As much as you may think you know what you are doing, guessing your partner’s finger size is one of the hardest things to do. I personally never recommend a size for clients looking to surprise their partner. It is simply too difficult for anyone other than the wearer to determine the right size. You only need to be out by a fraction of a size and the whole ring needs to be resized again. An increase of one size usually equates to 1 mm in the circumference of the circle – which, if you are not familiar, is about the thickness of a credit card. If you do choose to try to pick the ring size without your partner, my general rule is to go for a standard size – for women, this is in the range of L to M. (In Australia, as well as Ireland and the UK, ring sizes are specified using an alphabetical scale.)

The ideal tactic, however, is to take your partner in for a fitting prior to the proposal. At the fitting, your partner can keep in mind the following tips to help you pick the perfect size:

Try to make sure your partner’s fingers are a comfortable room temperature. When our hands are hot, they can generally swell up, and can be as much as a ring-size larger. Likewise, when we are cold, our fingers shrink, which usually explains why a lot of people lose their rings around water activities when the water is cold. Making sure your partner’s hands aren’t too hot or too cold will help ensure the ring size is correct. (The best way to see how hot or cold your partner’s hands are to feel their fingertips.)

Work out whether your partner’s finger changes in size from one season to the other. Some people’s hands can change as much as a full size from summer to winter. One way to find out if your partner’s hand fluctuates with the seasons is to look at the rings, they may be wearing on one of their other fingers. One of their other rings feeling tighter than normal at the time of sizing is agood indication that their hands may be at the upper end of their sizing spectrum at that time.

If your partner’s hands do change significantly when they are hot or cold, try to choose a size that is in the middle. The aim here is to avoid a ring that will be uncomfortably tight in summer and one that is falling off in winter. If having the ring too loose is a worry, you may need to consider changing the shape of the ring – covered in this section.

What to look for

When sizing a hand, you want to see the ring grip the finger a little. But the ring shouldn’t be so tight that it looks like a napkin ring squeezing the napkin and making it bunch up. This can really detract from the aesthetics of the ring. The second thing is that when you turn the ring, it should grip the finger slightly and then release. The ring gripping the finger and not releasing is a good sign that the ring is too tight. Likewise, if the ring spins without grabbing the finger at all, it is too loose. When trying to work out the perfect size, it is usually a good idea to go past the size you think you are, and then go back one (just to rule the incorrect size out).

Sizing wide or thin rings

Wide rings take up a lot more surface area on the finger and, there- fore, will generally feel about half to one size tighter than a standard ring. A standard ring is usually around 3mm wide. The store your partner is having their finger sized in should have a separate set of sizing rings for rings 5mm and wider. If choosing a wider ring design, this set should be used to ensure the ring size is correct.

Thin rings are usually around 2mm in width and will feel about half to one size looser. Getting the size wrong for a thin ring will mean it will tend to flop and spin around more – which is likely to be extremely annoying to your partner. This means you may need to have the ring a little tighter if the band is super fine.

Sizing a ring around big knuckle

This is one of the hardest hands to size, because the ring needs to be big enough to get over the knuckle, but not so big that it will flop around when it is on. The best thing you can do here is to make sure the ring is as tight as possible when it is going on over the knuckle. If this doesn’t solve the way it sits, you may need to consider having the ring shaped or choosing a hinged ring.

Changing the shape of the ring to change the size.

This is a technique for special cases where the resizing of the ring hasn’t helped the way it sits on your partner’s finger. Changing the shape of the ring involves flaring out the bottom corners of the ring. This will make the inside shape of the ring look like a triangle, with the flat part being on the bottom of the finger. The flat bottom then helps keep the ring upright. But don’t worry, the shape will hardly be noticeable from the top, but it will certainly make a difference to the way the ring feels and looks.

Sizing inside comfort fit or hollowed out rings.

Rings with inside comfort fittings need a special set of sizing rings. While the comfort fit feels more comfortable, taking the inside edge of the ring out means there is less surface area to grip the finger. Depending on the width of the ring, the comfort fit can make the ring feel half a size looser compared to a flat bottom ring, so you will want to choose a size that is a little tighter.

