Choosing an engagement ring for your other half can quickly give you a cold sweat. And for good reason ! It is often the first time that we buy jewelry. It is therefore difficult to find your way around and know how to choose well, without tearing your hair out. Today, we go over all the important points with you to find the perfect engagement ring.
A short history of the engagement ring
The symbol of the ring as a sign of love dates back to Roman antiquity. At that time, it was common to give a simple iron ring to seal a commitment.
This tradition would have been lost until the 15th century. According to legend, Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg offered a ring set with diamonds to his future wife Marie de Bourgogne, on the occasion of their engagement in 1477. The simple ring is adorned with stones. The tradition of the diamond engagement ring, a promise of eternal love, was born 💍.
One of the first things to consider is the quality of the metal of the ring body , usually gold. Whether it is white, yellow or pink, what matters above all is its titration, that is to say its fine gold content.
In fact, what few people know is that pure gold, which is too soft, is never used as such in jewelry (it is reserved for certain gold coins and ingots). It is generally worked with copper, silver or palladium to form an alloy whose titration in France will be 18k or 9k.
In our opinion, 18k gold (also called 18 carat or 750/1000th gold) is preferred. With a gold content of 75%, it is the most durable of alloys. It is also favored by the major jewelry houses of Place Vendôme. At Breidal, it therefore seems obvious to us to only use 18k gold for all our jewelry!
As for 9k gold, let’s be clear: we are strongly opposed to its use. We even question its name “gold” since the metal contains only 37.5% pure gold. It is softer, more fragile and its color is often the result of rhodium plating or plating (layer of metal, rhium or gold, affixed to the jewel). In fact, this jewel will not last over time. It will tarnish, thin and distort. We thus obtain disposable jewelry, sold much too expensive considering their quality, and the opposite of the symbolism of an engagement ring. For the same reasons, we believe that the choice of money should be avoided, even if you have a small budget; choose a simpler piece of jewelry in 18k gold.
At the end of the 19th century, platinum appeared among jewelers. Although its shine is perfect white, you should keep in mind that this precious metal is a little softer than 18k gold. Although it is a good alternative to 18k white gold, it will move more over time, especially for a ring worn every day. At the factory, we recommend 18k palladium-plated white gold which combines durable color and solidity (the one offered on all our jewelry).
YELLOW ? White ? Gray ? Pink ? As for the color of the ring , there is something for everyone! It is the different dosages of copper, silver or palladium in the gold alloy which give it its more or less accentuated hues.
When choosing the color, our first tip is to look at the color of the jewelry that your future fiancée already wears regularly. Then, stand by, observe the jewelry she spots, the brands she likes, the windows she stops in front of, ask her opinion (discreetly) on your friends’ rings. In short, investigate!
From a completely objective point of view (and yes, it happens to us!), note that white gold has this little advantage of combining perfectly with the sparkle of the diamond. As for pink gold, it brings a warm and discreet shine. And what’s more, it’s flattering on most skin tones.
Diamant or not diamant ?
The engagement ring is often decorated with one or more stones. Golden rule: ONLY choose precious stones, i.e. sapphire (of all colors – except red – and not just blue as we think), ruby (red), emerald (green) or diamond (white but also yellow, champagne, black or more rarely pink, blue, green…)! Indeed, the engagement ring is worn every day and must be able to withstand the hectic life of the one of your heart. Even if we love them too, fine stones (amethyst, quartz, topaz, aquamarine, etc.) are not sufficiently resistant and will damage too quickly.
Among precious stones, the queen is the diamond! It is the brightest and hardest of stones, and above all a promising symbol of eternal love.
Heart with fingers Engagement ring
Diamond also has the advantage of being luminous and goes with all styles, all alloys, all skin types and all manicures. If you opt for a solitaire diamond, we advise you to invest in a stone of 0.30 carats or more . At Breidal, you will then be issued a laboratory certificate (GIA or HRD which are the most recognized) with your stone (which will reassure you about your purchase).