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Our 2019 guide to buying a lab created MADE Diamonds engagement ring is a resource that can be used to easily find answers to some of the key questions you may have as you begin your engagement ring buying journey. Our aim here is to provide a good understanding of the options surrounding some of the key decisions you’ll need to make before purchasing, whilst providing some useful advice on each of the topics covered.
Buying an engagement ring can be challenging because it is such a one-off, very important and often unfamiliar purchase. There are only a relatively small number considerations to take into account, but by giving each item sufficient thought it will ensure that the end result is a ring which both you and your partner love. The guide combines up-to-date information along with advice gained our experience operating within the UK fine jewellery industry for over 30 years. If you are unable to find the answer to any specific question you might have, or if you’d like to probe us further in any of the areas, we’re always happy to hear from you! |
1. How Much Should I Spend on an Engagement Ring?
You will find all kinds of opinions regarding the amount of money you are expected to shell out for an engagement ring, but the only responsible answer to this question is to spend however much you can comfortably afford. The idea that the cost of the ring should be based on a certain number of months salary is absurd and outdated. As you embark on a new life together, the only responsible thing to do is to keep the budget within your means and not get too carried away by the romanticism of the occasion or fall prey to aggressive marketing messages that aim to encourage you to splash out more than you should.
Don’t get sucked into focusing only on the external aspects of how the ring will appear to other people or opting for an overpriced ring beyond your budget seeking the envy of others, rather focus on how much you can afford to spend realistically without putting any financial strain on you or your marriage plans whatsoever.
Once you have an idea of how much you would like to spend, remember there is no need to spend right to the very limit of your budget, the challenge simply becomes ensuring that you get the best ring you can for your money. We have created our entire business model around this precise point of providing value for money, structuring everything in the most efficient manner in order to prevent the need of building in additional costs into the the price of our rings. From operating solely online to the cost effectiveness of our stones, we’ve done everything we can to ensure you get the very best value for your money. Our rings start from as little as £1025.00 and range up to £1850.00 depending on the stone size and metal choice, each of which options we’ll now cover in detail.
Don’t get sucked into focusing only on the external aspects of how the ring will appear to other people or opting for an overpriced ring beyond your budget seeking the envy of others, rather focus on how much you can afford to spend realistically without putting any financial strain on you or your marriage plans whatsoever.
Once you have an idea of how much you would like to spend, remember there is no need to spend right to the very limit of your budget, the challenge simply becomes ensuring that you get the best ring you can for your money. We have created our entire business model around this precise point of providing value for money, structuring everything in the most efficient manner in order to prevent the need of building in additional costs into the the price of our rings. From operating solely online to the cost effectiveness of our stones, we’ve done everything we can to ensure you get the very best value for your money. Our rings start from as little as £1025.00 and range up to £1850.00 depending on the stone size and metal choice, each of which options we’ll now cover in detail.
2. Which Metal Choice is Best for my Engagement Ring?
One of the key decisions when purchasing any engagement ring will be which metal to choose because it will affect the cost, appearance and physical properties of your ring. In our opinion there are really only three quality choices for an engagement ring, and these are 950 Platinum, 18K White Gold & 18K Yellow Gold.
18K White Gold vs. 950 Platinum
Of the white metals, platinum is widely thought of as being more sought after and more prestigious than white gold, but we believe both metals are worthy contenders in their own right. The price per gram of platinum is actually a bit lower than that of 18K white gold, but platinum is a far more dense metal meaning that more grams of platinum is needed to create the same ring, resulting in the higher price. Platinum is arguably the superior overall choice based on its purity, strength and natural colour, but if your budget cannot stretch the additional few hundred pounds required for a platinum ring, 18K white gold is far from a compromise.
Here is a simple, matter of fact comparison between Platinum and White Gold:
It can be quite a bewildering topic for people who might never have purchased high-end jewellery before, but in real life a well made ring will created in either metal will last and perform well. All metals scratch and have the potential to be damaged given the right circumstances but if your ring ever requires any servicing we will always be more than happy to assist. When talking with past customers we find many opt for the superior metal of platinum regardless of the higher cost because they feel they are saving more than the corresponding amount by not opting for a natural diamond or purchasing from a physical shop.
