The Perfect Choice: What You Need to Know When Shopping for a Ring

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A ring is far more than just a piece of expensive jewellery. It’s a symbol, and what that symbol signifies – whether it be an engagement, a milestone, or simply a token of affection – can make a huge impact. 

Such an impactful gesture can be complicated to get right, however; knowing exactly what ring to choose carries with it a great deal of nuance, and finding something that strikes the perfect balance between having the right aesthetic quality and sentimental weight can be a minefield. 

In this guide, you’ll learn all you need to know to make your choice confidently.

Deciding on a Budget

Naturally, one of the biggest considerations you’re going to have when deciding on any piece of jewellery is your budget. The cost of a ring is determined by a multitude of different factors, including the size, type of metal, the gemstones used, and the craftsmanship involved. Setting a price range from the get-go can save you a lot of confusion and nicely narrows your options down to help prevent decision paralysis. 

Many people go by the ‘three-month salary’ rule when choosing an engagement ring – but you don’t have to go for that. Choose a budget within your means, as a cheaper ring can be just as effective as an expensive one (price isn’t the be-all, end-all that many people think it is). 

Wedding rings tend to be more affordable, but again, there are many factors that determine the final price. 

‘The Four Cs’ for Gem Stones

While there are several elements that go into choosing a ring, much of the decision comes down to the type of gemstone you choose. Thankfully, the concept of ‘The Four Cs’ is here to help you: this method breaks choosing a ring down into the four main categories determining their appearance and prices, which are Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight: 

Cut
The cut of a stone – especially when considering diamond rings – is crucial for determining how it reflects the surrounding light. The most popular cuts are round, princess, oval, and emerald, with each offering a distinct look. 

Colour
Colour is another major consideration. For stones with a natural colour like sapphires, rubies, and emeralds, a richer hue usually means a higher price tag. Diamonds, on the other hand, are graded from D (colourless) to Z (light colour). 

Clarity 
Clarity refers to the degree to which the gemstone exhibits flaws, whether they be on the surface or internal. Flawless stones can be significantly more expensive, whereas those with flaws are almost always more affordable. 

Carat Weight
Carat refers to the weight of the stone. Heavier stones are rarer and therefore cost more than those smaller in size. It’s worth mentioning, however, that a well-cut stone can appear larger than its actual weight. 

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Choosing the Metal

Once you’ve determined the gemstone you’re going to go with, next up is the type of metal. While there are only really three main types of metal to choose from for most high-end pieces, your decision can make a huge difference both to the aesthetic quality of the ring and its long-term durability. Here are the three standard choices:

Silver
Silver may be slightly softer than most metals and therefore less durable, but it is the cheapest. You could also opt for sterling silver (rings that are 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper) which makes the ring more durable. 

Gold
Gold is a very popular choice and comes in white, yellow, and rose varieties. Like silver, gold can be alloyed to improve its durability (given that it’s naturally quite soft): 14k and 18k tend to be the most popular choices. 

Platinum
Platinum is a popular choice for those who want the appearance of silver but something of a more premium and durable feel. This type of metal is most commonly used for wedding rings. 

On Customisation

Having chosen both the gemstone and the type of metal you’d like for the ring, you can go a step further by deciding to customise it. There are many different customisation options – here are the most common:

Engraving
Engravings make for possibly the most popular customisation option. Usually, people opt for a name, quote, or special date.

Side Stones
Some people decide to customise the ring they’re buying with extra jewels on the side. This adds a unique look and makes the ring sparkle better in the light, although the decision to do so can drastically increase the price. 

Setting
Setting refers to the arrangement of the gemstones you choose. A standard, classic setting would be to go for a single-stone arrangement in the centre of the ring, but there are other more unique options such as halo or three-stone which can add personality. 

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On Sizing

You can pick the perfect stone, metal, and customisations possible, but none of that matters if the ring you’ve had designed doesn’t fit the wearer. 

A ring must both fit securely but also be comfortable, and given the variability in people’s fingers, this can be a fine balance to determine. Most jewellers offer sizing services, so be sure to make use of this perk if it’s available to you – sizing determination methods can differ between jewellers, so it’s always best to go with the jeweller you’re buying the ring from if you can. If you’re buying online, many places offer a printable sizing chart which can also be helpful.

Many jewellers offer what’s known as a ‘comfort fit’, whereby they make the interior of the ring slightly rounder to make it more comfortable; this helps to reduce friction for rings that are to be worn permanently or most of the year. 

Wrapping Up

There’s certainly a lot that goes into buying a ring, and if there’s one piece of advice any jeweller would offer, it would be to take your time. Buying an engagement ring, wedding ring, or anniversary ring is a serious investment, and it’s something that’ll last a lifetime if you choose properly. 

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