How To Choose An Engagement Ring
Choosing an engagement ring is an incredibly personal decision, often marking the beginning of a beautiful journey together. At Minka Jewels, we understand that this process can feel overwhelming, given the multitude of choices and the significance of the ring itself. To help you navigate this special purchase, we've put together a quick and easy guide on how to choose the perfect engagement ring, highlighting a few key things to consider. For further support and information, please do email us or book to visit us and our jewels in our London studio.
Set your budget
Before you start exploring different styles and designs, it's important to establish a budget. Knowing your spending limit will narrow down your options and ensure you don't fall in love with something beyond your means. Remember, an engagement ring is a symbol of your love and commitment, and its value lies more in its sentiment than its price tag.
Cut, Clarity, Colour & Carat weight
When it comes to gemstones, understanding the four Cs - Cut, Clarity, Color, and Carat weight - is particularly important as they each determine a stone’s quality and price.
- Cut: The cut of a stone affects its brilliance and sparkle. A well-cut stone will reflect light beautifully, making it appear more radiant.
- Clarity: This refers to the presence of internal or external flaws (inclusions or blemishes). Stones with fewer imperfections are rarer and more valuable. With a trained eye, Lucy carefully inspects every stone to ensure that those she sources are of the highest quality.
- Colour: Every precious gemstone will come in a range of colours, with each tone being indicative of its quality and value. At Minka Jewels, we specialise in coloured gemstones, sourcing each one for its exceptional, and often untreated, colour and unparalleled beauty.
- Carat Weight: This measures the size of the stone - while larger stones are rarer and more expensive, it's essential to balance carat weight with the other Cs to ensure the best overall quality.
Choose a ring style
The style of the engagement ring should reflect the personal taste and lifestyle of its wearer. Here are some styles to consider:
Solitaire
A single stone, timeless and elegant. A modern take on a traditional Solitaire ring, our Athena Rings feature a single gemstone, set in 18k gold step detailing that lifts the stone above the band, giving it the elevated platform it deserves.
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Solitaire Rings
Halo
A central stone surrounded by a halo of smaller stones, enhancing its colour, brilliance and sparkle. Our Berlin rings feature an octagonal-cut stone, surrounded by a halo of round-cut diamonds and set in a chunky 18k yellow gold band - wonderfully weighty, bold and beautiful.
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Halo Rings
Trilogy
Trilogy rings feature three stones to represent the past, present, and future of your relationship. Trilogy rings span across our much-loved Atlantis ,Les Trois Vellées and Bridal collections, each featuring a standout gemstone, enhanced by the diamonds sat either side.
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Trilogy Rings
Toi Et Moi
An incredibly romantic style which features two stones sat side by side to represent two entities meeting as one. A contemporary take on a traditional Toi Et Moi style, our Bridal Toi Et Moi ring features a geometrically cut sapphire and tourmaline, set in a protective, chunky 18k yellow gold band - the perfect alternative to a traditional engagement ring.
Sapphire:
Tourmaline
18k yellow gold
Ring size: L
A contemporary take on a traditional Toi Et Moi style, this ring features a geometrically cut sapphire and tourmaline, set in a protective, chunky 18k yellow gold band. Translating as "you and me", this incredibly romantic style of ring symbolises two entities meeting as one.
Gypsy
A sleek, simple and durable style which dates back to Victorian times, where the gemstone sits flush to its band. This style is perfect for those with hands-on lifestyles, as the brand protects the central stone from knocks and scrapes. Our Berlin Gypsy Rings are a firm-favourite - cool, contemporary and wonderfully androgynous.
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Gypsy Rings
Consider customisation
For a truly unique and personalised touch, consider commissioning a ring that reflects your love story. Our bespoke service allows you to create a one-of-a-kind piece - we can design it from scratch to create the jewellery of your dreams or customise one of our signature designs with a special stone of your choice.
Think about the future
While the engagement ring is a symbol of your current commitment, it's also a piece of jewellery that your partner will cherish and wear for years to come. Consider their long-term style preferences and how the ring will fit with their lifestyle and sit with existing jewels. At Minka Jewels we create future-proof pieces, offering modern twists on easy-to-wear, bold shapes, designed to be seen and loved every day.
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