18K Yellow Gold
It is not really worth discussing 18K yellow gold in direct comparison to the other two white metals. If your partner currently wears predominantly yellow gold, opting for a yellow gold engagement ring band really is your only logical option. Our 18K yellow gold band rings are created combined with an 18K white gold setting/claw holding the stone, following the traditional aesthetic for this kind of ring. Just as with 18K white gold, 18K yellow gold has a 75% gold content, but the metal is alloyed with silver and more copper in order to maintain the yellow gold colour.
18K White Gold vs. 950 Platinum
Of the white metals, platinum is widely thought of as being more sought after and more prestigious than white gold, but we believe both metals are worthy contenders in their own right. The price per gram of platinum is actually a bit lower than that of 18K white gold, but platinum is a far more dense metal meaning that more grams of platinum is needed to create the same ring, resulting in the higher price. Platinum is arguably the superior overall choice based on its purity, strength and natural colour, but if your budget cannot stretch the additional few hundred pounds required for a platinum ring, 18K white gold is far from a compromise.
Here is a simple, matter of fact comparison between Platinum and White Gold:
- A platinum ring will have a very slightly heavier feel than the same ring in 18K white gold
- Being denser, platinum is stronger than 18K white gold
- Platinum is therefore less malleable, less likely to bend, but is therefore more brittle
- Whilst it may be stronger, platinum is softer than 18K white gold and will therefore scratch more easily (however many people see this as a positive due to the character this patina provides)
- 950 Platinum is 95% pure platinum, whereas 18K white gold is 75% pure gold
- Platinum is naturally white in colour, whereas 18K white gold is gets its colour from being alloyed with other white metals (the remaining 25% is often made up of silver, zinc and some copper)
- Platinum will not tarnish whereas white gold may do so
It can be quite a bewildering topic for people who might never have purchased high-end jewellery before, but in real life a well made ring will created in either metal will last and perform well. All metals scratch and have the potential to be damaged given the right circumstances but if your ring ever requires any servicing we will always be more than happy to assist. When talking with past customers we find many opt for the superior metal of platinum regardless of the higher cost because they feel they are saving more than the corresponding amount by not opting for a natural diamond or purchasing from a physical shop.
18K Yellow Gold
It is not really worth discussing 18K yellow gold in direct comparison to the other two white metals. If your partner currently wears predominantly yellow gold, opting for a yellow gold engagement ring band really is your only logical option. Our 18K yellow gold band rings are created combined with an 18K white gold setting/claw holding the stone, following the traditional aesthetic for this kind of ring. Just as with 18K white gold, 18K yellow gold has a 75% gold content, but the metal is alloyed with silver and more copper in order to maintain the yellow gold colour.
3. Determine the Most Suitable Stone Size for Your Engagement Ring
The stone size is one of the most important factors that will affect the overall aesthetic of the ring. The size range of stones we offer is between 0.75ct and 1.5ct, all of which sizes we consider create a substantial yet still sophisticated appearance.
If your partner’s hands are particularly small then it will of course be best to opt for a slightly smaller stone unless you are looking for the ring to make quite a statement. As mentioned though, with our largest stone size being 1.5ct, this is still a very tasteful and elegant size on any hand.
Here are the diameters of each MADE Diamonds stone, which is the measurement across the widest part of the stone looking from above:
0.75ct - 6mm
1ct - 6.5mm
1.25ct - 7mm
1.5ct - 7.5mm
As you can see the difference between one size stone and the next is relatively minor, but at this scale the difference is more noticeable than you might think.
If your partner’s hands are particularly small then it will of course be best to opt for a slightly smaller stone unless you are looking for the ring to make quite a statement. As mentioned though, with our largest stone size being 1.5ct, this is still a very tasteful and elegant size on any hand.
Here are the diameters of each MADE Diamonds stone, which is the measurement across the widest part of the stone looking from above:
0.75ct - 6mm
1ct - 6.5mm
1.25ct - 7mm
1.5ct - 7.5mm
As you can see the difference between one size stone and the next is relatively minor, but at this scale the difference is more noticeable than you might think.
