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    • Tag: Engagement Ring

    Do men’s and women’s engagement rings have to match?

    Matching engagement rings for him and her

    Engagement rings mark the beginning of a new journey. It is a time-honoured tradition that involves quite a few etiquettes.

    One of the most frequently asked questions by both the bride and groom-to-be is “do our engagement rings have to match?” Since it is a critical time that demands several decision-making steps including choosing the actual engagement ring for the significant other, we get it you’re puzzled.

    When is it necessary for engagement rings to match?

    An engagement ring is an integral part of a marriage proposal. It represents the unspoken and spoken promises you are going to make before you embark on a beautiful journey together.

    Traditionally, the groom-to-be pays for the engagement ring. Therefore, he must consider his significant other’s style, personality type, and finger size.

    Rose Gold Matching engagement rings

    And these are only a few of the factors that go into choosing the right engagement ring.

    If you are thinking of flaunting an engagement ring the entire time your SO wears theirs, that’s incredibly thoughtful. Although it is not mandatory for the man to wear an engagement ring too, you might choose to wear one due to family traditions or because you hosted a formal engagement party.

    Men in many families wear an engagement ring until they replace them with the wedding ring on their wedding day.

    Why should your engagement ring match hers?

    Engagement rings for couplesWhile choosing a man’s engagement ring isn’t difficult, it does beg the extra attention to detail since there should be some parity between the two engagement rings you and your beloved wear till your special day. Keep it simple, buy a pair.

    Matching rings show that you have similar tastes, and at the same time, you are ready to undertake the unknown journey in stride with each other irrespective of the odds. They are the cohesive expression of the love you share.

    What’s our take on non-matching engagement rings?

    Non-matching engagement rings are not deal-breakers either. Distinct wedding rings for the man and the woman signify that each has their unique styles. Moreover, just because two rings are different in looks, does not mean they will have nothing in common. You can get matching engravings, same or complementary gemstones or your birthstones, or the stones of the months you fell in love on two very different bands for your engagement.

    Birthstone Couple Engagement Rings

    Wedding rings typically replace the engagement ring for the man. Many women choose to wear their engagement rings and wedding rings stacked together long after their marriage day. So, in addition to worrying about your ring style matching your significant other’s, you should also consider the design of the wedding ring that you will wear forever after the “I Do’s”.

    It is a practice to purchase wedding rings that match for the man and the woman. If your significant other wants to wear their wedding ring only after your special day, you should spend more time looking for a set of wedding rings that match, instead of worrying about your engagement ring design.

    How to be sure about a design?

    The best way to make sure you are buying the right ring for both of you – take her along when you shop. Unless, of course, the proposal is a surprise!

    Always talk about the designs and styles you like. Who knows? Maybe secretly she has always wanted a steampunk-themed engagement ring just like the one you like.

    Simply come to our Ovadia Jewellery shop in Hatton Garden to try on some of our stunning and unique engagement rings so you figure out which style is right for you and your partner.

    Are Antique Engagement Rings Cheaper Than Modern Engagement Rings?

    Antique Vs Modern Engagement Rings

    If you are looking for antique jewellery, Hatton Garden in London is probably one of the best destinations to do so. This is because London is a major fashion capital in Europe and boasts some of the biggest names in the game.

    The choice of jewellery stores in this great city can be overwhelming. The challenge of shopping for the ideal jeweller is further complicated by the extensive variety in engagement ring types and styles offered in most jewellery stores.

    The types of engagement rings that tend to be confusing to most people include

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    Difference between Antique, Vintage and Vintage-Inspired engagement rings

    The common factor in both antique and vintage jewellery is that both can be period jewellery. This is because both classifications are based upon the time period in which a particular piece of fine jewellery was made. Engagement rings that are classified as vintage were made between 50 and 100 years ago. This gives the time period from the 1920s to the 1970s.

    Antique Engagement RingAntique engagement rings were made over 100 years ago. This means that engagement rings made earlier than the 1920s are essential, antique. Antique rings are further classified based on the monarch in power at the time they were made. Examples of such classes include Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and others. Other classes of antique rings are based on a specific art form or even their intended use. Such examples include art nouveau and art deco. Most vintage jewellery London shops will offer an extensive range of antique engagement rings.

    Vintage-inspired engagement rings, on the other hand, are rings that have been made to look like genuine vintage engagement rings. This means a vintage-inspired engagement ring is made using styles and cuts that had been used over 50 years ago. Thus vintage-inspired engagement rings are a type of bespoke engagement ring which means the rings have been customized according to a client’s specifications.

    Price Difference Factors in Antique and Modern Style Engagement Rings

    There are a number of factors that are considered when determining the price of both antique and modern style rings. This is why it is possible to find antique engagement rings that are more expensive than some modern style rings and vice versa.

    Some of these factors include:

    1. Craftsmanship

      Antique engagement rings offer the prime benefit of having been made using techniques, styles and cuts that are no longer in use. What this means is that an antique ring is, more often than not, a very unique item. This factor alone is enough to make antique rings made with exceptional craftsmanship quite expensive.

      This is not to say that the craftsmanship of modern rings is inferior to that of antique rings. However, the level of standardization within the modern jewellery industry is quite high. This is primarily because the high demand for engagement rings has made it necessary to mass-produce certain popular styles and cuts.

      Thus even though a modern ring can be quite exquisite, it is more likely that the ring does not feature unique styling or cut design. This is a major factor in making many styles and cuts of modern rings quite affordable.

