Helping you choose the perfect ring with confidence.
Choosing an engagement ring is one of the most meaningful purchases you’ll ever make; at Sapphire Jewellers, we’ve helped thousands of couples find the one since 1976. Whether you’re planning a surprise proposal or choosing the ring together, this expert guide breaks down everything you need to know before you buy.
1. Start With the Diamond (or Centre Stone)
When customers walk in asking, “What makes a diamond good?” this is where we begin. The quality of the stone makes the biggest impact on sparkle, beauty and price.
The 4Cs Explained Simply & Professionally
Cut (Most Important)
Cut determines how much the stone sparkles. Even a flawless diamond will look dull if the cut is poor. Always prioritise cut over everything else.
Look for:
- Excellent / Ideal cuts
- Perfect symmetry
- Brilliant light return
Colour
Diamonds range from icy white to warm tones.
For the best balance of quality and value, we recommend:
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D–F (colourless, premium)
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G–H (near-colourless, excellent value)
Lab-grown diamonds offer whiter stones for a lower price — a great option for bigger looks.
The GIA diamond colour scale can be found here.
Clarity
This measures how clean the stone is. Most inclusions are microscopic, so don’t overpay for perfection.
We recommend:
- Flawless - VVS2 (Amazing choices if your budget permits these)
- VS1 / VS1 (the perfect sweet spot)
- SI1 / SI2 (if well-selected by a jeweller — still very clean to the eye)
As the diamond market continues to evolve, the clarity of a diamond only becomes a topic of discussion when selecting from natural diamonds. Due to the availability and affordability of lab grown diamonds, you will not often find these below a VS1. If you are looking at engagement rings online which have a diamond clarity of below VS1, we would recommend you stay away from these, purely to save you from wasting your money.
For instance, at Sapphire Jewellers, all of our lab grown diamond engagement rings are a minimum of VS1 clarity and within the colour range of D/E/F (all whilst maintaining a reasonable price point).
Alternatively, the centre stone does not have to be a diamond, it's quite common to have other gem stones as the focal point of the engagement ring. The main thing to consider when choosing is what she will want / like. Remember: There's no right no wrong, only different.
Carat Weight
Bigger isn’t always better — it’s about proportion. A well-cut 1.00ct can look brighter and larger than a poorly cut 1.20ct.
This is another sector of the diamond / engagement ring market which has been entirely disrupted by the availability and affordability of lab grown stones. Going back 20 years a 1ct GIA certified stone would cost a considerable amount of money; the amount of women with stones of this size or larger in their engagement rings would be significantly smaller than compared to today.
Lab grown diamonds have increased the standard size of an engagement ring centre stone. Now, you will find it common for women to have stones 2ct+.
At Sapphire Jewellers, we handpick stones with maximum face-up size and sparkle, whether they are lab grown or natural. Visit our Coventry City Centre store to view a wide array of diamond sizes and colours.
Choose Your Setting Style
The setting defines the character of the ring. Here are the most popular designs:
Solitaire
- Classic, timeless, places full attention on the centre stone.
Perfect for women who love simplicity and elegance.
Hidden Halo
- A modern favourite. Subtle diamonds beneath the centre stone for extra shimmer. One of our most popular styles currently!
Halo
- A ring of diamonds around the centre stone, making it appear bigger and brighter.
Trilogy
- Three stones representing past, present, future. A meaningful choice.
Diamond Shoulders
- Added sparkle along the band, thus creating a more luxurious look without overpowering the centre stone.
Pick Your Metal
How do you actually know which metal to choose? And what’s the real difference between them?
For engagement rings, the two metals we work with are gold and platinum. Gold comes in different colours and purities, while platinum is only available as a naturally white metal.
When I’m helping clients decide, the first question I always ask is simple:
“What colour do you want your ring to be?”
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If the answer is white → platinum is the best choice every single time.
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If they want rose or yellow → gold is the route to go down.
For example, if a client wants a rose gold engagement ring, the only option is rose gold itself — available in 9ct and 18ct, depending on budget.
If they prefer yellow, we can craft it in either 9ct or 18ct yellow gold.
Now, the reason I always recommend platinum for white bands is this:
Platinum is naturally white. Gold is not.
Gold in its natural form is yellow — so when you choose a white gold ring, it’s actually yellow gold which has been mixed with white alloys to give that white appearance. This is then plated with rhodium to achieve that brilliant white finish. The natural colour of white gold is not a brilliant white, it is in fact a yellowy off-white. Over time, this plating wears down and needs refreshing.
Platinum, on the other hand, stays white forever.
No plating.
No fading.
No maintenance to keep the colour.
So if you’re after a clean, bright white band that stays white for life, platinum is the clear winner.
Natural vs Lab-Grown Diamonds
A question I get every week. What is the difference between them? Are lab diamonds real diamonds? This topic itself is a whole other blog post! But to keep it short and simple:
Natural Diamonds
- Billions of years old - formed deep within the mantle of the earth, under intense heat and pressure.
- Mined (Can be controversial)
- Hold value better than lab diamonds (although no diamond should be considered an investment for the general public in our opinion. When purchasing a diamond, do not consider the resale value).
Lab Grown Diamonds
- Made within a lab, rather than the earth
- Exact same chemical buildup as a natural diamond.
- Exceptional value for money (around 60-80% cheaper than mined diamonds)
- Perfect if you're on a budget
There is also massive discussion over mined diamonds and the methods of how they mined from the earth. For this reason - many people prefer lab grown diamonds as they do not involve any controversial labour practices, like how natural diamonds may do.
Certification (This Part Is Non-Negotiable)
Whatever diamond you choose, the certificate is one of the most important factors to consider. The GIA is the gold standard for all diamonds and many consider GIA stones to be the best on the market. Other diamond certification bodies are popular, such as the IGI and SGL,
Should you ever need to resell your diamond ring, you will 100% receive a higher price for the jewellery if accompanied with a diamond certificate.
What If You Don’t Know Her Ring Size?
Happens all the time.
Solutions I use daily:
- Bring a ring she wears
- Show me a picture of her hand
- We estimate and resize later
99% of engagement rings we sell can be resized.
Budget: Be Smart, Not Flashy
The truth?
You don’t need to overspend to get an incredible ring.
Because we design, set, and source stones in-house, you get quality pieces at proper value, no London mark-ups, no inflated nonsense.
Focus on:
- Good cut
- The setting she’ll love
- Metal she prefers
- Certification
That’s how you get the perfect ring.
Final Tips From Your Jeweller
After years of helping people pick their rings, here’s my real-world advice:
- Prioritise cut above everything
- Don’t stress too much over clarity
- Platinum for white bands, always
- Go with her preferred style
- Certificates matter
- Don’t rush — the right ring will stand out the moment you see it
If you don't know your jewellery, make sure you know your jeweller!
Thinking About Buying an Engagement Ring?
Pop into Sapphire Jewellers, Coventry anytime.
Whether you want a certified natural diamond, a lab-grown beauty, or a bespoke design, I’ll guide you through everything properly. No pressure, no confusing jargon.
Not local to Coventry but like what you've read?
We've had clients from all over the country purchase engagement rings from us. If you'd like to chat further please don't hesitate to send us a message via our Instagram DM to get started!
Author: Ravi Parekh (Sapphire Jewellers Coventry City Centre Store)
References: https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/diamond-clarity/
Last Updated: 18/11/25
