Welcome back to the Diamonds Hatton Garden blog where we bring you the latest insights from our Hatton Garden jewellers. Following on from our buying guides to various fancy cut diamond shapes, we look to continue with our educational themed blogs with today’s article we look into how to choose the perfect setting for your diamond engagement ring.
Whether you choose a bespoke diamond engagement ring or a brilliant ready-to-wear setting, choosing the style of the ring itself is an exciting journey that captures and celebrates your love. Aside from our selection of loose white diamonds and fancy coloured diamonds for sale, our workshop has over 30 years experience in assisting couples to find their perfect engagement ring. In today’s blog, we look in depth at the most popular metals for engagement rings and the most popular setting styles.
Yellow Gold
Historically, yellow gold has always been associated with power, luxury and has both a symbolic and economical value. Used in jewellery since 5000 BC, Its rich hues evoke a sense of warmth and sophistication with a luxurious pop of colour.
For millennia, socialites, royalty and aristocracy favoured the warm-hued metal. Gold has been used for art, currency and, of course, jewellery throughout recorded history. Wealthy women in Ancient Rome donned gold wedding bands in public and iron wedding rings at home- while poorer women wore brass or gold plated rings. Beginning in the 16th century, European couples exchanged silver rings for their engagement. Brides replaced these rings with golden bands during the wedding ceremony. Golden jewellery set the standard until the Edwardian era when platinum eclipsed yellow gold among society’s elite. When chemists first developed white gold plating, in the late 1910s, yellow gold continued to fall out of vogue. However, demand for yellow gold reemerged during the 1940s, when platinum was rationed for the war efforts. For the next 40 years, yellow gold dominated wedding ring trends
Types of Yellow Gold
When you think of a yellow gold ring, you’re probably imagining 14k yellow gold. The most common type of metal for an engagement ring is 14k gold. It is made of 14 parts gold and 10 parts. Yellow gold bands can be made in 18ct, 14ct and 9ct. Despite the karat difference of 14k and 18k yellow gold, both rings have an identical appearance.14K yellow gold is the best blend of durability, price, and longevity.
A yellow gold engagement ring is also perfectly suited to any bride, from the minimalist, maximalist and lover of traditional, to the vintage obsessed. Diamonds and precious stones such as red rubies and green emeralds look incredible set with yellow gold rings as the finish is warm and bright which really enhances the bright stone colours.
For those who seek traditionalism in their wedding jewellery, look no further than yellow gold. Its beautiful vintage aesthetic makes it a timeless choice and adds a classic touch, for an engagement ring that oozes glamour and makes for a perfect heirloom to pass through generations.
White Gold
White gold is one of our most popular metals for our diamond engagement rings. The gorgeous white colour is often considered to provide a better backdrop for diamonds than yellow gold. The clean colour, in particular, compliments a range of shapes of diamond as well as fancy coloured and white diamonds.White gold was first used in jewellery in the 1920s, closely following the popularity – and rarity – of the similarly coloured platinum. What’s more, white gold doesn’t rust, tarnish or corrode and is much more malleable than platinum, so it’s easier to work into fine, intricate designs. It’s also less expensive than platinum and is ideal for those who want the look of platinum with the heritage and tradition associated with gold.
Types of white gold
With its lustrous white sheen surface, white gold engagement rings are an extremely popular choice of metal. White gold is an attractive mixture of metals, consisting of pure gold and other metals such as silver and palladium. White gold bands can be made in 18ct, 14ct and 9ct. Despite the karat difference of 14k and 18k white gold, both rings have an identical appearance.14K white gold is the best blend of durability, price, and longevity. 14K white gold is about 58% gold which makes it more durable than 18K white gold (containing 75% gold), and less alloyed than 9K white gold.
White gold is a continuously popular choice for engagement rings as the metal type is so versatile and suits every skin tone beautifully. It has a timeless, clean style that pairs perfectly with white diamonds.
Platinum
Platinum has been used in jewellery only since the 19th century. So platinum engagement rings are fairly recent. The Italian-French physician Julius Caesar Scaliger discovered Platinum in 1557. In 1590 Spanish Conquistadors discovered a white metal in the rivers of Ecuador. Although both platinum and gold are both strong precious metals, platinum has a durability advantage. Platinum is a ‘sticky’ metal – it does not wear away. When you scratch platinum the metal is just displaced and does not flake off. It can be polished multiple times without loss of metal. Sleek and sophisticated, the hard-wearing metal is a beautiful silver that works well with both fancy coloured diamonds and white diamonds.
