Ring Designs: Where to Buy the Best Silver Rings and More

Engagement ring designs

A marriage proposal is one of the most important moments in anyone's life. In particular, choosing an engagement ring is without a doubt one of the hardest steps. "Will she like it?" Is this the right shape? Did I set aside enough budget? Is the jewelry good quality? How can I be sure I'm not making a mistake?

So many questions that many have asked themselves and that deserve answers. That's why we thought it would be interesting to tell you more about engagement ring design.

Modern engagement rings

An engagement ring is a piece of jewelry given as a symbol of commitment. These days, this piece is usually a solitaire (that is, a ring adorned with a center stone). It can be made in different ways: with a pavé of diamonds around the center stone, on the ring, or both, for that matter.

But beyond this classic choice, the engagement ring can also feature a more original and creative design, far from the traditional solitaire ring. In the end, the symbol always remains the same: a silver jewel offered out of love.

While the ritual of engagement rings has evolved over time, the tradition of offering sterling silver jewelry for love has existed since time immemorial and has been perpetuated in many countries, social circles or religions.

Whether in Ancient Rome where a chiseled gold ring was offered to one's future bride, in the Middle Ages with the first jewels adorned with gemstones or even in the 20th century with the arrival of the center diamond.

Engagement ring styles for women

You've probably never wondered about the style your partner likes to convey, but this point will be very useful in determining the type of engagement ring that will suit her best! To determine the style of your partner's engagement ring, we recommend answering the following questions:

• What clothing colors does she like to wear? Does she like sober colors (navy blue, black, white) or more striking ones (red, orange, yellow, green)?
• In general, does she like to be noticed or, on the contrary, does she shine with discreet elegance?
• Is she still eager to discover the newest fashion designer? Or does she prefer timeless clothing?
• Does she usually wear precious jewelry? And if so, what is it like? Brilliant? Discreet? Refined? Colorful? Bold? Delicate?

The best engagement rings

You've chosen the style, the metal and the stone of your ring, you're almost there! At this point, all that's left is to make sure your silver jewel has the quality needed to wear it for many years. Before getting into this topic and giving you our tips for determining with certainty the quality of your ring, let's go over a few principles:

• First of all, while a jewel is an object that should last a lifetime, it is still a precious object that requires maintenance. Just as full-grain aniline leather shoes (the best possible quality) need to be cared for so they don't get ruined, an engagement ring deserves all your care to keep its shine like the first day.
• Then, for lack of information, we are often used to hearing truths… that aren't! Let's debunk some misconceptions:
  • "The diamond is unbreakable." That's false. The diamond is the hardest stone that exists, so it has the characteristic of being unscratchable (by anything other than a diamond). On the other hand, a diamond can break completely. If the stone takes a badly placed or intense blow, it can split. So be careful not to mistreat your diamond!
  • "Gold is eternal." Yes and no. 18k gold is the hardest material used in jewelry, of course, but it remains a precious metal that is subject to the whims of life. It scratches and acquires a patina, especially when it comes into contact with other metals. So be careful to avoid friction between your gold jewelry and any other metal as much as possible.
  • "Platinum is the hardest of all metals." Platinum is a particularly beautiful and precious metal, but it has the disadvantage of being a little more malleable than 18K gold. It's true that it doesn't oxidize, it's very pure (95%, compared to 75% for 18k gold), it never changes color, it's reputed to be hypoallergenic, but it can deform completely if subjected to pressure or scratched.

Adjustable engagement rings

You've already decided on the piece of jewelry that will best suit your other half and you've made sure of the quality of the engagement ring. All that's left is to determine your future wife's ring size. The simplest method is to discreetly borrow a ring of her size.

If you're lucky enough to have a partner who wears a silver ring on her left ring finger (remember that finger size is not the same on the right hand as on the left), the easiest way is to discreetly borrow the jewel and take it to a professional jeweler. He'll be able to give you the exact size of her finger using a ring mandrel.

Another simple option is to place this same jewel on a paper ring sizer that some jewelers offer (find our GOLD SHIELD size guide here). However, these don't work very precisely; between one size and another there is very little difference and it's easy to make a mistake.

However, if what you want is to forget about this annoying problem when choosing the right engagement ring for your partner, there is yet another alternative, and that is to opt for the famous adjustable engagement rings.

This way, the only thing you'll have to worry about is the design and the quality of the materials, choosing between silver or gold, leaning toward a classic design or perhaps a slightly more avant-garde one, etc... Find the best adjustable engagement rings at GOLD SHIELD.

Simple rings

These styles of engagement rings are the ones you'll find at almost any jewelry store you look in. Classic in this context doesn't mean boring or basic; simple rings are versatile, timeless and work with a variety of different gemstones, stone shapes and metals, and can be layered with more unusual, vintage or contemporary ring settings.

• Three-stone engagement ring: Three, four or five stone rings are very popular settings. With a three-stone setting, the center stone can be a little larger flanked by two decorative gems, or all three stones will be similar in size.
• Solitaire engagement ring: The ultimate classic, and rightly so. A solitaire ring is a single-stone ring (sometimes with an adorned band). These rings are all about the rock, so investing in a quality gemstone is key. Be careful with the prongs too: how the stone is held in the ring, whether six prongs (like above) or four or three, this tends to be a distinguishing feature when you're deciding between two solitaire settings.
• Halo engagement ring: A halo engagement ring is a ring with a center stone that has a circle of diamonds or gemstones around it. Ideal for adding sparkle to a colored gemstone or a smaller stone.
• Double halo engagement ring: Like a halo but double the diamonds! A double halo is an excellent choice for brides who like to wear large, eye-catching jewelry.
• Cluster engagement ring: Cluster rings come in a plethora of different styles, sometimes featuring a center stone, or other times each stone in the ring is similar in size.
• Twisted engagement ring: Twisted engagement ring bands have become increasingly popular in recent years and are a good way to give a solitaire setting a contemporary update.
• Bezel engagement ring: A bezel setting is when the stones sit in the metal instead of being held with prongs.
• Pavé engagement ring: A pavé engagement ring is when the band is encrusted with stones, definitely one for brides who love a bit of glamour.
• Colored stone engagement ring: Colored stone engagement rings cover a wide variety of ring styles that don't have white diamonds. Look for classics like rubies, emeralds and sapphires, as well as more modern stones like tanzanite, morganite or gray diamonds.

Solitaire

A solitaire engagement ring is a ring that features a central gemstone. There are no other diamonds or gemstones anywhere on the ring, and the band is usually plain without a pavé of diamonds.

There are many good things to say about solitaire engagement rings. The main reasons people opt for this style is because the design is timeless. It will never feel trendy or out of style, and it's easy to pass down.

It's hard to find anything bad to say about solitaire engagement rings, mainly because they're so simple. However, that could be a downside for some, as they might find that its simplistic design lacks personality. If you're more interested in features like sparkling diamond halos and milgrain details, as well as side stones to accent your center stone, a solitaire isn't for you. But if you want a classic look, then it's perfect.

Another advantage of solitaire engagement rings is that they don't require any elaborate cleaning method and caring for them is the same as caring for other types of jewelry. It's recommended to remove the ring during activities that could damage it, such as walking, swimming or any work that involves the hands.