The trick to sizing rings with a hollowed-out head is to go more on feel than the actual size. When you put on a ring with a hollowed out top, the top part of your knuckle fills the void, making it feel bigger than you imagine. The best way to pick the correct size is to choose the ring size on the normal ring sizing set that feels the most comfortable. The jeweller should then take that sizing ring into the workshop when they are ready to start the resize, cutting out only as

much as needed to create the same feel on the finger as the sizing ring that your partner tried on.

Hinged rings

If some of the preceding options haven’t worked, or your partner has injured their finger badly in an accident, a hinged ring may be your only other option. Much like a hinged bangle, the ring needs to be crafted with a hinge that allows it to open and close. For a hinged ring, the hinge allows the ring to open only as much as needed to get over the knuckle. The hinge can then be closed and locked in. Crafting the hinged mechanism is incredibly difficult and time-consuming, so this is usually a last resort if all other options have failed.

Tips for taking off a ring.

A chiropractor once told me that before an adjustment I should wiggle my toes. The effect of this actually has nothing to do with your feet – it just forces you to take your mind off what is happening to another part of your body. I often see the same kind of distraction tactics with clients when they are trying to take off a ring that is a little too tight. It is often quite funny to watch – it almost appears as if they are trying to pull their whole knuckle off. Twisting and turning, holding their tongue to one side and jumping on one foot are all common techniques I have seen – and all of these will prob- ably hurt your finger more than help you remove your ring.

The first simple thing to do is relax. By relaxing you allow all the tendons and muscles in your finger to go down. The second step is to bend your finger slightly. This helps remove all the excess skin from the top of your knuckle, which tends to bunch up when you straighten your finger. The third step is to push up from the bottom of the ring with your thumb. Then, using your index finger on the top of the ring, gently rock it over your knuckle as you are pushing up with your thumb.

WHAT IF I GET THE SIZE WRONG?

The ring only needs to be out a fraction of a size for it to have to be resized, but almost any ring can be sized up or down three sizes. So, although the chances of you getting the size spot-on without your partner are pretty slim, getting it more than three sizes out is even more unusual. My advice is to go for an average size – between L and M for women. If their hands and fingers are particularly small, maybe go down one size to K. Likewise, if you are worried that your partner won’t be able to get the ring on during the proposal, you might want to go a little bigger to be on the safe side. From a jeweller’s perspective, going down a few sizes is a little easier than going up.

If you have spoken about getting married, but still want to maintain as much surprise as possible, have your partner go to a local jewellery store to have their finger sized. Again, depending on when you plan on proposing, try to do this as early as possible, and give away as few details as possible, so as to maintain some element of surprise.

Can I use an old ring to guess the size?

The only ring that will be helpful in determining the engagement ring finger size would be a ring that your partner wears on the ring finger on the other hand. (If you’re still unclear, this is the finger next to the pinkie finger on the right hand.) Never use a ring that your partner wears on their two main pointer fingers, because the size of these have no correlation to the ring finger on their left hand. For most people, the two ring fingers will only be about half a size different. If she is right-handed, the right hand is usually a half size bigger, so make sure you take off half a size. If the only ring you can find is a ring that she wears on one of the two middle fingers, just stick with the standard finger size option (between L and M for women).

Want More Help?

You can contact the team via email here and we can arrange a complimentry ring sizer to be delivered to your home or workplace. You can also call the showroom on 07 32106288 or make an appointment to chat with one of our experts here.

Before you get engaged with a temporary engagement ring

You might be wondering, What is a temporary engagement ring? It is simply a ring that you can get engaged with NOW, until you find the dream engagement ring. You can still have that amazing proposal experience your partner has been waiting for without the big expense. 

But how do you know when you have met the love of your life? Someone who you want to be with through thick and thin. The glorious good times and the really yucky bad times. (that no one tells you about) For me it was the butterflies in my stomach after the first date with my then girlfriend. I am now 22 years married, 4 kids and two massive Newfoundland dogs later. (not by my choice, I got outvoted on that one) The simple answer is, you just know. 

What happens when your proposal plans go out of the window?

temporary engagement ring

Now speaking as a self-confessed control freak, planning to me is everything. If you are nodding along, then welcome to the club. The truth is, life has a funny way of throwing curve balls at us. Covid-19 is certainly one of those curve balls. You, like many couples, were probably blissfully celebrating the start of 2020, thinking that this year was going to be the year that you got engaged. With everything that is going on, you might now be wondering if you have to re-asses your options. 

