How to Choose an Engagement Ring

In short: set a budget, pick the diamond shape and setting style she will love wearing every day, choose a mined (natural) or a lab-grown diamond, ask for the diamond’s grading details, choose a metal, and confirm her ring size. The sections below explain each step.

1. Start with a budget

There is no rule for how much to spend. Decide on a comfortable range first; it tells you which trade-offs matter. For the same budget you can usually choose a larger lab-grown diamond or a smaller mined (natural) diamond, and a simple solitaire setting leaves more of the budget for the center stone than a pavé or halo setting.

2. Choose a diamond shape

Shape is the outline of the diamond seen from above, and it is the biggest single choice for the look of the ring.

• Round brilliant: the classic choice, cut for maximum sparkle.
• Oval: elongated, so it can look larger for its carat weight and flatters the finger.
• Emerald cut: long step-cut facets with a clean, “hall of mirrors” look; clarity shows more easily.
• Pear, princess, cushion, radiant and marquise: distinctive outlines that suit a more individual style.

Look at her current jewelry: someone who wears clean, minimal pieces often prefers a round or emerald solitaire; someone who loves vintage pieces may prefer a cushion or a detailed setting.

3. Choose a setting style

• Solitaire: a single diamond on a plain band. Timeless, easy to pair with a wedding band. See our solitaire engagement rings.
• Pavé band: small diamonds set along the band for extra sparkle from the side.
• Halo: a ring of small diamonds around the center stone, which makes it look larger.
• Three-stone: a center diamond with a stone on each side, often said to stand for past, present and future. See our three-stone rings.
• Vintage-inspired: details such as milgrain edges and geometric Art Deco lines. See our vintage-inspired rings.

Prongs or bezel? Prongs (usually four or six) hold the diamond with little metal, so more light reaches it. A bezel wraps the edge in metal: very secure and practical for an active lifestyle, with slightly less sparkle.

Think about the wedding band too. Some settings sit low or have a curved profile; if she wants the two rings to sit flush, check that before you choose.

4. Understand the 4 Cs

• Cut: how well the diamond is proportioned and polished. It has the biggest effect on sparkle.
• Color: graded from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). Near-colorless grades look white to most people, especially in yellow or rose gold.
• Clarity: how many tiny natural marks the diamond has, from Flawless to Included. Many “eye-clean” diamonds have marks you can only see under magnification.
• Carat: weight, not size. Two diamonds of the same carat weight can look different sizes depending on shape and cut.

Read more in our diamond education guide.

5. Mined (natural) or lab-grown?

Both are real diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically and optically the same as mined (natural) diamonds; the difference is their origin. Mined (natural) diamonds formed in the earth; lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory. A lab-grown diamond usually costs less than a mined (natural) diamond of similar size and quality. Neither one can be told apart by eye, so a reputable jeweler should always tell you which one you are buying.

At Arra Jewels we offer both: each engagement ring can be ordered with a mined (natural) or a lab-grown diamond.

6. Ask about the grading report

A grading report (sometimes called a certificate) is issued by an independent gemological lab and records a diamond’s shape, measurements, carat weight, color, clarity and, for round diamonds, cut grade. It also states whether the diamond is lab-grown. Well-known labs include GIA and IGI. Before you buy any diamond, ask whether it has a report, which lab issued it, and check that the report number matches the stone.

Ask us about any diamond you are considering and we will tell you whether it has a grading report and which lab issued it.

7. Choose a metal

• 14K gold is 58.5% gold: durable and a good value for everyday wear.
• 18K gold is 75% gold: a richer color, slightly softer than 14K.
• White, yellow or rose: the same gold karat in a different alloy color. White gold is usually rhodium-plated, which may need refreshing over the years.
• Platinum is naturally white, dense and very durable, and usually costs more than gold.

Some of our rings, such as the oval pavé engagement ring and the emerald-cut eternity band, are offered in 14K or 18K white, yellow or rose gold, or platinum. Each product page lists its own options.

8. Get the ring size right

Use our ring size guide to measure at home, or find her size secretly. Full eternity bands can’t be resized easily, so confirm the size before you order one.

We offer complimentary lifetime resizing and polishing on all jewelry and rings purchased from us. Please note that if a resizing requires additional gold or gemstone work, the customer will be responsible for the cost of the added materials.

9. Caring for a diamond ring

• Clean it at home with warm water, a few drops of mild dish soap and a soft toothbrush, then rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth.
• Take it off for gardening, heavy lifting, the gym and household cleaning, and avoid chlorine (pools, hot tubs, bleach), which can damage gold alloys.
• Put lotions and hair products on before your ring, so the diamond doesn’t get a dull film.
• Store it on its own in a soft pouch or lined box: diamonds can scratch other jewelry, and each other.
• Check the prongs now and then. If the diamond moves or a prong catches on clothing, bring it in before you wear it again.

10. Where to see engagement rings in Bolingbrook

Arra Jewels USA is at 639 E Boughton Road, Suite 175, Bolingbrook, IL 60440, inside The Promenade Bolingbrook. Walk-ins are welcome Tuesday–Sunday 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Central), closed Monday; no appointment is needed. You can compare mined (natural) and lab-grown diamonds side by side, try settings on, check your ring size and talk through a custom design. Get directions or call (224) 806-6786.

Ready to browse? See all engagement rings.

Contact us

Arra Jewels
639 E Boughton Rd, Suite 175 (The Promenade Bolingbrook)
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Phone: (224) 806-6786
Email: contact@arrajewelsusa.com