At Cullen Jewellery, we understand that finding your dream ring can be an exciting yet daunting experience - especially when purchasing online! This guide will show you how to choose the perfect ring for you.
1. Set a Budget
A great place to start when selecting an engagement ring is with your budget. Deciding on a budget early means you are one step closer to finding the perfect engagement ring within your price range. Most people have heard the old tale that you should spend 3 months’ salary on an engagement ring. What most people don’t know is that this idea first came from an old advertising campaign by one of the world’s largest diamond producers! Engagement rings have symbolic value and will last a lifetime, but every couple is different. How much you spend will depend on your partner’s wants and your own personal circumstances. Once you have a budget, it’s time to explore the engagement rings within your price range. A custom-designed ring will allow you to have full control of your spending. To maximise your budget, lab grown diamonds are excellent options. As lab grown gemstones, they are much more affordable (meaning you can probably afford a larger stone!). Also check if a jeweller has finance options available. At Cullen, we offer interest-free finance options with Humm or Zip, allowing you to pay off your ring at a pace that best suits you. With flexible payment options, you can stress less about spending and get excited about proposing!
2. Select a Ring Setting
Cullen Jewellery offers a wide variety of ring settings, ranging from solitaire styles to halo engagement rings. Specialising in custom designs, we are also available to help you design something totally unique for you and your partner. As a guide, thinking about your partner’s personality and other jewellery they wear can help - this can give you clues as to whether they’d like a traditional, modern, unique, or glamorous engagement ring. Next choose the type of precious metal used. The most popular choices are platinum and yellow gold, but we also offer rose gold and white gold. The type of metal you choose will depend on your partner’s preferences and lifestyle needs. Have a look at the colour of the jewellery they wear now – if they only wear white gold jewellery, they might not like a yellow gold ring! It is also important to find your partner’s ring size. If you don’t know their ring size, we have a few tips to help you get an estimate. The most common women’s size is 6-6.5, but can vary greatly from person to person so it is best to always try and get either their finger sized by a jeweller or a ring they wear on their ring finger sized.
3. Select a Diamond
Diamonds are the traditional choice of stone for an engagement ring. To find the perfect diamond for your budget and style, it is helpful to understand the 4Cs: cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. Which shape you choose will be entirely dependent on the wearer’s personal preference. Consider their hand and fingers’ shape, as a more elongated shape like an oval or marquise can give the illusion of longer fingers which is preferred by some. On the other hand, some may prefer the width of shorter and therefore wider shapes like round and cushion cut diamonds, or even in an east-west orientation to really maximise the horizontal look.
4. Purchase Process
Once you are ready to go ahead with your design and purchase your engagement ring, we will keep you updated throughout the production process through your personalised client portal. Since every Cullen Jewellery ring is made-to-order, your ring will be typically crafted within 45 business days, unless selected from our Ready-To-Ship collection. Expedited options are also available if you need your ring sooner. You can view our crafting timeframes here.
5. Propose!
Once you have your ring, the rest is up to you! After investing your time and money into selecting the most beautiful engagement ring for your partner, this moment will be one you can cherish together forever.
Don't let the overwhelming options deter you. Instead, let this guide be your compass as you explore the world of engagement rings. Start your ring journey with us today by booking an appointment below and discover the piece that will symbolise your love and commitment for years to come.