Types of platinum
A platinum ring should list its platinum composition. If it’s marked 950, that means it is 95 percent platinum, which is a high level of purity. If there is no mark, that means it has less than 50 percent platinum, or none at all. Some platinum rings are mixed with palladium. Palladium is slightly harder, making it more scratch-resistant but also more difficult to resize than platinum. It is also a bit darker in colour, lacking the extra lustre platinum offers.
Platinum engagement rings are of a higher value because of the longevity they provide, the quality they are made, and the rarity of the metal. Platinum engagement rings are also more often created with a pure form of metal.
Rose Gold
Rose gold (also known as Russian Gold) was first used in early 19th century Russia by the famed jeweller Carl Faberge in his infamous Faberge Eggs. Rose gold later gained popularity in the United States during the lavish and feminine 1920’s, and was worn in engagement rings and fine jewellery. As a colour rose gold communicates luxury thanks to its association with the precious metal and common use in engagement rings and jewellery. Gold is a marker of wealth, so rose gold is often associated with style, elegance and affluence. Rose gold’s soft hue can also appear romantic, refined and composed. Its current popularity in jewellery is due to the comeback of colour in fashion at the start of the 21st century – rose gold complements the frilly shades and neutral colours. Additionally, rose gold jewellery is more rare, according to Duvall O’Steen, the director of jewellery promotion for the World Gold Council.
Types of Rose Gold
As with other golds, Rose gold can be created in 14k and 18k blends. The metal itself is an alloy made from a combination of pure gold and copper giving it its identifiable and gorgeous gold hue. The blend of the two metals changes the colour of the final product and its karat – karat meaning purity of pure gold in relation to the blend. For example, the most common alloy of rose gold is 75 percent pure gold to 25 percent copper, which makes 18k rose gold.
Rose gold is a metal that complements almost every skin tone. White gold and platinum can wash out pale skin tones, and some yellow gold blends in with similar skin undertones, but rose gold generally makes your skin tone look warm and healthy
Rubover
An increasingly popular choice, rubover diamond engagement rings are a sleek and stylish way to showcase your love and commitment. A rubover setting, or bezel setting as it is also known, places the gemstone (usually a diamond) in a circle of metal, which is then folded all around it to catch the hips of the gem at its widest point and lock it in place. When complete, the stone is surrounded by metal, creating a halo effect. Both effortlessly stylish and timelessly fashionable, the rubover setting is commonly associated with more of a modern style diamond engagement ring and creates a contemporary look that can be matched to a wedding band.
Halo
Both classically beautiful yet instantly modern, a halo diamond engagement ring is a stylish and enduring style that perfectly captures your love and commitment. A style that has been popular for centuries, a halo diamond engagement ring features a centrestone that is surrounded by smaller diamonds in a “halo” shape. Naturally drawing the eye to the centrestone, halo diamond rings accentuate the size of the centre diamond and create more sparkle.
Trilogy
Trilogy diamond engagement rings are said to represent the past, present and future of a relationship and their beautiful design, rich in style and sophistication are a beautiful choice of engagement ring. Trilogy rings – also known as trinity rings – are settings with a row of three stones (often diamonds) are next to each other in a line. A trilogy ring – also often called trinity – is a ring with three stones next to each other. Whether you wish to have three diamonds of the same size or shape, or have an existing design in mind, we can help you create your perfect trilogy ring. Popular choices usually involved having a larger centrestone that is accentuated by the two side stones but whatever you choice you can be assured of the highest service and quality.
Solitaire
Timelessly beautiful and wonderfully classic, a solitaire diamond engagement ring is the perfect symbol of unwavering love, devotion and commitment. A simple yet refined design, a solitaire engagement ring features a single diamond magnificently set into a beautiful mount. At Diamonds Hatton Garden our family run team of jewellers have assisted generations of couples to find their perfect solitaire diamond engagement ring. Endearingly beautiful, the simplicity of a solitaire diamond engagement ring is a true celebration of style and effortless design. No other engagement ring style is as popular as the solitaire setting, and for good reason. A clean, brilliantly sparkling diamond set into a refined metal setting is the ultimate expression of classic design and the perfect way to pop the question to your beloved.
Whichever type of diamond engagement ring that you choose, our team of jewellery designers and experts have assisted generations of clients for more than 40 years. Contact our team via harel@diamondshg.co.uk or call +44 7951 060238 for more information and to arrange your appointment. Alternatively, explore our selection of https://diamondshattongarden.co.uk/loose-fancy-coloured-diamonds/ and if you are looking to buy fancy Pink diamond jewellery contact our team as well as viewing our latest Diamond engagement rings in Hatton Garden. Or contact our team to sell diamonds in London.