Rarely wear jewellery? Choose an engagement ring you’ll enjoy wearing
Engagement Ring Advice: If jewellery is not a part of your daily routine then your engagement ring could be the first piece you have selected that you will wear all day, every day. Loving the image is only part of the puzzle. You want to know if your ring is going to be comfortable when you are typing, slipping on a jumper, or grabbing your keys.
You don’t have to become a jewellery person overnight. Take your time with a few designs, giving plenty of thought to both the way they look and feel.
Don’t choose a ring from the top view alone
The pictorial focus may be on the stone in a photograph but it’s the setting that counts when you have a ring on your hand. Request a side-on shot, so you can see the ring’s profile and how high it rises from your finger.
Claws are the tiny metal prongs that grip a stone. A bezel setting is a circular rim of metal that encloses it. At Lily Arkwright, you can compare and buy engagement ring designs with either setting.
A bezel may give a ring a more delicate profile, but the setting name and the size of the diamond don’t explain how the entire ring is going to feel when you wear it. Request that you test out a few different heights – not all small stones are set low, and not all bezels are low set.
Check ring size and band width together
If you haven’t worn a ring on a regular basis before, begin by having a jeweler do a professional measurement on the finger you plan to wear it on. Using a size from the other hand, or from a different finger on the same hand, is a potential but unpredictable shortcut.
Take it to show it to others with your wedding band if you will be wearing one: the width of the two combined might be a little different than that of the engagement ring alone.
Finger size can vary with temperature and time of day. Let the jeweller know if your hands are very cold or hot, and whether another measurement would be advantageous. The goal is a comfortable, snug fit that you can slide on but not so loose that it falls off.
Give your hands something ordinary to do
The ring may seem strange on your finger when you are keeping your hand out and focusing on it. When the jeweller has confirmed it fits, open your hand and do something you’re used to: type some words on your phone, zip up your coat or grab your bag.
Determine if you can feel the ring or if something of yours is causing discomfort. Does the ring cut into another finger, pinch, spin or snag on a sleeve? Speak to the jeweller. You may wish to try another band shape, size or setting.
If all else seems strange, test an appropriately sized plain band on each finger, then slip back into the rings. It’s an easier comparison to make. You can wear the engagement ring as long as it takes to make a decision, but don’t settle for discomfort thinking you will adapt.
Decide where your ring goes when you take it off
Can I remove the ring when I need to? Before you buy – imagine how your ring will come off and whether you want to remove it, for example, while you are working or doing the housework. The National Association of Jewellers’ care advice care advice says: remove it for housework or playing sports that may knock or scratch it.
Consider storage ahead of time. The best place for rings is in a small, lined box in the same spot at home. When you are going to be taking it off often and away from home, keep it in your pocket in a separate solid container. Never keep rings loose in pocket and wrapped in used tissue.
Request simple cleaning and inspection tips as well. Understanding what your ring requires will help you take pride in wearing it without feeling that you’ve added yet another household chore to your list.
Choose a ring you enjoy wearing
Starting out in jewellery doesn’t mean you have to opt for the smallest, simplest ring. Try your favourite design, then base your decision on how it feels.
Perhaps you enjoy showing off a substantial stone on your finger, or maybe you like your ring so minimal that you hardly see it until you look down. Whatever you choose, it should make you happy to slide your ring on every morning.
