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Engagement Ring Guide

Choosing the perfect engagement ring for the one you love can feel like a daunting prospect. Learn everything you need to know, such as how to choose the best diamond for your budget, in our engagement ring guide.

Types Of Engagement
Rings: A Buying Guide

Buying the perfect engagement ring for the one you love can feel daunting but it doesn’t need to be difficult. Learn everything you need to know about what to consider when buying an engagement ring so you can find the ideal engagement ring for your partner with our expert advice.

Shop all engagement rings

How to choose the perfect engagement ring

There are many different factors to consider when choosing an engagement ring - especially if you’re planning a surprise proposal for your partner. Here are some tips to think about when making that all-important decision.

1. Calculate the budget

The first thing to take into consideration is your budget and work out how much to spend on an engagement ring. Traditionally it has been said that you should spend 2-3 months' salary on a ring, however, nowadays it’s much more flexible with people spending anything from a few hundred Euros to a few thousand depending on their budget.

Rather than trying to save a full 3 months worth of salaries before you’re able to propose, make use of our engagement ring calculator to work out how much you can reasonably afford to spend.

2. Choose the ideal style

Choosing “the ring” should be a truly personal experience, where style is carefully considered to create the design of your partner’s dreams. Take their style and hobbies into consideration when choosing their ring. For example, are they very active or play a lot of sports? This may affect the size of the stone or ring that you end up choosing. Likewise if they work in a hospital setting, they may not be able to wear their ring underneath gloves if the stone is large so you maybe want to consider an alternative.

It is also a good idea to take note of what jewellery your partner already wears (if any). For those who like to swap and change accessories based on trends, opt for a more traditional engagement ring such as the classic solitaire setting or princess cut stone. These will work with every look they pull together. For those who like to stick to staple pieces every day or prefer to keep a carefully curated capsule wardrobe, a more creative, stand out design may fit with the styles they are already used to wearing.

3. Get the ring size right

Making sure the ring fits is a very important step but we know that not everyone knows their ring size – and that’s ok! Here are some ways you can find the perfect ring size for you or your partner

Get it sized
professionally
DO IT
SECRETLY
Use a
ring sizer

4. Choose the ring setting

There are many different types of engagement ring settings. The term “setting” refers to how the gemstones are mounted into the metal band that goes around the finger. The ring setting is dependant on personal preference but certain types will help to highlight the beauty of the diamond or gemstone you’ve chosen.

5. Choose the diamond shape

The next detail to think about is the shape of the stone you want on the ring. The shape of the stone takes into account how well the diamond has been cut. Well-cut, properly proportioned diamonds have the best amount of sparkle.

Diamond shapes are categorised into two groups: round diamonds and fancy shape diamonds. Round diamonds are the most traditional diamond shape while fancy shape diamonds refer to any diamond that isn't round. Diamonds Factory offers princess, cushion, emerald, oval, pear, marquise, heart, Asscher, and radiant fancy shaped stones so it's worth browsing through them all to find something your partner will love.

Oval
Emerald
Princess
Pear

Oval

An oval-shaped diamond is a really elegant stone. This cut features lots of shimmering facets that make the light dance and can create the illusion of longer, slender fingers. Bold and sophisticated, the oval diamond is a unique shape for anyone who likes to express their individuality.

Shop Oval Cut Engagement Rings

Emerald

Emerald-cut stones are sought after for their vintage-style glamour and eye-catching depth. The octagonal step cut features parallel, rectangular facets, and the large, open table (top face) highlights the stone’s colour and clarity. The emerald cut is a great choice for those seeking an Art Deco-inspired ring style.

Shop Emerald Cut Engagement Rings

Princess

The princess shape is one of the most popular diamonds shapes, loved for decades for its contemporary look and gorgeous sparkle. Princess-cut diamonds are square-cut stones with pointed corners so are perfect for those who love a more modern style of ring.

Shop Princess Cut Engagement Rings

Pear

A pear shape stone features a round shape that is tapered into a teardrop. Just like oval and marquise diamonds, the flattering pear shape helps to elongate the finger – especially when worn with the point facing towards the nail – and offers unrivalled sparkle..

