everything.
THE STONE
Now we are on the second part of your ring, the stone. Tradition dictates diamonds to be the stone for engagement rings. That's not to say you shouldn't go against tradition if you have prior knowledge of your girlfriend's personal taste. If this is the case, we suggest you to make an appointment with one of our experts to discuss other stones such as gemstones in greater detail. When selecting a diamond, you will need to account for the famous "FOUR C's":
CUT - It refers more specifically to the proportions of the diamond and not the shape.
COLOUR - This refers to where they are graded according to their "whiteness".
CLARITY - It concerns how many (or few) mineral deposits or impurities affect the quality.
CARAT WEIGHT - Which defines the total weight of the diamond.
Every Majesty Jewellers engagement ring begins with a diamond chosen for it's exceptional character and superlative quality. Each stone has been cut and polished to release all it's brilliance and distinctive beauty. Only then the designers and master craftsmen at Majesty Jewellers fashion and setting that will reveal each individual diamond's heart and soul in a way that is at once contemporary, classic & impeccably elegant. "No two diamonds are alike". Each diamond has a different nature. Each diamond must be handled the way you handle a person. Our discriminating connoisseurship of gemstones has not changed. And every engagement ring Majesty create is one of a kind.
Did you know that the shape of a diamond your fiancé prefers may reveal something about her personality ? There are many different shapes to pick from for an engagement ring. From square princess to round, and teardrop to heart-shaped, each shape has a unique meaning and appeals to different tastes.
Find out more about each shape - and which one fits your fiancés personality the best ! May be she is traditional & conservative, or perhaps glamorous & dramatic or even adventurous. There are 10 basic diamond shapes to choose from: Round, Princess, Emerald, Cushion, Pear, Radiant, Heart, Oval, Marquise & Asscher Cut.
And note, the term diamond cut does not refer to it's shape. While you must cut a diamond rough to make a shape, the shape is essentially the overall geometry of form of the diamond (Round, Square and so on), while the cut is diamond's facets and proportions - the things that give diamonds their brilliance and fire. Please click on the images to see the ring designs for the stone you like.
ROUND - A round brilliant cut diamond is one of the most popular cuts for engagement rings. Consisting of 58 facets, a round diamond is designed to product as much sparkle as possible. The quintessential cut, it's versatility means you can set it in a modern halo, finish it with side diamonds, set it in a traditional trilogy ring to wear it as an timeless elegant solitaire where the diamond says it all.
PRINCESS - Another popular option, the princess cut diamond is favourite among women who want a traditional-shaped beautiful engagement ring but, with a little something extra. The stone's four pointed corners make it an excellent choice for a woman with modern personality. Women who favour this cut are traditional with a modern edge & their fingers always on the fashion pulse.
EMERALD - Created in the art deco period, the emerald cut boasts long, glamorous lines and suits women with long fingers. Worn by stars like Elizabeth Taylor & Grace Kelly, the emerald cut ring reflects the glamour of a Hollywood screen goddess. Women who favour this retro-inspired design are very confident, risk takers and the centre of attention.
CUSHION - The cushion cut, also known as the pillow cut, harks back to an era of romance and elegance over a century ago, used to the most popular shape a round, adding a touch of vintage to the ring. It evokes glamour of the 1920's. This cut get it's name from the rounded corners and curved sides that make it appear softer. Women who favour this cut are feminine & very romantic at heart.
PEAR - Also known as teardrop, the pear-shaped diamond is a hybrid of styles. The pear is especially flattering to a hand with small to average-length fingers. Women who love the brilliance and fire of the round cut diamond but, would like a unique shape to match their own styles and sensibilities. Women who favour this cut play by their own set of rules.
RADIANT - It's elongated shape is great for women who feel their fingers are shorter than average - but it's square sides lend a modern responsibility. True to it's name, a radiant cut diamond catches the light in a big way. Women who favour this cut are traditional with a modern twist.
HEART - The heart is the ultimate symbol of romance and sentiments especially when presented in an engagement ring. This finely crafted shape in a delicate ring is always seen as very obvious symbol of never ending love. Women who favour this cut are emotional & thoughtful.
OVAL - The oval cut is similar to the round one, and perfectly symmetrical in design, traditionally popular among women with small hands or shorter fingers. It's elongated shape gives a flattering illusion of length. Women who favour this cut are bold, unique and sophisticated.
MARQUISE - King Louis XIV of France requested a new diamond cut for the woman he loved and the fancy cut was born. It's elongated shape lengthens the ring finger. The shape of the stone is made to maximise carat weight which can appeal to women with a flair of drama. Women who favour this cut love being the centre of attention.
ASSCHER - Nearly identical to the emerald cut, this shape evokes the same dramatic feel of the 1920's art deco and vintage designs. Beloved by Hollywood, the asscher cut has adorned iconic figures such as Elizabeth Taylor. Women who favour this cut like to stand out from the crowd with an engagement ring that will attract lots of admiration.
So by now you should be armed with all the knowledge required to take your first steps in the complex world of buying an engagement ring. There are a couple of other things you will need to consider such as conflict free diamonds, certificates and most importantly insuring your ring against loss, theft or damage. At Majesty Jewellers, we operate ethically and fairly.
Every diamond that we use is responsibly sourced and is conflict free, in line with the guidelines set out by the Kimberley Process. So when you wear a piece of diamond jewellery from Majesty Jewellers, you can wear it with pride in the knowledge that it has been sourced ethically.
G.I.A certificates, also known as a diamond grading report, describe the quality of your diamond. Please ensure you get one to verify the diamond's weight, measurements, cut and quality, which can be used for insurance valuation purposes. Insuring your new ring is essential if you want to protect it against loss, theft or damage. Majesty Jewellers will help you through the insurance process.