How to Choose an Engagement Ring
A practical order to make the decisions in, so the ring comes together without second-guessing.
Reviewed by Adnan Ali, Graduate, GIA Diamond Grading · Updated 2026-09-17
An engagement ring is a handful of decisions — the stone, its shape, the setting, the metal and the size. Taken in the right order they are straightforward. Taken all at once they are overwhelming. This is the order we suggest.
1. Settle the budget first
Almost every other choice moves the price, so decide the figure you are comfortable with before you fall for a particular stone. Then use the choices below to get the most from it. On our product pages the price updates as you change the stone, quality and metal, so you can see the effect of each decision before you commit.
2. The centre diamond
Our engagement rings are built with a lab-grown centre diamond — a real diamond, with the same chemistry, hardness and optical behaviour as a mined one, at a price that lets the same budget buy a larger or cleaner stone. You choose its carat, colour and clarity, and it arrives with its IGI certificate. Natural stones are available on our other diamond jewellery, and a natural centre stone is a bespoke commission.
3. Shape
Shape changes how big a stone looks for its weight. Elongated shapes such as oval, pear and marquise spread their weight over a longer outline and tend to look larger than a round stone of the same carat weight, and they lengthen the look of the finger. Round brilliants return the most sparkle. Step-cut emerald shapes trade sparkle for long, clean flashes of light and show inclusions more readily, so they reward a higher clarity. Each of our designs is made for one shape, so choose the design that holds the shape you want.
4. Setting
- Solitaire: a single stone, nothing competing with it. Timeless, and the easiest to pair with a wedding band.
- Halo: a ring of small diamonds around the centre stone, which makes it look larger and adds sparkle.
- Three-stone: a centre stone flanked by two smaller ones.
Think about the wedding band too. Some settings sit high or flare out and need a shaped band to sit flush beside them.
5. Metal
Gold purity is measured in karats: 9K is 37.5% gold, 14K is 58.5% and 18K is 75%, with the rest alloy metals that add strength and set the colour — yellow, white or rose. Higher karat means richer colour and a higher price; lower karat is harder-wearing and more affordable. White gold is usually rhodium-plated for its bright white finish, and that plating wears over time and can be renewed. Platinum is naturally white and dense. The metals available differ from design to design and are shown on each product page.
6. Size
Every ring we make is built at the finger size you order. Measuring is covered in our ring size guide. Resizing after purchase is free, except on full-eternity rings and designs with stones set into the shank, where there is no plain metal to work with.
7. Allow for the timing
Every ring is made to order and dispatched in 2–3 weeks, with insured, signed-for delivery to follow. Production begins once the 24-hour cancellation window closes. If you are planning around a date, allow for both, and a little in hand.