Engagement Rings in London – Shopping Guide

Shopping for special items can be a cool way to spend time. It gives you a chance to get out of the house, finally, after multiple comparisons and buy that item. Buying an engagement ring is even more special, as you know that the lady who will be wearing it is quite special and you will be spending your lives together. With multiple designs and stores to choose from, it may seem a bit daunting to go through the process alone. It is one of the biggest purchases that you will probably make. So here is a shopping guide to take the stress out of your shopping trip.

Planning

Plan on what you think your to be would like. Ask around, talk to her sisters, mom and friends to get an idea about the ring that she would like. It is possible that she has discussed some wedding plans and tales with her friends and maybe tapping into that will give you a very clear idea. Because your partner is going to wear the ring, having some input from her would be fantastic.

Budget

Budget is a basic that you need to decide on and one that you have to have covered. There was a marketing ploy that talked about having a ring that was equivalent of three months salary. But you don’t have to follow this. Rings can be of any cost but they will be serving a higher sentimental value. You can pick up a ring that your budget allows. An engagement ring will be bought once and worn a lifetime, so you need to choose carefully.

Ring size

Measure your fiancés ring finger to know the ring size. Proposals are a surprise so you may want to get the correct ring size, making for a perfect proposal. This reminds of a story though of Queen Elizabeth. When she was proposed by Prince Philip, her ring was larger than her ring finger and it was resized after. So, it is ok for little bloopers to happen, but a good thing to keep in mind.

Ring type

Choosing the ring type may be a good thing to consider as it will play into your budget. Do you want a simple band or the band should be in a particular shape or form? Some rings can have a twisted band to look prettier. Then you need to decide the metal to be used for the band. Gold, platinum, white gold and rose gold are choices that you have. Some can even go for silver bands. Whichever band you choose, it will again affect your budget. You can find a lot of options through markets such as Hatton Garden Jewellery.

The stone

Check out the stone that you want to be added to your ring. Diamonds have the four Cs for their classification and grading. This will tell you how your diamond would look like and its quality. The cut of the stone will determine its sparkle factor, the facets that would show off more light. The carat is the weight or size of the diamond and this will determine the cost and value. Clarity means the number of inclusions in the diamond, the more it has clarity, the higher the price. You can choose different cuts of the stone depending on ring size and design. Princess, cushion and asscher are some popular cuts used.

Market

The next thing you need to have in mind is the market or channel through which you want to get the ring. You could buy online or check out a large physical market. For engagement rings in London, many go to the Hatton Garden as it is a well-known diamond market. Markets like these can give you the advantage of comparison and more offers.