    2. Customization

      Unlike bespoke engagement rings, it is usually not possible to have customization done on an antique ring. This is mainly because the cuts, styles and materials that had been used on antique rings tend to be too delicate Vintage Engagement Ringfor any additional work. When such customization is carried out, it is quite expensive due to the exceptional skill needed to do so. This aspect of antique engagement rings can greatly lower their appeal in favor of modern rings.

      Modern engagement rings, on the other hand, offer a great choice in terms of the custom features you can add to the ring. The range of choice includes the cut of the diamond, style of stone’s setting, style of the band and even have a unique phrase engraved on the ring’s band. The choice of custom features you want on your ring can greatly raise the price you end up paying for a modern engagement ring. It is possible to save some money by limiting your customization choices to the essentials.

    3. History

      Finally, the specific history behind a particular antique engagement ring can greatly affect its price. Antique rings with a rich and extensive past history can end up having exorbitant prices. These include antique rings that belonged to the rich and famous, rings that were once owned by royalty or rings that are associated with notable events in history. An antique ring needs not to have an elaborate history to be a piece of fine jewellery. You can save some money by going for an average antique engagement ring.

      Modern engagement rings tend to have a little history behind them if any at all. Thus, a ring’s history is not a major price factor with modern engagement rings.

    Find your ideal engagement ring

    Whether you want to wear a ring with charisma, a certain style, design or look, whether you want an antique or modern piece – at Ovadia Jewellery in Hatton Garden our engagement ring experts will be able to talk you through your options so you make the right choice, considering your ideal style and budget preferences. Visit our jewellery store to compare engagement rings to identify what suits you most.

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    Ultimate Ways To Buy The Best Value Diamond Engagement Ring

    Knowing exactly how to go about finding and then buying the best diamond engagement ring can be quite an arduous task. To make this once in a lifetime monumental task easy for you, we have compiled sets of guidelines to act as comprehensive engagement ring buying advice.

    How to buy the best value diamond engagement rings? 

    1. Ask for recommendations from friends and family

      The most straightforward way of finding a good jeweller is by simply appealing to family members and friends for suggestions. You will likely get more than a few referrals which leave you with the final decision. However, do not be in any haste to choose one specific jeweller based on the profusion of praise. Be sure to do some background work by yourself to find exactly what you’re looking for. Visit the jeweller’s website if they have one, start an email correspondence with the jeweller and finally make an actual physical visit to the jeweller once you sufficiently narrow down your list. You’ll find many jewellery shops in the famous Londoner Hatton Garden area so if you’re near there, have a wander and enquire about their diamond engagement ring selection.

    2. Consult the telephone directory for a jeweller

      Jewellers Directory - Best Value Diamond Ring

      Another equally straight forward way of finding a jeweller is to consult a thick volume telephone or listed jewellery business directory. This piece of advice might sound slightly old fashioned, but there is one advantage to using an actual physical directory. It is more likely for a long established jeweller to have contacts in a seemingly outdated physical telephone directory than for a newcomer to the business. Remember, it’s essential to choose a jeweller who has been in the business for a considerable time. If you lack time to embark on a Sherlock Holmes style quest for an established jeweller, then you can simply seek out an online jewellery business directory. The business directory will not only have a jeweller’s physical address and phone number, but it might also have the jeweller’s website and email address and a brief introduction. A website makes it possible for you to seek out any additional information about the jeweller such as work history and locations of subsidiary outlets. Remember, it’s possible to find a jeweller who makes great value engagement rings.

    3. Consult the GIA Alumni Association online directory

      Finally, to aid your search for the ideal jeweller specialising in large diamond engagement rings or white gold diamond engagement rings or platinum diamond engagement rings, consult the GIA. The acronym, GIA, stands for the Gemological Institute of America. GIA is the foremost international authority on the grading of diamonds. Any jeweller who is on the online Alumni list of this reputable organization, such as our talented Hannah, is worthy of being considered a senior professional in the field. However, you are bound to find many GIA certified professionals on the Alumni list, and therefore, your final judgment of choosing the actual jeweller still lies with you as the prospective buyer.

    To support you with making this crucial decision, we have compiled some guidelines to identify a good jeweller and the quality of the diamond that you purchase:

    1. Qualities of a good jeweller
      Below is a list of the primary considerations you should take into account when choosing the ideal wedding diamond jewellery expert:

      • Reputation – the jeweller should be someone known for being exemplary in his/her line of work as ascertained from their past clientele
      • Work History – the jeweller should have worked in the diamond industry for more than 4 Years and also be up to date with the latest trends in the jewellery industry. He/she should be a diamond expert.
      • Open – the jeweller should be easy to talk to and someone who uses simple language to answer a client’s queries
      • The jeweller should be willing to provide an independent grading report on any diamond purchased. The report can be from the various gemological grading institutions such as GIA (see above), AGI, HRD or IGI

    2. Qualities of a good diamondBest Value Diamond Engagement Ring - Ovadia Jewellery

      1. Carat – this refers to the actual physical weight of the stone. The larger the diamond, the heavier it is and hence, the more carats it has. The more carats a diamond has the higher its cost.
      2. Colour – regarding diamonds, colour refers to the absence of colour within the stone. The more transparent a diamond is, the higher its colour grade.
      3. Cut – this refers to the number and arrangement of the individual facets on the diamond. The more elaborate the facets that a diamond has, the higher its cut grade.
      4. Clarity – this refers to the presence or absence of any physical flaws within the diamond itself or upon its surface. Flawless diamonds are way more expensive than those with flaws included.

    Finally, remember the best day to buy a diamond is any day not preceding a holiday season or other notable days such as Easter, Christmas or Valentines.

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