Diamonds

A diamond is the most traditional choice for an engagement ring. Its pure beauty, unbeatable sparkle and hard-wearing properties make it the perfect representation of ever-lasting love. 

While diamonds are most commonly clear or bright white, they are available in a variety of stunning colours. Because fancy coloured diamonds are more rare, they tend to be more expensive than traditional white diamonds.

Coloured Gemstones

It’s important to select a stone that is strong and durable enough to withstand everyday wear. If you're looking for a coloured stone to feature in your engagement ring, we recommend sapphires and rubies due to their hardness being a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness - second only to a diamond which is 10. The
ruby is a rare and beautiful gemstone only available in shades of red. The sapphire is most famously blue, but is available in a stunning array of beautiful colours so you’ll have plenty of options.

Diamond Cut

The Cut refers to the proportions and finish of a diamond and is an important factor in the diamond's appearance. The importance of cut is often overlooked in many diamond guides but is a key element when ascertaining an overall diamond grade. A well-cut diamond will increase its brilliance, sparkle, and appeal to the eye. A poor cut can make a diamond look dull, glassy, and lack fire. 

Diamond Clarity 

Diamonds contain characteristics, each being unique to the particular diamond, just like a fingerprint. Clarity is a way of grading the extent to which the stone is free from external marks, called blemishes, or internal marks called inclusions. 
The fewer noticeable flaws, the higher the value of the diamond. Diamonds that have no inclusions are graded Internally Flawless (IF) and diamonds that have no inclusions or blemishes are graded Flawless (FL). 

Diamond Colour 

The less colour in a diamond, the rarer it is. Colour is measured in alphabetical order beginning with the colourless range of D-F and descending to Z. The colour in a diamond is harder to detect once set in a ring, especially in yellow gold. Because of this, you may be able to choose a lower colour grading and get a higher clarity and/or carat for a similar price. Fancy colored diamonds are an exception to the rule however, these are exceptionally rare and come in a range of colours including pink, blue and yellow. 

Diamond Carat 

The weight of a diamond is expressed in carats. When deciding what diamond to choose, size is an important factor but try not to get too caught up in carat weight alone and overlook the other three Cs. When considering a size between a 0.90ct and a 1.00ct, the size difference can be marginal. So depending on your own preferences, it may be worth considering a higher quality diamond versus a larger one.

Classic

If you know your partner will love a classic design, or if they don't currently wear jewellery, a simple yet very elegant diamond solitaire engagement ring is a great choice. Other setting styles such as a simple halo ring or three stone ring are also very popular classic styles. 

Vintage

If your partner loves florals, lace, art deco or intricate patterns, they might also love a vintage style engagement ring. 

Vintage rings are inspired by many different design trends and fashion eras of the past so there are many beautiful options available. 

Contemporary

If they're the trendsetter among friends and always on the hunt for something exciting and new, a contemporary style engagement ring is sure to please. 

Can't choose between classic and contemporary? Check out The Floeting® Diamond, the latest innovation in diamond settings. 

BRILLIANT CUT

Round brilliant cut diamonds are distinguished by numerous facets, shaped to maximise the white light returned through the top of the diamond, significantly increasing its fire and brilliance. 

THE FLOETING® DIAMOND

The patented Floeting® Diamond Cut is a design patented by The Village Goldsmith. This revolutionary cut allows the diamond to be set without any claws or clasps so that more light can be reflected from every facet – enhancing the brilliance and sparkle.  

OVAL CUT

The sophisticated oval cut diamond is an elegant and unique choice for an engagement ring. An oval diamond can be cut with the same number of facets as a brilliant cut giving the potential for as much brilliance as the classic shape. The elongated shape of the oval diamond means that it can often appear larger than other diamond shapes of the same carat weight. 

EMERALD CUT

The emerald cut diamond is distinguished by the step cuts of its pavilion and the large open table on top. Emerald cut diamonds produce a hall-of-mirrors effect, with the interplay of light and dark planes. The long lines and dramatic flashes of light give the emerald cut an elegant appeal.

CUSHION CUT

The cushion cut diamond combines a square cut with round corners, resulting in a 'pillow' shape that gives it its name. The cushion cut has been around for almost 200 years and has an antique look to it.

PRINCESS CUT

The princess cut accentuates the diamond’s brilliance rather than its lustre. It has triangular and kite-shaped facets radiating from the center to give it higher fire and brilliance compared to other mixed cuts. This helps account for the popularity of princess cut diamond and engagement rings.

MARQUISE CUT

Marquise cut diamonds have elongated ends that stretch the diamond into an oval shape, creating a slender and striking look. With the brilliance and sparkle of a perfect round brilliant cut diamond, the marquise is a flattering diamond shape that has a regal feel to it.

RADIANT CUT

A radiant cut diamond is distinguished by the central cross pattern created by the pavilion facets. A total of seventy facets are featured on a radiant cut diamond which has many modified forms with differing facet arrangements and combinations.

PEAR CUT

The pear cut diamond is a modified brilliant cut diamond. Pear cut diamonds are also known as teardrops and are a hybrid between the marquise cut and the round brilliant cut diamond. We individually inspect each pear cut diamond and analyse the cut dimensions to ensure maximum brilliance and scintillation. 

FLOETING®

SOLITAIRE

THREE STONE

HALO

TENSION

BEZEL

Yellow Gold

While this is the most traditional choice, it's still a great one. Pure gold is often referred to as 24 carat (ct in UK or k in USA). This precious metal is quite soft and malleable so it's not the most suitable for jewellery that will be worn every day.  

Rather than pure gold, a gold alloy of 9k, 14k or 18k gold will be a more durable option. These alloys have been combined with other metals for strength and hardness. A higher carat grade is more expensive, richer in colour and more resistant to tarnishing. 

Platinum & White Gold

If you prefer a white colored metal for your engagement ring the two main choices are white gold or platinum. While white gold is still a popular choice, there are many reasons why we would recommend platinum first. Platinum is the most durable and dense precious metal, meaning it will withstand the most wear and tear.  

In terms of colour, the two look virtually identical when first made. However white gold does naturally fade to a pale yellow colour with time and wear. Traditionally, rhodium plating is applied to white gold to give it a brighter white finish. This plating does wear off over time and will need to be re-done to maintain the bright white look. Platinum is naturally a white color so it will not wear or fade. 

Rose Gold

Rose gold is alloyed with a percentage of copper, which gives it its rosy, pink tinge. With rose gold, the higher the carat grade the more subtle the pink colour appears.  

For gold in general, the lower the carat grade (therefore the higher the amount of other metals within the alloy) the greater the risk of allergic reaction. 

Does size matter?

When it comes to getting your partner’s finger size, it’s best to get as close as possible. Because we've been in the game for nearly 50 years we have a few tricks up our sleeve to help you get this information without giving away the surprise.

What if I get it wrong?

Don’t worry, it can be resized. We understand how difficult it can be to get the size right while still trying to keep everything a surprise. That's why we offer 60 day complimentary re-sizing if the alteration required is within two size's difference.