You've finally found who you believe is the “one” for you. You may have asked a family member for their approval in marriage and may have even planned the perfect proposal. Nice work! But hey, what about the engagement ring?

Finding the perfect engagement ring in Melbourne can be an overwhelming task. After all, there’s tremendous pressure on this specific purchase. It’s the ultimate symbol of love for your partner, and also a token of your willingness to take this relationship to the next level. Plus, you cannot help but consider that your fiancé will be flaunting off their engagement ring in front of family and friends.

For many people, engagement rings, whether diamond rings or sapphire rings for their love will be their first experience in the world of jewellery. So, to help you avoid getting intimidated with new terms and concepts from jewellery stores out there, mentioned below is the ultimate guide to help you purchase an engagement ring in Melbourne to help make your partner will flip over.

Let’s get started!

1.       Establish Your Price Point

This is the very first thing you need to sort out before stepping into a jewellery store in Melbourne or any other place for that matter. Generally when someone walks into a jewellery store to purchase an engagement ring, sales people tend to do a cheeky thing – they make you believe that the amount you love your partner is tied to the amount you spend on a ring. (This is ridiculous in our opinion)

Well as they say, follow the standard rule of saving your three month’s salary. However this old rule doesn't really apply these days, whatever you feel you wish to allocate towards your special purchase, there is something out there for you… There’s no need to spend beyond your means.

2.       Certification Matters

The top three diamond certification bodies are GIA/HRD/IGI. Diamonds ( loose diamonds in retail or wholesale, for example ) sold under any other certification body may cost substantially less but they may not be respected in the Diamond industry. Also, they may not be as strict in their grading standards.

We mainly deal GIA certified Diamonds, as their grading system is of a higher standard.

It’s always advisable to be aware of the Jewellery houses and wholesale jewellers in Melbourne that sell Diamonds under their own in-house certification as these may not be independent. So, don’t forget to check the certificates and ask the question before buying your dream engagement ring.

3.       Consider All C’s

The four vital C’s – Cut, Color, Carat and Clarity – each affect the price of the diamond and should therefore be considered individually. According to the experts, Cut is the most important of all the four, as it brings out the fire and brilliance of the Diamond. A great cut can provide flexibility on the other C’s, making color and clarity less desirable.

In fact, even the stones graded Sl1 (seven levels below flawless) can seem perfect to naked eye if the Diamond is cut exceptionally well, or if the inclusions are in the ‘right spot’. Respected jewellery artisans believe that the overall ring setting also helps in concealing many Diamond imperfections.

4.       Watch Out For Fluorescence   

After the four C’s, experts always recommend considering other essential factors such as fluorescence. It generally refers to reaction between Diamond and Ultra Violet (UV) light. Fluorescence can make a diamond appear milky on a sunny day or blue under artificial UV light.

In fact, there is a scale of fluorescence – nil, slight/faint, medium, strong and very strong. Experts recommend that you should always prefer Diamond with nil to medium as prices generally drop with stronger fluorescence.

5.       Prefer a Fancy Shape

Round Diamonds are the most popular choice for engagement rings and this is also one of the reasons they have a higher price compared to other shapes. You can save significantly on your dream engagement ring by opting for alternative shapes, such as Cushion Cuts, Emerald Cuts in Emerald Jewellery or famous Oval and Pear Shape designs in Sapphire Jewellery.

6.       Platinum versus White Gold

One of the golden questions you will have to make throughout your journey...

White Gold is slightly lighter than Platinum, and has a great memory. Meaning it can take a few good knocks and still bounce back to its original shape… Platinum on the other hand is heavier, and malleable. After a few knocks, you need to work the metal a little more to bring it back to its original shape.

Platinum’s colour turns to a more dull gun-metal grey within a very short duration of its wear. Although some jewellers promote Platinum over White Gold, this has nothing to do with its properties. Platinum being the most pure metal, makes it much more expensive than Gold. You’ll find a majority of jewellers and designers prefer White Gold as their choice for engagement rings, and dress pieces.

Please feel free to ask us about the premium mix of White Gold that we work with too.