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, moissanite and lab grown diamonds are excellent options. As lab grown gemstones, they are much more affordable (meaning you can probably afford a larger stone!). You can also select a more affordable precious metal to lower the overall cost of your ring. We also want your engagement ring shopping experience to be as stress-free as possible. This why we offer interest-free finance options with Humm and Zip, allowing you to pay off your ring at a pace that best suits you. We also accept all major credit cards, cash and PayPal. With flexible payment options, you can stress less about spending and get excited about proposing!
2. Select a Ring
Finding the right setting can be tricky. We offer 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, we recommend considering your partner’s wardrobe and accessories - this can help give you clues as to whether they’d like a traditional, modern, unique, or glamorous engagement ring. If you want to learn more about different ring styles, check out our Engagement Ring Basics guide. It is also a good idea to consider what metal type to go for. 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 the wearers preferences and lifestyle needs. For example, if you is allergic to metal, platinum is a great hypoallergenic option. Have a look at the colour of the jewellery you wear now – if you only wear white coloured jewellery, yellow gold may not be your style! A helpful tip is to consider ring size early on especially at this stage of selecting your setting. If you or your partner don't know your ring size, we have a few tips on how to find ring size to help you get an estimate. The most common women’s size is 6-6.5, but you might want to err on the larger side (it is much easier to resize a ring that is too large than a ring that is too small). If possible, bring one of your or your partners rings into our showroom to be sized or trace the inner and outer edges of the ring on a piece of paper. Alternatively, we can send you a free ring sizer and you can measure your ring size at home.
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. We also offer a wide range of moissanite and sapphires if something a little different is your preference. The best place to start is by focusing on the qualities that matter most to you, whether that is shape, size, sparkle or budget, so you can narrow your options with confidence. It also helps to compare diamonds side by side and look closely at the balance of cut, colour, clarity and carat to find a gemstone that feels right for your style and story.
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. Other than our Ready to Ship range for the proposal that can't wait, every Cullen ring is made-to-order, your ring will be typically crafted within 50 business days. Expedited options are also available if you need your ring sooner. If you would like more information visit our Crafting Timeframes page, or for how your ring is made visit our crafting process page.
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.