While some of our clients may have lost their jobs due to COVID -19, there are still some that want to take that next step. Understandably a number of clients have been considering whether they should postpone or cancel their planned proposal. Maybe spending $8000 on an engagement ring right now might not be the best thing for you to do.

With so many restrictions in place it is perfectly understandable to think the only alternative is to do nothing and stay at home. Which is certainly the advice coming from the authorities. While that is true in some cases, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get creative with a surprise proposal at home with a temporary engagement ring. A ring that you can go back later and change for the perfect engagement ring. Something that you both can have an input into and enjoy the process.  

On the bright side, there have been a number of proposals still going ahead. Albeit much more low key than were originally planned. What is heart warming is talking to a proposer and hearing  how despite everything, they are still looking to make their partners year and pop the question. 

The Ultimate COVID-19 proposal idea with a temporary engagement ring.

For many of the proposers  I talk to, it can be quite an involved process choosing their partners dream engagement ring. Let alone how and when they are going to propose. With classic proposal locations such as restaurants, or travelling interstate or overseas now off the table, here is a really great alternative. 

With every temporary engagement ring purchase we are offering a romantic room turn down service. Imagine turning up with your beloved after a nice walk and coming home to this…

Romance Package 1

50 x Led Candles

1 x Bag of Red Rose Petals

1 x Bouquet of Red Roses

Fresh Strawberries

Chocolate Dip or Favourite Dessert

Your favourite photo memories displayed of you and your partner

Romantic Music Playing

Champagne

Then all you need to do is get down on one knee open the ring box with your stunning temporary engagement ring and ask your partner the words they have been waiting for.  “Will you marry me?”. Your proposal will be special, no matter where it is, or whether it is with a temporary engagement ring. Most partners who I speak to after having been proposed to, are glowing. They are so excited to share about how their partner proposed. They remember what they said and generally how excited they are to be on their way to being married.

Which might come as a much welcome distraction if you are finding yourself stuck at home with a lot more time on your hands. Planning a wedding can take a good 12 months, which means you are all set for a 2021 wedding. 

Which temporary engagement ring will you choose? 

If you have decided that you really want to get engaged to your partner and would love some help. You can book a FREE proposal planning session with me. I guarantee there are some really easy and simple ways to create a romantic proposal that will really blow your partner away. Or have a look at some of our amazing temporary engagement rings here.

Buying an engagement ring can be overwhelming. As Brisbane’s best engagement ring specilaist, have tried to answer the most common questions below. 1. Which is the Best – White Gold or Platinum? There are a lot of myths surrounding platinum. So, here are the facts. Platinum is about 34% denser than white gold. This means it will be better wearing than white gold. While this makes platinum a better choice, it doesn’t mean that white gold is a wrong choice for your engagement ring. If you are choosing white gold then go for 18ct, as it is the most wearable of them all. When it comes to maintenance, Platinum engagement rings don’t need to be rhodium plated every few years like white gold, but they are not maintenance free. They will need to be polished if you want to keep them looking good. Remember going for a platinum engagement ring will mean that you need to go for a platinum wedding ring and platinum eternity ring as well. 2. Should I Choose a mined diamond, or a laboratory created diamond engagement ring? Technology is moving at a crazy pace, with new innovations happening every day. Scientists have now worked out how to replicate the exact conditions that happened below the ground more than a billion years ago that led to the creation of diamonds. They have done this by taking a small mined seed crystal and growing it in special chambers infused with Carbon gas which helps the small crystal grow into a larger diamond in a matter of months, so creating a laboratory created diamond. Whether or not you are looking at a mined diamond or a created diamond, will come down to whether you would like a significantly larger diamond for the same budget (around a 40% bigger diamond) that is created  with a sustainable and socially responsible  method or a diamond that was created below the ground a billion years ago. You can find out more about created diamonds here. 3. How do you guess the size for your partners engagement ring? There are a couple of popular methods when it comes to sizing an engagement ring. The easiest method is pinching a ring that she wears on her ring finger on the other hand. The second is looking at her hands. The average finger size for most ladies is L to M. From there you can go one size either side of that if you think her fingers are a little larger or smaller than standard. It is always better to go a touch bi

Finance and payment plans:

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There is more pressure now than ever before to have it all. That beautiful home, healthy and happy kids, marriage and of course the perfect engagement ring and the dream wedding.

