An engagement ring can be one of the most life-changing (and expensive!) gifts you will ever receive, so it’s fair to say that choosing a style can be a daunting challenge. Your engagement ring should be a true reflection of your personality, so we've put together some classic styles for you to try. Which one suits you best?
Traditional
A traditional girl is going to love a timeless, sophisticated and elegant engagement ring. A solitaire (single stone) engagement ring with a round or brilliant cut diamond is probably the most classic style out there, so suits traditional brides. The great thing about going for a design like this is that it will never go out of fashion, and it suits everyone. If you're worried about a solitaire ring being too plain, a trilogy is just as classic and brings extra sparkle.
Active
If you are particularly active and love the outdoors then it’s probably sensible to think about a more practical style. The tricky thing is finding a ring that is both practical and beautiful. That’s where bezel set engagement rings come in handy! A bezel setting is when a strip of metal is wrapped either part-way or all the way around a stone, so that the diamond is set level with it. With a traditional prong setting there is more chance of the stone catching and the diamond coming loose.
You also need to think about going for a strong and sturdy metal that is less likely to bend out of shape with wear. Platinum is the most durable of precious metals, but obviously comes with a price tag to reflect this. Palladium is becoming a more and more popular metal choice for engagement rings as it is harder than white gold and lower maintenance as it doesn’t require plating.
Bohemian
If you fancy yourself as a bit of a bohemian and have a creative or individual streak then her engagement ring should show off those characteristics. If creativity is your thing then a completely unique, handmade ring is going to be you. Alternatively, a vintage ring or family heirloom would be a great idea as it will be both unique and tell a story. This engagement ring is much less about the price tag and more about the individuality and meaningfulness.
Flamboyant
An outgoing and eccentric personality is going to need a ring to match. This engagement ring needs to be all about the ‘wow’ factor. Fancy cut stones are a really good route to go down for a lady that’s going to want her ring to stand out. Emerald, pear and marquise cut diamonds are great show stoppers. Also, perhaps think about going for a coloured stone. Many women will actually prefer the rich tone of an emerald or a sapphire to the colourless sparkle of a diamond. A gemstone or a coloured diamond is certainly going to attract some well-deserved attention.
Girly
For all of those super girlie girls out there, the engagement ring needs to be all about the sparkle. A heart or flower shaped diamonds are probably the ultimate stone for the girlie girl. Something to bear in mind when choosing a heart shaped diamond is that it won’t be justified if it is anything less than 0.5ct (about 5mm in size), princess cut (square) stones are also a great choice for an ultra-feminine lady. For added bling, a princess cut diamond looks really pretty with diamond set shoulders.
Have you chosen your perfect engagement ring style? Now it's time to find your wedding jeweller!