Engagement rings are always a point of contention for the thoughtful young suitor. What should he purchase? Should he stick with a timeless design, or should he experiment a little? Should he move away from traditional diamond stones, or would that break the young lady’s heart? White gold or platinum? One stone or many?
This kind of dilemma can confuse anyone. This is why it is worth the time to do some research, and check out some of the various designs available for engagement rings. There are a bewildering variety of designs out there, but it is not hard to decide which one is most appropriate in your case – and a little bit of research goes a long way.
The first place that most people start is with princess cut engagement rings. The princess cut is a large angular diamond, essentially a large square with sharp corners. These generally only look good if the size of the diamond is large enough – and even with a large enough diamond, they frequently fall under criticism for being too showy and ostentatious – hence the name. However, they are one of the classic choices.
Then you have the pear cut, which is a tear-shaped diamond. These provide quite an interesting look due to their slimmer, more asymmetrical profile. For those who prefer larger stones, the design of choice is usually the oval, which is a wider and more symmetrical version of the pear cut. Other symmetrical designs include the emerald cut, the radiant cut and the marquise cut.
Out of all the symmetrical designs, the styles that we particularly favour are cushion cut diamond engagement rings.
These are another very classic choice like the princess cut, but usually more well-regarded in professional jewellery circles, because the cushion cut is considered to be a bit more sophisticated. The cushion cut diamond is shaped like lengthwise rectangle with rounded corners, giving it a softer look while still retaining the sharp cuts that enhance a diamond’s sparkle. Cushion cut diamonds are usually set high and seated with prongs or a crown, and can be surrounded by smaller diamonds to create a dazzling interplay of light between the stones. The cushion cut engagement ring is very, very highly regarded by jewellers and recipients alike. Cushion cut diamonds are also the most compatible with paving (which means setting them amidst a seat of other, smaller diamonds). The paved setting combined with the intensity of the cushion cut diamond creates an absolutely fabulous effect, making pave cushion cut engagement rings a popular option.
A particularly intriguing option is the purchase of vintage engagement rings. Of course, careful care has to be taken to ensure that the ring is still in good condition, but all real vintage diamond rings should come with certificates of authenticity as well as jewellers’ written assurances of quality. Vintage cushion cut engagement rings are a particularly rare and exclusive option, and are definitely worth it if you can come across one that is of good quality.
And if you want to take it a step further, there are antique wedding bands and rings, which are usually much older (and much more well-made) than their vintage counterparts. Most diamond jewellers are of the opinion that there are very few things more beautiful than antique cushion cut engagement rings, or the people that wear them. They are quite expensive, especially with the cushion cut diamond, but that is a small price to pay for the exclusivity and exquisiteness that the rings provide.