Shop Pear Cut Engagement Rings

7. Choose a precious stone

Arguably the most important part of the ring, next, you’ll need to decide on the gemstone that will take centre stange on the engagement ring. Diamonds are thought to be the most traditional stones for an engagement ring but if your beloved leans towards less-than-traditional tastes, there’s a plethora of alternatives for you to choose from.

Diamond

For many years, engagement rings have featured beautiful, sparkling diamonds. They are the top choice for proposals as they are hardy, durable, and as long-lasting as your love for eachother. They offer beautiful sparkle and depth and you can even find them in a rainbow of different colours so can suitanyone’s individual tastes and style.

Shop diamond engagement rings

Emerald

Emeralds have been used in jewellery as a symbol of fertility and truth for centuries. These deep green gems make for a really unique engagement ring as they have exquisite depth and are thought to bring the wearer luck and good health.

Shop emerald engagement rings

Sapphire

Giving a sapphire engagement ring to your loved one is a wonderful choice for those who love to show off their individuality. These unique stones are almost as hard as diamonds, are considered to be rarer, so are just as precious and durable as your love, and the perfect alternative to diamonds.

Shop sapphire engagement rings

Ruby

If you’re looking for the perfect non-traditional ring to represent your unique wedding and marriage, rubies are the perfect choice. Although not as durable as diamonds or sapphires, rubies are still one of the most hard-wearing gemstones, so your beloved can wear it for many years.

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8. How to buy

So you’ve worked out how you want the ring to look, you’ve found out the correct size (either by asking or by being sneaky,) and you’ve decided on the right stone, setting, and metal. How do you purchase this perfect ring? There are a number of different options for you to choose from.

Ready-to-buy
Custom made
Bespoke

Ready-to-buy

Ready-to-buy rings are like buying clothes from a shop – they’re easy to find and you know exactly what you’re getting. However, they don’t offer any kind of customisation or personalisation so if you have a specific combination of features you’re looking for, you might not be able to find exactly what you’re looking for. But ready-to-buy rings boast the quickest delivery times as they’re already made and ready to be shipped out to you.

Shop Ready-to-Buy Engagement Rings

Custom made

Custom-made rings are created using existing elements that are brought together for a personalised result. With our custom made rings you can choose from a number of mix-and-match details including, the size of the ring band, the quality of the stone, whether the diamonds are natural or lab grown, the size of the stone, and a host of other details to make the ring perfect. Almost all Diamonds Factory rings are made this way to your specifications.

Shop Custom Made Engagement Rings

Bespoke

If you’re looking for a ring that is truly unique – or you have a great idea in mind that you can’[t find elsewhere – you can get exactly what you want by using our bespoke engagement ring service. Our jewellers will talk you through your vision, draw up a design, and craft your ring to your exact specifications. This option offers the most individuality and creativity but does have a higher price point so many sure you take that into account when planning your budget.

Create your own Bespoke Engagement Rings

Once you’ve worked out whether bespoke, custom-made, or ready-to-buy is right for you, decide where you’d prefer to purchase the ring. Choosing whether you buy your ring online or in-store comes down to personal preference.

Buy online

Buy in-store

Engagement ring FAQs

Here’s a selection of carefully curated FAQ’s to get you through picking an engagement ring for your partner:

Tradition dictates that you should spend between 1-3 month’s salary on an engagement ring. However, nowadays many people are ignoring that custom and only spending what they can afford instead, taking some of the pressure off.
Buying your engagement ring online is a convenient, safe, and secure way to buy discreetly. We will send your ring out in discreet packaging with a reliable courier – perfect for those with busy lifestyles!
It depends on the type of ring you buy. Ready-to-buy engagement rings ship out within a few days and will be with you much faster than a bespoke service ring which can take a few weeks to be ready.
The average price of an engagement ring is €4,500 in Ireland, but the amount you spend can be much more flexible than that depending on your budget.
It’s important to work out your ideal budget for an engagement ring so you can ensure you can afford it – whether buying outright or paying through finance. Check out our engagement ring calculator to work out your budget.

Engagement ring inspiration

Looking for more? Continue reading to find inspiration on choosing other rings to pair with their engagement ring as well as what to do once they’ve said ‘yes!’

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