Whether you're planning a surprise proposal or shopping together as a couple, choosing an engagement ring is one of life's most exciting and meaningful purchases. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to find the perfect ring that reflects your unique love story.
In this article, we'll cover the essential steps to engagement ring shopping - from understanding diamond and gemstone quality to choosing the right setting and metal. You'll also learn common mistakes to avoid and insider tips that can save you both time and money.
As Australia's leading bespoke engagement ring specialists, Cushla Whiting has guided thousands of couples through this journey. Our expertise comes from three siblings combining their unique skills - Hamish, our GIA-certified gemologist and diamond buyer, Cushla with her architectural design background, and Anna with her passion for the family story and business acumen. This guide draws from our years of experience helping couples create rings that are as individual as their relationships.
First of All: Here Are Some Things NOT to Do When Buying an Engagement Ring
Before we dive into our expert recommendations, let's start with a bit of fun - and save you from some common pitfalls! Here are the engagement ring "don'ts" we see all too often in our showroom:
Don't Buy Based on Certificate Alone
One of the biggest mistakes we see is customers buying a diamond based purely on its GIA certificate without actually seeing the stone. A certificate can't capture a diamond's beauty or tell you if it will sparkle. Even diamonds with identical certificates can look dramatically different in person. Always view the diamond with your own eyes - as we say, "buy the diamond, not the certificate."
Don't Assume Bigger is Always Better
Diamond size is completely subjective with some preferring to have the biggest diamond they can possibly have and others preferring a more modest size. It needs to be right for the wearer.
Don't Follow Rigid Spending Rules
Forget the outdated "three months' salary" rule - this was just marketing from the 1930s! There's no magic formula for how much to spend on an engagement ring. The perfect ring is one that represents your love story and fits comfortably within your financial situation.
Eight tips to make sure you pick the perfect ring
Tip 1: Start with Understanding the 4 Cs (But Know Their True Importance)
The 4 Cs - Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat - are your foundation for understanding diamond quality. However, not all Cs are created equal:
Cut is King: This determines how brilliantly your diamond sparkles. A poorly cut diamond will look dull even with perfect color and clarity. At Cushla Whiting, we use ASET technology to ensure all our diamonds have exceptional light performance and optical symmetry.
Color Matters Less Than You Think: For round diamonds, D-G grades appear colorless to the naked eye. For fancy shapes, stick to D-F for the best appearance. Colour is completely subjective with some people preferring icy white diamonds and others warmer hues. Icy white being rarer in nature is more valuable than warmer hued diamonds but the beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to colour
Eye-Clean Clarity is Sufficient: You don't need a flawless diamond. Our gemologist carefully selects VS-SI diamonds that are completely eye-clean, offering the same visual impact as more expensive grades.
Tip 2: Consider Alternative Gemstones for Something Unique
Diamonds and sapphires are both traditional and timeless choices for engagement rings
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Antique Diamonds - These are genuine antique diamonds cut by hand in the 1600-1800’s. Renowned for their charm and soft light return.
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Sapphires offer something one of a kind: Available in stunning blues, parti, teals, peach, and other colors, sourced from both Australia and other parts of the world directly by our Gemologist.
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Emeralds: Our Colombian emeralds provide that classic rich green hue and unmatched rarity and allure
Tip 3: Get the Ring Size Right (Without Spoiling the Surprise)
For surprise proposals, ring sizing can be tricky. Try these discreet methods:
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Borrow a ring your partner wears on their right ring finger. If they don’t wear jewellery on their ring fingers we can get a close estimate normally with a ring that they wear on another finger as long as you know which finger
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Ask their friends or family for help
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Consider proposing with a placeholder ring and choosing the final ring together
Remember, we offer one complimentary resize within two months of purchase, so minor adjustments are no problem.
Tip 5: Think Beyond the Engagement Ring
Consider how your engagement ring will work with a wedding band. Some settings - like full eternity bands or very low-set bezels - can make matching difficult. If you plan to wear them together, discuss options like:
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Curved wedding bands designed to fit around your engagement ring
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Straight bands that complement without necessarily sitting flush or raising the setting slightly to allow the rings to be worn flush together
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Open bands that can work with various engagement ring styles
Tip 6: Working with an experienced diamond buyer
An experienced diamond buyer knows the ins and outs of how to buy a top performing diamond whilst getting the best value for money. This sort of experience takes years to hone after thousands of hours looking at diamonds and understanding things such as what kind and amount fluorescence can advantage a diamond, which diamonds will be eye clean and which wont; how to assess an ASET light return map to pick the ideally cut diamonds from the rest.
Tip 7: Choose Your Metal Wisely
The metal you choose affects both the ring's appearance and durability:
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18K Gold: Available in yellow, white, and rose gold. White gold may require periodic rhodium replating ($100 every 6-12 months) to maintain its bright white appearance.
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Platinum: More durable and hypoallergenic than gold.Develops a natural patina over time.
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Consider Your Lifestyle: If you're active or work with your hands, platinum or yellow gold might be better choices as they show wear less obviously than white gold.
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The metal choice will play a big role in how the gemstone will appear. Eg. champagne diamonds will look washed out and grey in white metal but warm and golden in yellow metals. Sapphires will look warmer in warm metals and cooler in cool metals.
Tip 8: Plan for the Unexpected with Insurance
Protect your investment with proper insurance from day one. We recommend d considering specialized jewelry insurance through companies like Q Report. This covers loss, theft, and damage - essential protection for something you'll wear daily. Many homeowner's policies have limited coverage for jewelry, so dedicated coverage is often necessary for full protection.
Looking for an engagement ring?
At Cushla Whiting, we specialise in creating bespoke engagement rings that are as unique as your love story. Our collection features:
Signature Designs: From the classic elegance of our Seline solitaire to the vintage charm of our Elizabeth setting, each design can be customised with your choice of gemstone and metal.
Ethically Sourced Stones: All our diamonds are conflict-free and sourced directly from major international producers. Our colored gemstones come from small-scale artisanal mines, supporting local communities while ensuring ethical practices.
Expert Guidance: Work with our GIA-certified gemologist Hamish to select the perfect stone from our extensive collection of hand-picked diamonds and gemstones.
Bespoke Process: Whether you're shopping in our Melbourne or Sydney showrooms or working with us virtually, we'll guide you through every step of creating your perfect ring.
Ready to begin your engagement ring journey? Book a consultation with our team and let us help you create a ring that perfectly captures your unique love story.
