Three ways to create a classic look for your engagement ring

Everyone loves the classics, right? When it comes to engagement rings, the old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” certainly rings true, with traditional designs still very much in fashion amongst modern brides. If you’re looking to recreate your own classic look, then you might be pondering the question of what elements you should be looking to incorporate into your ring.

Here, we break down three different components to a traditional ring as you begin your search for the most important piece of jewellery you will ever buy.

Setting

The setting of your ring plays an important role in determining how it’ll look when resting on your finger. Traditionally, the most popular setting for an engagement ring is the solitaire. Even if you haven’t heard of it before, you will certainly have seen a ring in this design, and it’s still favoured by a third of brides-to-be today.

There are so many benefits to the solitaire setting, which is why it’s stood the test of time. It highlights and accentuates the most important element of your ring, the central stone, so choose a diamond of high quality, as it will be the star of the show.

However, this perceived benefit can also be a drawback for some buyers who might be shopping on a tighter budget. If you can only afford a diamond of lower quality, the solitaire setting may not be the best approach, since it will show off any blemishes and inclusions in the stone.

Centre stone

If you’re set on sailing comfortably down the mainstream when it comes to engagement rings, then you will likely be looking at a diamond as the central stone.

Not only will the right diamond look elegant and effortlessly beautiful, it’s also the hardest stone on the market, meaning it’s more durable and will better resist damage. This might be an important factor for people with a particularly active lifestyle or hands-on job. There is also no other stone that’ll give you that eye-catching sparkle quite like a diamond does.

You will no doubt have seen photos of celebrities’ garish diamond rings. Unfortunately for us mere mortals, replicating these Hollywood looks costs a pretty penny. If you’re shopping on any kind of budget, there will likely have to be some level of compromise with your diamond. Whether you’re shopping with a partner or for a partner, it’s important to be aware of the recipient’s tastes and preferences, since this will help guide your search.

If size matters and bigger equals better, then you may have to compromise on the diamond’s clarity to bring the price down. Or, if that stunning sparkle is more important, then perhaps put less emphasis on the carat and more on the cut and clarity.

Metal

When it comes to metals, you are a little more restricted than with the other elements of your ring if you want to keep it classic. Traditionally, engagement rings have been one of two colours: white or yellow. Whilst there are other more modern options on the market such as rose gold, these two colours have long been the preferred choice, and certainly create an elegant, classic finish to any ring.

The metals most commonly used to give these preferred finishes are yellow gold and platinum. You might opt for one over the other depending on your skin tone or personal preference, or simply to match the ring with the rest of your jewellery collection. Whichever you choose, both metals are sure to provide that quintessential engagement ring look you’re looking for.