CHOOSING AN ENGAGEMENT RING
Navigating the world of engagement rings can be as overwhelming as it is exciting; the choices feel endless, and the advice even more so. Michael brings years of expertise in the engagement ring market to guide you through it with clarity and confidence, ensuring that whatever you choose, you can be certain you're acquiring an exceptional diamond ring, one that will be treasured for a lifetime.
THE THREE APPROACHES TO CHOOSING YOUR FIANCÉE'S ENGAGEMENT RING
Old-school romantic, personally choosing the ring makes the surprise even more special- a truly memorable touch for the perfect proposal. Remember, it's a heartfelt symbol of your love, and with a little research, it can be made even more meaningful.
A middle ground. If you're not quite ready to choose the ring yourself but still want to leave an impression, we can arrange for you to present the diamond in a glass box, so your fiancée can select her preferred setting afterwards. It's a thoughtful gesture that adds a personal, charming touch to your proposal.
Hand in hand. If you'd like your fiancée to be involved from the get-go, let me know your price point and I'll tailor the presentation accordingly — ensuring we have the right diamonds and suitable setting options ready for her to choose from.
KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER
Spend: Consider what you're comfortable spending, while keeping your fiancée's lifestyle in mind. Diamond prices rise exponentially rather than gradually — due to rarity, they hit sharp financial spikes at critical weight thresholds and grade boundaries.
The diamond that suits your fiancée's style:
Contemporary: Emerald, Asscher or Radiant
Vintage: Antique Cushion
Classic Elegance: Brilliant, Pear or Oval
Romantic: Heart
Setting styles: There is something to be said for an elegant solitaire where the ring’s shoulders taper into the setting, highlighting the stone; adding a touch of diamonds along the shoulders is exquisite; or making a statement with a diamond halo around the gem, creating a larger spread or a pair of shoulder stones.
Colour of gold: See what colour gold your fiancée wears most often, as an indicator. For yellow gold, a white setting keeps the yellow hue from tinting the diamond. Rose gold offers a warm alternative, while white gold and platinum give a cleaner, more classic look.
Wedding bands: I recommend considering them at the same time as your engagement ring, so we can design/make them to sit comfortably together with no gaps. Engraving of your wedding date, with your initials, can be added to your bands.
Finger size: Ideally, take a ring she wears on her engagement finger to be sized, or ask one of her girlfriends to discreetly have her finger measured whilst out shopping together.
DIAMOND SHAPES
Round
Oval
Cushion
Radiant
Heart
Emerald
Asscher
Pear
Marquise
Round-Brilliant diamond is globally the number one choice for an engagement ring. The most scintillating diamond, with 57 to 58 facets that refract light from all angles, maximising luminosity.
Oval diamond, similar to a brilliant-cut diamond, but with an elongated shape. It maximises its carat weight by appearing larger than a round stone of the same size.
Cushion diamond, an antique cut with large facets that create a softer sparkle, a high table, and an open culet epitomise vintage style.
Radiant diamond, available in a square or rectangular profile with cut corners, resembles a brilliant cut due to its intense faceting.
Heart-shape diamond, the heart-cut diamond features a modified brilliant cut in the shape of a heart symbol. It has 56 to 58 triangular and kite-shaped facets that give the stone its exceptional fire and brilliance.
Emerald cut diamond: a sleek, rectangular shape, elegant and beautifully understated due to its long facets, creating a softer sparkle than other highly faceted diamonds. It is key to choose a high clarity grade given the stone’s transparency.
Asscher cut diamond, inspired by the Art Deco era, is famous for its unique optical illusion known as the "endless hall of mirrors" and its clipped corners. Due to the nature of their cutting method, these diamonds are deeper, which makes them appear smaller when viewed from above than other stones of similar carat weight.
Pear shape diamond, a pear-shaped diamond is a unique hybrid gemstone combining a rounded end like a round brilliant and a tapered point like a marquise cut, creating a distinctive teardrop silhouette.
Marquise diamond. Like a pair of lips, fuller in the middle and tapering to a point at either end, and cut like a brilliant diamond, giving maximum brilliance and shine.
DIAMOND GRADING
​The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is the foremost authority on grading and clarifying diamonds since 1931. Grading diamonds under the 4C's: Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat.
There is, in fact, a 5th C: the Certificate that accompanies every diamond from 0.15 points and confirms its qualities, weight and measurements.
CUT
A diamond’s proportions affect its light performance, which in turn affects its beauty and overall appeal. Diamonds with excellent proportions, symmetry, and polish optimise their interaction with light, increasing brightness, fire, and scintillation. The GIA classifies a diamond's cut from Excellent to very good, fair and poor.
Michael works with diamonds graded Excellent cut, polish, and symmetry (Triple X).​​​
Ideal Proportion Ranges ​
Table %: 53.0 - 58.0
Total Depth %: 59.0 - 62.5
Crown Angle: 32° - 36°
Pavillion Angle: 40.6° - 41.0°
Girdle Thickness: Thin to slightly thick (faceted)
Culet: None (pointed) for modern cuts and an open culet for antique cuts ​​
COLOUR
Diamonds are valued by how closely they approach colourlessness – the less colour, the higher their value. The scale of colour begins with the letter D, representing colourless, and continues with increasing presence of colour to the letter Z, or light yellow or brown.
Michael predominantly works with diamonds in the D to F range and G to H if needed.
CLARITY
Clarity refers to the presence of any internal inclusions or external blemishes; if present, these
imperfections can affect a diamond's overall appearance and value.
Michael works with Diamonds in the VVs to Vs range.
1 Universal System. 11 Grades
All viewed under a loupe of 10x magnification
Flawless (FL). No inclusions and no blemishes visible.
Internally Flawless (IF). No inclusions visible but does have blemishes.
Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2). Inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader.
Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2). Inclusions are observed with effort but are minor.
Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2). Inclusions are noticeable.
Included (I1, I2, and I3). Inclusions are obvious, which may affect transparency, brilliance and durability.
CARAT
Diamond carat is the standard measurement unit for a diamond's weight, with 1 carat equal to 0.2 grams (or 200 milligrams). It is often divided into 100 "points" (for example, a 0.50 carat diamond is 50 points). While carat indicates weight, two diamonds of the same carat may differ in size depending on their cut and shape.
FLOURESCENCE
You will note on the GIA certificate the mention of fluorescence; Diamond fluorescence is the visible glow (usually blue) that some diamonds emit when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, such as sunlight or a backlight. It is a natural characteristic caused by trace amounts of elements, such as nitrogen, within the stone. It occurs in about 25% to 35% of all gem-grade diamonds and stops immediately once the UV source is removed. Michael works with diamonds that have no fluorescence
CERTIFICATE
The GIA certificate is the most recognised in the diamond industry. Acquiring a diamond with a GIA Triple X (Excellent cut, polish, and symmetry) certificate guarantees you a perfect-cut diamond. It is ideal to choose a diamond laser-engraved with the GIA certificate number on its girdle, which can only be viewed under a jeweller’s loupe, so that you can match your diamond to its certificate.​
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