How to Buy an Engagement Ring

Ignore the three months salary rule: it was invented by diamond advertisers in the 1930s. The right number is whatever you can spend without borrowing against your future together. Most UK couples spend between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds; our made-to-order settings begin at 5,000 pounds, and lab-grown diamonds achieve the same look for considerably less.

Fixing the number first is liberating rather than limiting. It turns every later decision into a trade you control: a slightly warmer colour grade for an extra quarter carat, a lab-grown stone for a heavier platinum band. Tell us the budget and we will show you the strongest ring inside it.

Shape is the most personal decision and the one to get right. Look at her existing jewellery: delicate and classic points to round or oval; clean and architectural points to emerald or asscher; romantic and unusual points to pear or cushion. Ovals and pears also wear larger than their carat weight, a quiet advantage.

If you are unsure, the round brilliant is the safest choice in the history of jewellery, and the oval is its modern heir. Our diamond shapes guide covers all eight in detail.

Both are diamonds, identical in chemistry, hardness and fire. A natural stone formed over a billion years and carries rarity; a lab-grown stone is made in weeks and costs 60 to 80 percent less at the same grade. Neither is the wrong answer: one buys history, the other buys size and quality per pound.

Whichever you choose, insist on certification. Every centre stone we sell carries a GIA or IGI report, and our ring builder shows real certified stones with live pricing so you can compare with nothing hidden.

The setting is the architecture: a solitaire for timelessness, pave shoulders for sparkle, a trilogy for meaning, a bezel for security and modernity. The metal sets the mood: platinum is the most durable and never needs replating; 18k yellow gold is warm and classical; rose gold is romantic; white gold is bright but asks for occasional rhodium care.

One practical rule: match the metal to the jewellery she already wears daily. The full comparison lives in our metal guide.

Borrow a ring she wears on her ring finger and trace the inside on paper, or press it into a bar of soap, or measure it against our size chart. A trusted friend or sister is worth more than any gadget. If all else fails, order at our default size: the first resize is free within six months, and we confirm sizing before production begins.

Every Jabour ring is made from scratch in Hatton Garden: nothing sits in stock. Standard production is four to six weeks from confirmation; bespoke commissions run six to twelve. Add delivery and a buffer, and the comfortable answer is: order eight weeks before the moment you have planned.

Faster is sometimes possible. If the date is fixed and close, speak to us before assuming it cannot be done.

Keep the certificate, insure the ring before the proposal, and photograph it with its paperwork. Most UK home insurance covers valuables only to a low per-item limit, so name the ring specifically or use a dedicated jewellery insurer. Your Jabour lifetime warranty covers the craftsmanship; insurance covers the world.