Diamond Engagement Rings

How to choose your perfect diamond ring

Ever since the 1940s, diamond has been the most popular choice of gem for engagement rings. It’s not hard to see why — a diamond sparkles like no other stone; its colour works with any outfit; and as the hardest known substance, diamond withstands wear and tear better than any other gemstone. So if you're considering purchasing a diamond engagement ring, what are the main issues you need to consider?

What style?

A good starting point is to step back from the detail for a moment, and ask yourself what overall style of ring would work best. If you're buying the ring without your partner's input, you should consider what jewellery she wears already as well as her general style of dress. Should the ring be classic in design or more unusual? Understated or showy? Modern or vintage-style?

There are also practical considerations to take into account. Would a delicate ring or a large ring suit her work or lifestyle, or would something more robust or something smaller be better?

For more information, we've produced guidance on some of the main styles of engagement ring: solitaire rings, trilogy rings, Art Deco rings, vintage rings, modern rings, and unusual rings.

Which diamond or diamonds?

Your choice of diamond is likely to be the single biggest factor determining the overall cost of your engagement ring. You’ll need to consider the shape, size and quality that would work best for you. A combination of the style of the ring you want and your budget should inform your decision, but please read our guide to choosing a diamond to help you find the perfect stone. 

At Ingle & Rhode, we only source diamonds that we can trace back to mines in Canada and Australia. This means that we can guarantee that all of our diamonds are conflict-free. 

Which precious metal?

Unless you've been given a steer, you should look again to your partner's existing jewellery. If her preference is for yellow or rose gold, then the choice is simple. If she favours white metal, then you'll need to choose between white gold and platinum. If she doesn't wear jewellery, and you've got nothing to go on, then white gold and platinum are the safest options based on current popularity. You can read our guide to gold versus platinum for information about the key differences between these precious metals.

At Ingle & Rhode, we offer a choice of certified Fairtrade or recycled gold or platinum.

Which finger size?

Once you've settled on a style, a diamond and a precious metal you should be able to narrow your options down to a shortlist of preferred rings. Once you've made a decision, you'll just need to check whether it is the right size. If you're buying the ring as a surprise, you may not know what her finger size is, but we have some guidance on how to get the right ring size which should help.

In the gallery below, you can view the diamond rings available in our collection. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions, or to discuss commissioning your own bespoke design.