Expert Tips on Choosing the Perfect Engagement Ring

“A woman has to admire her engagement ring throughout her life. She gives that diamond an extraordinary meaning and treasures it. The engagement ring is the universal symbol of true love and commitment for two people to be together forever. There are no universal rules for choosing the ring. The diamond, however, has a very special meaning. Its etymology comes from the Greek word “adamas”, which means indomitable and invincible. It is the hardest gem and the most resistant, and is a symbol of something that will last.” — Francesco Lops, Creative Designer of Damas

“Cater to her style. Make sure the ring fits her personality, whether that depends on the size of the diamond, the color of the stone, or the band.

Marriage is a tradition in most cultures. The wedding ring, however, is constantly evolving. If she is a woman of traditional style, go with a more vintage look or solitaire stone for a delicate piece – softer toned rings. If she is more trendy and modern, be sure to pay attention to wedding-ring trends such as halos or colored stones – these are edgier styles.” — Francesco Lops

“The art of defining the best ring is something you learn with experience and through different life events. An experienced expert can help you through the selection process. By being a jewelry designer, traveling, and speaking with people all over the world, I have gained a good level of knowledge on how to choose the best jewel for a woman. It will vary hugely as it depends on your emotions during different periods of life and the flow of events.” — Roberto Coin

“The engagement ring is the first big promise and commitment of two lovers, a very important and romantic moment in which a couple feels their love will last forever and wants to show it to the world. It might sound old-fashioned that I would suggest a diamond, but this is the most magical stone – and magic is always unexpected. The Roberto Coin ‘Cento’ diamond, for instance, is the only diamond in the world with 100 facets, as traditional ones have only 57. I believe this is the occasion to gift a jewel that is both extremely precious and essential, as love is, while being truly unique.” — Roberto Coin

“When buying a diamond ring, choose a diamond that has been assessed by a reputable gem-testing laboratory. At Garrard, we use only GIA-reported diamonds with colors D (colorless) to G (near colorless), and clarities FL (flawless) to VS2 (very slight inclusions). A diamond’s life and fire are all closely related to the precision of the cut; a badly-cut diamond will look dull and lifeless, while a well-cut diamond will dance and shimmer with light.” — Sara Prentice, Creative Director of Garrard

“The Eternal Cut™ is exclusive to Garrard; it features 81 facets rather than the 57 in a standard, round brilliant cut. These extra facets intensify the light flow and create an increased brilliance. The result is a delicate petal appearance that is often compared to a flower blossoming.

Once you have chosen your perfect diamond, you need to set the stone in a way that will allow the light to travel back to the viewer unhindered, giving you maximum sparkle. A classic setting, such as Garrard’s ‘Timeless’ collection, enhances the center stone with carefully chosen surrounding accents whilst allowing maximum light reflection and refraction.” — Sara Prentice

“Garrard have been creating exceptional colored-stone engagement rings for the discerning since 1735, in particular our iconic sapphire and diamond cluster designs. When considering a colored-gemstone engagement ring, the stone needs to be hard enough to take the daily knocks associated with rings, therefore the most favored are sapphire and ruby. Look for a good and even saturation of color – for sapphire the most desired is a royal blue, while you want the richest velvety red in ruby.

Every Garrard engagement-ring gemstone is carefully selected to adhere to strict ideals based on years of expertise. We have been celebrating love stories since 1735.” — Sara Prentice

“Ultimately, the diamond that the wearer wants is the one they feel an affinity for, the one they will be proud to wear. Forevermark’s promise not only offers exceptional beauty, but also real assurance around the integrity of the diamond — each one is natural, untreated, and responsibly sourced.

The design should fit the wearer’s personality. For example, the Forevermark Setting is a four-prong design for a timeless, classic look.” — Gareth Jones, Diamond Expert at Forevermark