How to Choose an Engagement Ring | Tips from a Jeweller

31 Jan

Choosing an Engagement Ring

Figuring out how to choose an engagement ring can be a daunting process - there’s endless advice on where to shop, what to buy, and how much to spend. But don’t worry, I’m here to simplify the process, debunk common myths, and help you make a confident, informed decision.

How to Choose an Engagement Ring

Deciding How to Buy Your Engagement Ring
- A Complete Surprise – Pros and cons, how to gather hints
- With Some Guidance – When your partner gives subtle (or not-so-subtle) hints
- Engagement Ring Shopping Together – The keeper ring approach for a surprise proposal
Should You Buy an Engagement Ring ‘Off the Shelf’?
- The misconception of saving money
- When a custom-made ring may be a better option
How Much Should I Spend on an Engagement Ring?
- The outdated ‘two-month salary’ myth
- What real couples spend on their engagement ring
- How age and lifestyle influence engagement ring spending
Choosing an Engagement Ring Style
- Breaking down engagement ring styles into categories
- Finding the style that suits your partner
Selecting the Perfect Center Stone
- Understanding diamond shapes and sparkle
- Considering a coloured gemstone (sapphire or ruby)
Final Thoughts
- The best approach is the one that feels right for you

Deciding How to Buy Your Engagement Ring

When it comes to buying an engagement ring, there are three main approaches:

A Complete Surprise Engagement

If you want to keep the proposal a total secret, you’ll need to do some detective work. Here are a few ways to gather clues:

Check their social media – What jewellers and fashion brands are they following on Instagram? Do they save or like posts from specific jewellers?
Ask their close friends or family – This can be helpful, if a friend of your partners has recently become engaged, they’d be the first friend I’d turn to for advice. Engagement ring styles are a common subject amongst the newly engaged.
Look at their existing jewellery – Do they wear simple, minimal pieces, or do they love bold, vintage designs? Also take note of what colour metal their current jewellery is.

An Engagement With Some Guidance

Most proposals aren’t a complete surprise—many partners drop hints about what engagement rings they love. Some ways to recognize these hints:

They send you images of engagement rings they like.
They casually point out engagement rings in shop windows.
They mention specific gemstones or metals they prefer.

This is the most common way people figure out their partner’s preferences while still keeping an element of surprise.

3. Engagement Ring Shopping Together

More couples are choosing to pick out their engagement ring together. If you love the idea of a surprise proposal but also want their input, consider buying a "keeper ring"—a simple, temporary ring used for the proposal. Afterward, you can custom design the perfect engagement ring together.

Should You Buy an Engagement Ring ‘Off the Shelf’?

If you fall in love with an engagement ring in a jewellery store, absolutely go for it! But if you're assuming that ready-made engagement rings are always more affordable, that’s not necessarily true.

Custom vs. Retail Prices – Sometimes, a custom engagement ring can be more cost-effective than an off-the-shelf design. Retail jewellery stores tend to have high running costs due to expensive leases, multiple staff and their branding and marketing costs. Their costs are covered with selling expensive looking jewellery for prices that may seem cheap. For example, they might use low quality diamonds disguised in bright lighting, hollowing the metal under the band and much more.
Getting Exactly What You Want – Custom engagement ring design allows you to choose the exact gemstone, setting, and style.
Quality Considerations – A well-crafted, custom-made engagement ring generally offers better value for money than mass-produced options due to the cost cutting practices listed above.

How Much Should I Spend on an Engagement Ring?

The traditional "two-month salary" rule is outdated—there are no fixed rules for how much to spend. Instead, consider:

Realistic Engagement Ring Budget Ranges

Starting price for a good-quality, well-made engagement ring: $3,500 AUD
Most common engagement ring spending range: $5,500–$7,500 AUD
Higher budgets, working professionals with a combined income 170K+: $10,000–$15,000 AUD

How Age and Lifestyle Influence Engagement Ring Spending

Young couples 19–23: $3,500–$5,000 AUD
Mid 20s to early 30s: $5,000–$8,000 AUD
Couples in their mid-30s+ : More likely to spend $10,000+

The stage of life a couple are at will dictate how much to spend on an engagement ring. Young couples are most likely saving to travel or to buy a home, which mean less is spent on an engagement ring. Later in life when you are more established with a good job prospects and a higher income, the engagement ring budget usually goes up.

See our engagement ring pricing guide here

Choosing an Engagement Ring Style

Engagement rings are available in countless designs, but they can be grouped into broader categories:

Engagement Ring Types

Solitaire – A single stone.
Trilogy – Three stone rings, one large center stone with matching smaller diamonds on the side.
Halo or Cluster – Small diamonds surrounding a center stone.
Toi Et Moi - Two stone rings.

Engagement Ring Styles

Art Deco – Geometric, 1920’s era, straight lines
Modern – Sleek, contemporary, bold
Antique – Fine and intricate detailing
Classic – Traditional settings
Abstract – Unique, asymmetrical

An engagement ring type is paired with an engagement ring style, marrying the two options gives a unique perspective into the perfect engagement ring for you and your partner.

View our gallery of engagement rings for inspiration

Selecting the Perfect Engagement Centre Stone

The center stone is the focal point of an engagement ring, it must be strong enough to withstand everyday wear and tear which the best center stone options are:

Natural Diamond
Lab Diamond
Sapphire
Ruby

Diamond Shapes and Sparkle

Each diamond shape reflects light differently, below is a brief rundown of a few different shape options and how much they sparkle.

Round Brilliant – The most sparkly due to its kite-shaped and triangular shaped facets
Emerald Cut – Less sparkle because they have less facets but emerald cuts are elegant and understated.
Oval, Cushion, or Pear – Alternatives to the classic round, while maintaining plenty of brilliance and sparkle.

I’ll cover diamond shapes in more detail in a future blog post, as it’s a vast topic!

Its also important to know the basics of diamond grading and the 4 C’s.

Considering Coloured Gemstones

If your partner loves colour, sapphires or rubies (Red) are a great choice. They are:

Extremely durable (perfect for daily wear)
Sapphires are available in various colours—blue, pink, yellow, green, and more
Often more affordable than diamonds for the same size

Choosing an engagement ring summary

You have made a great start by researching the subject a little, you’ll be miles ahead of the average to make an informed decision about how to choose the right engagement ring.

Whether it’s a surprise, a joint decision, or something in between, the best approach is the one that feels right for you and your partner.

If you want to know more about the process to get a custom engagement ring, follow this link.

Lisa Clune