By Liz SterlingNobody walks in knowing how to do this. Most people buy one engagement ring in their life, and they are choosing it for someone else, which is a strange and lovely kind of pressure.
It helps to know that it comes down to seven decisions: the budget, the shape, the 4 Cs, the setting, the metal, the size, and where you buy it. Take them in that order and each one makes the next easier. This is how we walk through them at the case.
Start with a number you are at peace with
There is no required amount. The "two or three months' salary" rule was written by an advertising campaign in the last century, and it has nothing to do with what makes a good ring.
So choose a number that lets you sleep, and say it out loud when you come in. A clear budget is freeing. Once we know the ceiling, we can show you the combinations of shape, size and setting that look their best at exactly that number, instead of falling for a diamond first and working backward.
The shape is the personality
More than anything else, the shape of the diamond decides what the ring is. A round brilliant has the most fire, which is why it is the most chosen. Longer shapes, the oval and the emerald cut, look larger for their weight and flatter the finger.
| Shape | What it gives | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Round | The most sparkle | The most brilliant, and the most chosen |
| Oval | More presence for its weight | Lengthens the look of the finger |
| Emerald | Quiet, with a vintage feel | Long open facets; clarity shows |
| Cushion | Soft and romantic | Rounded corners, an older charm |
The right one is the shape the person wearing it would have picked. Look at what they already wear. The one who wears it should recognize themselves in it.