4. Find Out Her Ideal Ring Size
Being one of the biggest stumbling blocks people face when buying a ring for a surprise proposal, we’ve tailored our service to help ease the difficulties.
Free Ring Sizer:
If the proposal is not a surprise, simply send us an email and request a ring sizer which will allow you to measure the finger accurately before placing your order.
In the case that you are planning a surprise proposal though, there is another way you might be able to use a free ring sizer to determine the size you need. If you are able to get your hands on a ring that your partner wears on the ring finger of her right hand, all you need to do is find out the size of this ring which can be done by finding a finger of yours (or somebody else’s) that the ring fits on. Then you can simply measure that finger with the ring sizer and voila, you have the size you need to place your order.
Free Resizing Service:
Of course it is best to do everything within your power to order the correct size first time, but it is absolutely not the end of the world if you don’t. There’s a number of steps you can take to ensure you opt for the right size, but when these are simply not possible, you can always rely on the fact that we offer a completely free resizing service on every ring.
Our free resizing service is very simple and easy to arrange. Once you have popped the question and you find the ring is either too big or too small, simply drop us an email and we’ll send you a free ring sizer so you can measure the finger for the precise size you need. Once completed just let us know and we’ll provide instructions on how to send the ring back to our Jewellery Quarter workshop. We are normally able to turn resizings around quite quickly and depending on how busy we are, more often than not we’ll have the ring back to you within a few days.
The main thing is to not worry too much about this step because it is something that can be put right very easily at a later date, at no cost to you other than the postage required to send the ring back to us.
Here is a link to a comprehensive ring size conversion chart that may be of some use:
Ring Size Conversion Chart
A common fashion brand of ring in the UK is Pandora, so if you happen to know what size your partner takes in Pandora, you can use the following resource to help you identify the correct UK size that you require. Pandora sizes span numerous UK ring sizes so this will only give you a range to aim for, but it will give you an idea. Some, but not all Pandora rings have the ring size detailed on the inside of the ring.
Pandora Size Conversion Chart
Free Ring Sizer:
If the proposal is not a surprise, simply send us an email and request a ring sizer which will allow you to measure the finger accurately before placing your order.
In the case that you are planning a surprise proposal though, there is another way you might be able to use a free ring sizer to determine the size you need. If you are able to get your hands on a ring that your partner wears on the ring finger of her right hand, all you need to do is find out the size of this ring which can be done by finding a finger of yours (or somebody else’s) that the ring fits on. Then you can simply measure that finger with the ring sizer and voila, you have the size you need to place your order.
Free Resizing Service:
Of course it is best to do everything within your power to order the correct size first time, but it is absolutely not the end of the world if you don’t. There’s a number of steps you can take to ensure you opt for the right size, but when these are simply not possible, you can always rely on the fact that we offer a completely free resizing service on every ring.
Our free resizing service is very simple and easy to arrange. Once you have popped the question and you find the ring is either too big or too small, simply drop us an email and we’ll send you a free ring sizer so you can measure the finger for the precise size you need. Once completed just let us know and we’ll provide instructions on how to send the ring back to our Jewellery Quarter workshop. We are normally able to turn resizings around quite quickly and depending on how busy we are, more often than not we’ll have the ring back to you within a few days.
The main thing is to not worry too much about this step because it is something that can be put right very easily at a later date, at no cost to you other than the postage required to send the ring back to us.
Here is a link to a comprehensive ring size conversion chart that may be of some use:
Ring Size Conversion Chart
A common fashion brand of ring in the UK is Pandora, so if you happen to know what size your partner takes in Pandora, you can use the following resource to help you identify the correct UK size that you require. Pandora sizes span numerous UK ring sizes so this will only give you a range to aim for, but it will give you an idea. Some, but not all Pandora rings have the ring size detailed on the inside of the ring.
