Guide to choosing a ring
The engagement ring is one of the most important pieces of jewellery a girl will receive - no pressure! We know it is a difficult decision and one you want to get right. So whether you are recently engaged (Congratulations!) or are planning to pop the question, hopefully these tips will help you think about what you are looking for...
We want to make the process as easy as possible for you, so don't hesitate to Contact us with any questions.
Style:
What style of engagement ring do you want? A traditional diamond solitaire, traditional with a twist, or something more modern? If you are not sure where to start, then browse for some ideas in our engagement ring gallery and get an idea of the designs that you like, or think she may like. Consider the type of jewellery she currently wears. If you are looking for a completely unique ring, then you can speak to us about a bespoke design.
Stone:
The traditional engagement ring would be a solitaire diamond. There has been a lot in the press about ‘blood diamonds’ or ‘conflict’ diamonds’. Be assured that all the rings from CRED use ethically sourced diamonds and come with a certificate of origin, and are conflict free diamonds as the basic minimum. Read more about our ethical diamonds
Or why not choose an alternative precious stone entirely? An amethyst, emerald or sapphire make just as dramatic a statement as diamond, and you will love bearing an unusual ring that is personal to the two of you.
A trilogy engagement ring gives you the best of both worlds as you can have a central coloured stone straddled by smaller diamonds.
Cut:
For the main stone in the ring you have a few options for the cut – this makes a difference to the way the light is reflected around the stone.
The two main cuts for diamonds are Brilliant or Princess. Brilliant cut is round, with slightly more sparkle than a princess cut because it has more facets whereas the Princess cut is a more modern square cut.
Setting:
There are many settings for stones – Here are some of the options for a solitaire.
Some of the different settings include:
Open – designed to let the maximum amount of light pass through to give the diamond sparkle.
V-set – Allows the same amount of light through as an open setting, but is slightly stronger & architectural looking.
Gallery – the most traditional setting for engagement rings giving a balance between secure setting and light getting through.
Cradle – a modern, secure setting, but the light still gets though.
Colour:
Do you wear more white-gold or yellow-gold jewellery? You’ll want to consider this carefully and then get your wedding ring made in the same quality (i.e. 18ct or 9ct) to match the engagement ring. You may want to have your wedding rings made the same as each others. Platinum is even harder wearing than white gold, but has a similar look.
All of the precious metals from CRED are from our partners, Oro Verde™, in Colombia and the gold is Fairtrade and Fairmined gold.
Size:
Have your finger measured. Any jewellery shop will be able to do this for you if you have the finger to hand. Once you know your size you have the freedom to choose an engagement ring you have seen online.
If your proposal is a surprise:
If you want to propose as a surprise, then download our Ring Sizer. Lay onto this a ring that your girlfriend already wears on that finger to find out the size and we can get the ring you choose made in the correct size. However, be aware that this is not a foolproof way of finding the exact size.
OR
You can buy the engagement ring that you like from our collection in a standard size. After the proposal you can then come back with your fiancé and either get her finger measured to have the same ring made to the right size, or if she prefers an alternative design you can exchange it.
