The ring

Choosing the perfect engagement ring can be an intimidating and drawn out process if you’re not sure what you want or are trying to navigate all of the options…

Here are a few ideas and suggestions from the team at Leskes Jewellers to make the process easier.

Your starting point is usually to think about what your price point might be.  Having a budget or a range in your mind from the outset will make it easier for our team to guide you in the right direction. Despite the myths, there really are no set rules about what you should spend on an engagement ring for your partner.  It should always be dependent on what you can afford and what you are happy to pay. 

Your next decision is generally going to be the gem type. The traditional choice is usually a diamond. Diamonds come in two forms, mined from the earth or grown in a laboratory (also known as ethically sourced diamonds).  These types of diamonds are increasingly popular due to both their affordability and their status as both environmentally and ethically friendly. Moissanite can also be thrown into the mix as a third option as a diamond stimulant as it is also a great choice if you are wanting the diamond sparkle at a much lower price point. Of course, everyone is different and we can offer a range of options in and diamond or gemstone of your choice in both our ready to wear collections and our bespoke custom designs. 

The price of the diamond or gem will depend on a range of factors, with the basic considerations bring size or carat weight, color, color depth and hue, clarity or inclusions and the quality of the cut (which ultimately provides the sparkle).  

The general rule is the bigger it is, the more expensive it will be. Again, this will depend on the stone you choose and the size and style of the ring.

There also a range of stone cuts to choose from including round, oval, square, radiant, emerald, pear, marquise and cushion to name a few. The ring can also vary in style including solitaire, trilogy, halo or other preferred styles.  The style of the moment definitely seems to be solitaire but some of our less traditional customers are preferring to design their own bespoke ring and are guided by our extensive range of sample designs from which to work.

Additional options are “secret stones” which you can add for that extra special touch, such as a small pink argyle diamond within the ring design or on the inside of the ring. The inclusion of a very rare pink argyle diamond ensures the ring is not only for lifelong sentiment but is also a heirloom that can be passed down from generation to generation considering The Argyle mine in Western Australia is now closed. 

The style of setting is the last important decision and can include bezel setting or a plethora of claw set styles.  We factor in with you the wearability of the ring which can ultimately impact the setting you choose. Rings can be made from a range of metals including yellow gold, rose gold, white gold or platinum. The metal type and carat type (9ct, 14ct or 18ct)  can again be adjusted to suit your particular budget range.

If you are surprising your partner and are having the ring made without their knowledge, it is a great idea to try and find out their ring size first. The team at Leskes Jewellers have a few sneaky tricks up their sleeve to help you figure this out. Friends or family may also be able to help with this. This will then mean that the ring you propose with will fit perfectly.

This guide is simply the basics to get you thinking about the next step.  Naturally we can go into any or all of these points in much more detail or you can leave to us to ensure the perfect ring awaits you at the end of the process. Hopefully this will assist you if you are preparing to propose soon and are wanting help to choose a ring.  Many of you like to surprise your partner but just as many couples are now also choosing the ring together or at the very least, your lovers are getting better at dropping not so subtle hints to their partners and friends about exactly what they want.  Either way, helping you choose the perfect ring is what the Leskes team loves doing the most.

Please pop in and have a no obligation chat with one of our knowledgeable team. Appointments can be made for private consultations and of course, remote systems such as Zoom and MS teams also mean you don’t necessarily have to visit the store. You can check us out on Instagram to see what we do.

We look forward to seeing you soon and helping you choose that lifelong special ring.