Pandora Size Conversion Chart
5. Pick a Design that She Will Love
You should have an idea of the kind of jewellery your partner likes and you can use this as a starting point for your decision on which design to select. Just to confuse the matter though, you must keep in mind that an engagement ring can be quite different to other jewellery and rings your partner may wear day-to-day currently. An engagement ring is special and often will be one of the more prominent pieces of jewellery a lady will wear. Just because your partner doesn’t wear any significant stone set rings now, doesn’t mean that she won’t want one for her engagement ring.
Another fact to consider is that an engagement ring is intended to last a lifetime and be worn most of the time. It should not therefore be overly stylised in a distinctively modern or fashionable way. Engagement rings that are designed to cater towards current fashion trends will just look silly in years to come when styles change. This is why we always feel it is the best idea to opt for something classic and timeless. A more traditional design will never go out of style and is far more versatile.
We offer just three limited edition designs at one time and there’s a number of reasons for operating in this way which we explain more detail elsewhere on our website. Of course if you have something very specific in mind and none of our current designs fit the bill we may not be able to help, but for most people we find that given the choice of our three designs there is normally one that immediately stands out and grabs them. We always try to ensure we offer a number of key, distinct style categories covered within our range of solitaire rings which ensures that there is a design available to suit most needs.
Each one of our designs is limited to just 100 rings per metal type. All of our designs are created very much in traditional timeless styles that won’t ever fall out of favour. They are all based on classic, enduring designs which have stood the test of time in their own right. We combine various traditional elements in order to create something new and distinct, yet traditional and timeless.
Another fact to consider is that an engagement ring is intended to last a lifetime and be worn most of the time. It should not therefore be overly stylised in a distinctively modern or fashionable way. Engagement rings that are designed to cater towards current fashion trends will just look silly in years to come when styles change. This is why we always feel it is the best idea to opt for something classic and timeless. A more traditional design will never go out of style and is far more versatile.
We offer just three limited edition designs at one time and there’s a number of reasons for operating in this way which we explain more detail elsewhere on our website. Of course if you have something very specific in mind and none of our current designs fit the bill we may not be able to help, but for most people we find that given the choice of our three designs there is normally one that immediately stands out and grabs them. We always try to ensure we offer a number of key, distinct style categories covered within our range of solitaire rings which ensures that there is a design available to suit most needs.
Each one of our designs is limited to just 100 rings per metal type. All of our designs are created very much in traditional timeless styles that won’t ever fall out of favour. They are all based on classic, enduring designs which have stood the test of time in their own right. We combine various traditional elements in order to create something new and distinct, yet traditional and timeless.
6. Buying an Engagement Ring Online
Buying an engagement ring online is quite a big step for most people. It will almost certainly be one of, if not the, largest value purchase they have made online. We understand that for many people it will be a bridge slightly too far and they won’t be able to become comfortable with the idea of purchasing a ring online for this reason.
Operating in the way we do with no physical retail presence is by far and away the most effective way we can offer outstanding value for money. Even though this might be the case we understand many people will still opt to purchase from a physical shop, even knowing the price will likely be higher. Unlike physical jewellery shops we don’t have to build in the cost of expensive retail space, salespeople, retail security systems etc. into the price of our rings.
All of this being said, we are seeing that people are becoming ever more comfortable making larger transactions online, as so many industries move towards operating more efficiently in an online connected world.
We are a UK company and we only sell our rings domestically within the UK. When we personally buy items online we generally opt for UK based businesses and this was one of the reasons we chose early on to solely focus on the UK market. Our website is protected by an SSL certificate which creates an encrypted connection meaning that any data you enter onto our website is secure. At the top of the page in the URL box you will see the padlock and the word “Secure”, and you’ll note our site is address begins with “https”, with the “s” showing that the connection is secure.
Read more about SSL certificates here.
We also accept various payment options that offer added levels of security. We take payments via debit or credit card, as well as offering payment via PayPal which can provide additional peace of mind for some purchasers.
