Christmas. ‘Tis the season to be jolly. And for some, betrothed. The wine flows on faucet, and kinfolk are extra affable than annoying (for as soon as). Which makes for a heady mixture of excessive spirits, precise spirits and household values – the proper Dutch braveness recipe for popping the query. (Simply not the sort to inform your auntie you hated that deodorant reward set.)

December is the unofficial engagement interval. Don’t imagine us? Simply take one take a look at your Fb feed on Christmas Day – rings and palms and #blessed for days. Which is comprehensible – in any case, committing to a lifelong mate is a landmark occasion: we’re speculated to suggest solely as soon as, so it ought to be memorable.

However popping the closest bottle is much simpler than popping the query itself. It takes months of preparation, grappling with etiquette and, most significantly, the proper ring. Particularly if you happen to’re planning on a shock. Which is why we’ve spoken to 3 specialists to fill you in on what it’s essential to know earlier than you stoop to at least one knee.

Preparation Makes Excellent

So that you’ve discovered the girl (or man) of your desires. Nice. However earlier than heading to the closest jewellers for a rock to rival Uluru, it’s essential to get your head around the fundamentals.

“In the event you’re shopping for in secret, ring dimension is essential,” says Craig Bolton, govt director at Goldsmiths. “A hoop from the jewelry field is an efficient indication of the dimensions wanted. But when she’s extra hawkeyed, we provide a printable on-line ring sizer that measures the correct ring finger. From there, we estimate the engagement band.” There’s nonetheless a margin for error, although – which is why Goldsmiths launched an adjustment service to make sure a better match regardless.

It’s additionally price studying the 4 Cs of diamonds – Color, Readability, Lower and Carat weight. Right here’s a short overview:

• Color – A chemically pure diamond has no hue, so look out for a definite lack of color.
• Readability – Excessive-quality diamonds ought to be clear, so no frosting, blemishes or ingrained crystal.
• Lower – A robust diamond ought to boast excellent gentle interplay (sparkle, to you and me).
• Carat Weight – Heavier is bigger (and infrequently higher high quality), but additionally costlier.

However there’s one other ‘C’ it’s best to take into account: Value. It helps to have an concept of funds and their style normally too, says Bolton. As diamond bands vary from £500 to the tons of of 1000’s, your preliminary session received’t be all that fruitful if you happen to haven’t executed your homework.

Tailor-Made

Although jewellers boast bigger inventories, bespoke is an choice if you happen to’ve received a tighter deal with in your companion’s tastes. And your pockets – as jewelry designer Allison Bryan explains, one-offs don’t essentially value the world.

“Bespoke will be far inexpensive than a excessive avenue retailer, with our rings beginning at round £2,000,” says Bryan. “They usually’re extra reasonably priced if you happen to’re keen to look past the normal white solitaire diamond – there’s benefit to be present in different stones and settings.”

However what precisely are you paying for? “The personalised one-to-one service,” says Bryan. “I seek the advice of with a consumer in-person to substantiate funds, timeframe and a basic define. We then develop the design, sharing concepts and amendments at each step till we have now the proper piece.”

Bespoke will be the extra moral alternative, too. Bryan can inform her purchasers not simply the nation of a stone’s origin, however the diamond mine and the cutter accountable: “I not too long ago made an engagement ring with a responsibly-sourced Australian diamond. It was made by girls from begin to end – bought from a feminine diamond supplier, faceted by a feminine cutter, and set by a feminine jeweller.”

All of which proves you needn’t compromise your morals for a powerful ring.

The Development Forecast

Like menswear, jewelry is topic to traits. The distinction although, is that they’re even subtler. And, in a time when ostentatious rocks are a flashing beacon for robbers (right here’s you, Kim Ok), greater isn’t at all times higher.

“Colored gems are one of many brightest traits of 2016,” says Maria Doulton, co-founder of The Jewelry Editor. “However diamonds, rubies and sapphires are one of the best decisions – they provide color, however are additionally probably the most resilient.” Price allowing for, until you’re ready to fork out for restoning.

If there are quite a few zeros in your funds nevertheless, colored diamonds could possibly be an choice – a transfer which is more and more en vogue, however inevitably costlier.

“Colored diamonds are a robust pattern, however they’re costlier than white varieties. Go for a white diamond of a decrease color grading – they’re related in look to yellow diamonds, however will be as much as a 3rd cheaper.”

And there are a number of manufacturers to contemplate (and promptly delete out of your browser historical past). Nirav Modi and Polly Wales each cater to the color wheel, says Doulton, whereas Kataoka and Andrew Geoghegan are additionally names to look at.

After that, simply hope they are saying sure.