Choose an Engagement Ring: the 2024 Guide

An engagement ring decision usually comes down to four things: the stone, the metal, the setting, and the size of their finger. Get those right and the rest is taste.

This is the short version of how we walk people through it in our Southbank studio. No fluff, just what actually matters.

Pick the stone first

The stone drives the budget more than anything else. Three options worth knowing:

Moissanite

Lab-created. DEF colour and VVS clarity as a baseline. A 1ct moissanite ring at Guthrie sits between $1,200 and $2,500 depending on the setting. Brilliance is higher than diamond, which some people love and some find too flashy. It's not identical to a diamond, but in daylight most people can't tell. 9.25 on the Mohs scale.

Lab-grown diamond

Same chemistry and structure as a mined diamond. IGI certified. Roughly 60-70% less than a mined diamond of the same specs. Looks identical because it is identical. Good middle ground.

Mined diamond

Traditional, holds value better at resale, and 4-6x the price of a comparable moissanite ring at our studio. If that matters to you, it matters. If it doesn't, you're paying for the certificate.

Shape

Round brilliant is the most common because it returns the most light. Oval, pear, and marquise look larger per carat for the same weight. Emerald and Asscher are quieter, more architectural, with less sparkle and more flash.

If you don't know their preference, round is the safest default. We can change the setting later without changing the stone.

Metal: 18K vs 14K, white vs yellow vs rose

We use 18K gold as standard. 14K is available if you'd prefer the harder alloy or a lower price point.

• White gold: gold mixed with palladium, finished with a rhodium plate. The plate wears thin in 2-5 years and needs redoing. Most popular finish in Australia.
• Yellow gold: warm, classic, no plating needed. Holds its colour forever.
• Rose gold: gold mixed with copper. Pinker, very durable, suits most skin tones.

Platinum is heavier and harder than gold and doesn't need re-plating. Costs more. We use it when a client asks.

Setting: solitaire, halo, or three-stone

Solitaire shows the stone. Halo makes the centre stone look 20-30% bigger and adds sparkle. Three-stone is heavier and more traditional. They all wear comfortably; pick what suits her hand.

If she works with her hands a lot, low-profile settings catch less and last longer.

Sizing without her knowing

The clean way is to borrow a ring she already wears on the right finger and bring it in. We'll size it in two minutes.

If you can't borrow one, ask a close friend or her mum. They almost always know.

Failing both, we can send a free plastic ring sizer through the post. Last resort: pick a common Australian size (M for women is the median) and we'll resize for free in the first 60 days.

Lifetime stone warranty

Every stone we set, moissanite or lab diamond, is covered for life. If it chips or fails, we replace it. Made in our Southbank studio, 3-6 weeks standard, 3 weeks express for $400.

If you'd rather work this out in person, book a free design consult. Level 7, 80 Dorcas St, Southbank. We also do video calls.