Operating online and without a retail presence means that it is not possible to view the rings before purchasing. It is for this reason we try to offer as many images and videos as possible on our website and social media in order to provide a full and complete perspective of the design and aesthetics of each ring. If when you receive the ring it is not exactly what you had hoped for, we offer a 30 day returns policy which can be activated simply by emailing support. Providing the ring is kept in an “as new” condition you can take the 30 days to hold the ring in your own hands, get a second opinion from friends and family, or whatever you might need to do to determine whether the ring is perfect for you. If you decide that it is not, you can just let us know and we’ll arrange the return for a full 100% refund.
As you can see we have tried to minimise the risk of ordering your engagement ring online in every way possible, but we understand that it won’t be right for everyone and some people will be happy to pay the required premium to purchase at a physical store. If you are willing to take the plunge and you appreciate the various fail-safes we’ve put in place, then the advantages can be great.
Operating in the way we do with no physical retail presence is by far and away the most effective way we can offer outstanding value for money. Even though this might be the case we understand many people will still opt to purchase from a physical shop, even knowing the price will likely be higher. Unlike physical jewellery shops we don’t have to build in the cost of expensive retail space, salespeople, retail security systems etc. into the price of our rings.
All of this being said, we are seeing that people are becoming ever more comfortable making larger transactions online, as so many industries move towards operating more efficiently in an online connected world.
We are a UK company and we only sell our rings domestically within the UK. When we personally buy items online we generally opt for UK based businesses and this was one of the reasons we chose early on to solely focus on the UK market. Our website is protected by an SSL certificate which creates an encrypted connection meaning that any data you enter onto our website is secure. At the top of the page in the URL box you will see the padlock and the word “Secure”, and you’ll note our site is address begins with “https”, with the “s” showing that the connection is secure.
Read more about SSL certificates here.
We also accept various payment options that offer added levels of security. We take payments via debit or credit card, as well as offering payment via PayPal which can provide additional peace of mind for some purchasers.
Operating online and without a retail presence means that it is not possible to view the rings before purchasing. It is for this reason we try to offer as many images and videos as possible on our website and social media in order to provide a full and complete perspective of the design and aesthetics of each ring. If when you receive the ring it is not exactly what you had hoped for, we offer a 30 day returns policy which can be activated simply by emailing support. Providing the ring is kept in an “as new” condition you can take the 30 days to hold the ring in your own hands, get a second opinion from friends and family, or whatever you might need to do to determine whether the ring is perfect for you. If you decide that it is not, you can just let us know and we’ll arrange the return for a full 100% refund.
As you can see we have tried to minimise the risk of ordering your engagement ring online in every way possible, but we understand that it won’t be right for everyone and some people will be happy to pay the required premium to purchase at a physical store. If you are willing to take the plunge and you appreciate the various fail-safes we’ve put in place, then the advantages can be great.
7. Insuring Your MADE Diamonds Engagement Ring
It is wise to ensure that your ring is insured adequately to cover any unfortunate potential for loss or theft. You will need to check the specific terms of any insurance policy you currently hold and it might be worth speaking to your insurer to double check any details.
Your engagement ring will often be covered to some degree on your current home contents insurance within the given category of jewellery and other valuables. It is often a good idea to have the ring detailed as a named item within this category in order ensure the ring is insured adequately to cover its full value. Regarding the valuation of your ring, with your ring having been bought "new" from us, your receipt will serve perfectly for any valuation document required, showing clearly the amount that you paid for the ring.
Please ensure you check the specific details of your insurance policy to ensure your ring is adequately covered against any unfortunate unforeseen circumstances.
Your engagement ring will often be covered to some degree on your current home contents insurance within the given category of jewellery and other valuables. It is often a good idea to have the ring detailed as a named item within this category in order ensure the ring is insured adequately to cover its full value. Regarding the valuation of your ring, with your ring having been bought "new" from us, your receipt will serve perfectly for any valuation document required, showing clearly the amount that you paid for the ring.
Please ensure you check the specific details of your insurance policy to ensure your ring is adequately covered against any unfortunate unforeseen circumstances.
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As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, we really do hope the information that we have provided will help answer as many of your questions as possible before making a purchase, and we hope the various decisions ahead of you will now be far more clear cut. If however you have any questions at all on any of the topics above, or any questions at all relating to your search for the perfect ring, please do get in touch, we would genuinely love to hear from you.
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