There are lots of terms that are often associated with rings. If you are aiming to purchase one of the thousands of engagement rings on the market, it is a good idea to have a rough idea of what you’re going to be buying. That way you’ll stand a better chance of getting the perfect ring at the right price.
Engagement rings are usually made of three parts. The band is the ring shaped part, and this forms the base of the engagement ring. The band is traditionally made of gold, but it can be platinum, white gold or silver.
The setting is attached to the band. The setting holds the stone in place. Most of the time, the setting is in the same metal as the band. Therefore, if the band of the engagement ring is made of gold, then the setting will usually be made of gold too.
The final part of most engagement rings is the stone. This is the focus of the ring, the most crucial and important element. Traditionally the stone would always have been a diamond, but this is not the case with engagement rings today. Often people will opt to go for a stone that looks like a diamond (but doesn’t bear the same price tag!), or a different gemstone entirely.
Once you have decided upon the type of stone required, you must also consider the cut of the stone. There are several cuts and the choice of one over the other can dramatically change the overall look of the ring.
Traditionally, the stone would have been round cut. This entails the stone being cut to the shape of a cone, with the rounded base of the cone facing outwards, revealing the diamond in all its glory.
Similar to the round cut is the princess cut. Instead of a cone, the stone is cut to resemble a square-based pyramid, with the base facing out. This is a sophisticated cut, making the stone appear large.
With the emerald cut, the stone is shaped to form an oblong. This cut works really well with expensive diamonds becasue it emphasises the stone’s clarity. Other cuts include the marquis and the oval cut.
