For young and old alike Christmas is a magical time. Time for a perfect proposal for Christmas and a wonderful celebration amongst family. Its a time for friends and loved ones to look forward to new beginnings as the New Year is just around the corner. For many couples, this makes Christmas time the perfect opportunity to make that all-important declaration of love – a marriage proposal. In fact, in recent polls, Christmas Eve has been shown to be the most popular day of the year to propose marriage. Even more popular than Valentine’s Day!
If you are planning your perfect proposal for Christmas. Then perhaps the most important part of your planning needs to be giving some serious thought. To choose the perfect engagement ring for your perfect partner. After all, this is one of the most important purchases you may ever make.
As one of the leading retailers of Engagement Rings London with a myriad of engagement rings to choose from. Here at Rêve Diamonds, we appreciate that this can be quite a daunting task. Do you opt for one of the many designs of traditional engagement rings such as an oval engagement ring? Or cushion cut or emerald engagement ring. Do you choose a handmade engagement ring for that truly personal touch? To help you through the minefield of choosing the perfect engagement ring. Here are a few pieces of good advice to help you decide upon the perfect engagement ring for your Christmas proposal:
Do your homework – research her style and likes
It goes without saying that like every woman your partner will have her own personal style and tastes in clothing. The same can also be said for engagement rings as each design has its own style. It is so important that you match the two together to find the perfect engagement ring. Is your prospective fiancé a follower of fashion or does she favour a more vintage or classical look? Would she love the classical elegance of a simple solitaire white diamond engagement ring? Would her eyes light up when you propose with an engagement ring of coloured diamonds or gemstones? Does she wear gold jewellery or does she adore platinum?
Take some time to know her tastes and preferences. Look for clues in the style of any rings or other items of jewellery that she already owns and wears. Is she causal in her appearance or does she love a bit of bling? Look at her social media she may have commented on other engagement rings or saved images in the hope that you may one day pop the question. If you are still scratching your head then talk in confidence to her closest friends and family members to help you gather a much better idea of her perfect engagement ring. Above all remember that you are buying an engagement ring to suit your fiancés’ tastes rather than your own.
Decide upon a realistic budget
Whilst you want your Christmas proposal to be a memorable occasion do not overstretch your budget when looking at engagement rings. We strongly advise that you set a realistic budget and spend only what you can afford. For example, you may want to go for the option of a Handmade Engagement Ring but always be sure that you can afford your choice as nothing is worse than starting a new future with unnecessary debt. Setting your budget will to some extent determine the choice of engagement rings that you have.
Know those all-important ‘4 C’s’
We believe that it really helps when making an investment in a diamond engagement ring To know the all-important basics about diamonds known as the ‘4 C’s’ – colour, cut, clarity and carat. Ensure that you have a good balance between colour and clarity. Perhaps most importantly remember that how the diamond is cut will determine its defining characteristics.
Do not be deceived into thinking that size is everything as with diamonds it certainly isn’t. This is the cut that directly influences the stone’s ability to absorb and reflect light. It is this which gives the stone its sparkle and inherent brilliance. Poor cutting will compromise a diamond’s sparkle. This is how the facets that are cut on the diamond’s surface are angled and sized that dictates how light reflects and exits the diamond which gives an effect known as the diamond’s fire. Shallow or deep cutting will make the diamond less brilliant.
Also, have in mind that the carat (weight) of the diamond engagement ring doesn’t always have to be large to be expensive. It is preferable to have a well-cut quality diamond engagement ring over a large but more inferior stone.
Choose your shape wisely
Engagement rings come in many shapes and choosing the right one is critical. Oval engagement rings are very much on trend this year. Perhaps the most enduringly popular are the brilliant round and princess, followed by a cushion, emerald, square, heart and pear shapes.
Choosing the shape of your perfect engagement ring again comes down to personal preference and the style and tastes of your loved one. Consider what you feel will be important to your partner in her engagement ring. If your lady likes to be unique then an oval engagement ring, pear or heart shape will be the right choice. However, if she loves to sparkle then opt for a princess or round cut. These have the most facets to give your engagement ring maximum brilliance.
But also choose a flattering shape
When choosing the perfect diamond engagement ring it is vital that you consider the shape of the ring in relation to the size and shape of your fiancés’ fingers/hands. After all, this is an item of jewellery that she will wear every day for the rest of her life so it needs to compliment and flatter her.
If your fiancé has large hands do not choose a delicate ring setting or slender narrow diamond on her finger. Radiant and princess cuts, or other rings with square-shaped diamonds set within. These are best for women who have long fingers/large hands. For those with shorter fingers elongated styles like pear, marquise or an oval engagement ring are flattering. Avoid wide bands as these have the effect of shortening the fingers. If you are still unsure about which shape of engagement ring to choose. Take a look at the style of rings that she currently chooses to wear. This may give you a guide to what suits her and her personal taste.
Set the scene
The setting of any engagement ring whether a traditional engagement ring. More modern design is crucial and there are several options. Ranging from pavé and bezels to split shanks, prongs etc. The classic solitaire style engagement ring setting with either a solid metal band. The addition of a micro-pavé band is a very elegant almost understated choice. For those who love to be glamorous than a radiant, cushion cut, or emerald-cut stone. A halo or a diamond-studded band will be the perfect choice of setting. Of course, the ultimate symbol of love has to be the trilogy engagement ring setting. Which has recently resurged in popularity with the engagement and marriage of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Their handmade engagement ring is a stunning trilogy design. With a trio of diamonds comprised of two round-cut diamonds and a central cushion cut diamond set on a yellow gold band. If you want your Christmas proposal to be with an engagement ring with a deeper meaning. Then a three stone trilogy engagement ring could be one for you.
Options in Metal
Once you have decided upon the shape and setting of your engagement ring. You need to consider your choice of metal for the band and once more this comes down to personal preference. If your loved one wears predominantly yellow gold then choose an engagement ring in yellow gold. If she prefers the look of silver then platinum is a perfect choice.
Ring Size
The last thing that you want to spoil is your surprise Christmas proposal. Is to be down on bended knee presenting your fiancé with an engagement that does not fit. To help avoid this embarrassment it is best to try and ensure that the engagement ring that you choose fits perfectly. By knowing the correct ring finger size of your loved one. Here are some ideas on this subject. Borrow one of her rings or trace one of her rings on a piece of paper and take it to your chosen jeweller. Ask one of her friends or family to find out her ring size on your behalf. We can also send you a Free Finger Sizer by post to help you determine the correct size of the engagement ring. By comparing it to a ring that you know she wears a lot.
If you are still unsure about her exact ring size then we advise buying an engagement ring one size too so it will still fit on her finger when you propose and you can get it resized to fit at a later date. We hope that these helpful hints on perhaps the most important part of planning your Christmas proposal – choosing the perfect engagement ring are helpful. However, if you still feel that you are unsure in your choice or would like to choose an engagement ring together, we are happy to help by providing you with a Cubic Zirconia ring free of charge that can be used during your proposal. This substitute ring can then be exchanged for the real thing when you visit our Engagement Rings London showrooms to purchase your engagement ring together after your Christmas proposal.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Reve Diamonds team and speak to one of their experts or arrange an appointment to come to the London showroom to view the jewellery, diamonds or discuss your bespoke needs.