It can be hard for young couples to find the right monetary balance. Life would certainly be a whole lot easier if we started our journey with money in reverse. Imagine starting your adult life with the means to purchase those big-ticket investments, rather than having to wait until later when you don’t need it as much.

So often I’ll get asked things like: “Can I finance my engagement ring?” or “what are your payment plan options?

Gone are the days of a traditional in store 3-month laybys. Today there is an extensive selection of providers offering credit solutions for your jewellery purchases. But are they all the same, and are they the best option for you?

When looking at jewellery store payment plans, it is important to consider what their selection criteria are. By convention, most credit providers will have a credit check to see what your credit rating is. Every time this happens it leaves a mark on your record. Get too many marks within a period of time, and it will make it harder when you start applying for things like a home loan. Not to mention what it will do to your credit rating if you ever get knocked back.

Traditional external payment plans:
Annual Fees

While a lot of the payment plans might advertise and promote that they are interest free, most have at least an annual fee and some may have a monthly fee as well. Annual fees can range from $79 – $99.

The Fine print

Let’s be honest, as much as we know there is fine print to read and we should probably look at every single paragraph in detail, the truth is most of us never will. But there could be some nasty surprises in the small details. Things such as the annual fee must be paid in full within 90 days or it will attract interest or, if you fail to pay a fixed monthly instalment, interest, (charged at the Expired Promotional Rate) is payable on that outstanding amount. That could leave a really bad taste in your mouth if you go outside of the guidelines.

What if there was a better way?

What if a jewellery store wasn’t interested in profiting from the credit terms, and genuinely wanted to help couples get engaged with the ring they really wanted rather than settling? I believe that most clients will do the right thing if given the opportunity. I think there is always a way to help couples get engaged no matter what their personal circumstances are.

What if it was possible for couples to get engaged for the price of a couple of coffees a week? So, I came up with an idea that had never been done before. What if I let our clients take home their dream engagement ring and pay it off over three years with Xennox? There would be no banks, credit unions or finance companies involved, so there would be no need for a credit check.

You might be wondering how this is possible? The truth is we are crazy passionate about helping couples get engaged with a quality diamond engagement ring. As a 43-year-old second generation family business with a flagship store in the Queen St Mall we will do just about anything to make that dream proposal moment become a reality. Having helped more than 6700 couples get engaged, we know that there are a lot more couples that would like to get engaged, if it was financially possible.

How does it work?

Simply choose the engagement ring you want here, pay a 50% deposit, then we will make the ring for you and we will let you pay the other 50% over three years with us, with no credit checks or collateral. It’s just an agreement between you and us. An agreement, that if we look after you by helping you get engaged faster, then you will look after us, by honouring your agreement with the weekly payments for 3 years (156 payments). They are some of our most classic and popular designs and can be customised in white gold, yellow gold or rose gold, with a .50ct, .70ct or a 1ct diamond. All of these rings still come with our lifetime manufacturing warranty, and lifetime professional cleaning and stone tightening as standard so you have complete peace of mind. We decided to spread it out over three years so the weekly payments could be as little as $14.42 a week. So maybe you need to give up Netflix for a while or cut back on the coffees. But at least you will be engaged closer to saying your “I do’s”.

Are there risks?

Sure, there are risks involved, but they are solely on my side, and they are risks I am willing to take as I believe that everyone deserves to wear a beautiful, quality diamond engagement ring. I have seen too many couples who couldn’t afford the engagement ring they really wanted and settled or simply didn’t engaged at all. Your engagement ring is something you get to wear for the longest period of your life, and it should be something that you look at, love and adore every day you wear it. Not look down at it with regret.

All the fine print is written in plain English for you to read in a section on our site here. There are no surprises and no hidden fees. You can pay it off at any time if you want, and there is even the opportunity to add to it when you want to add your wedding rings.

Client story:

One client that I have personally known since I was at school, some 25 years ago, yes it does seem like a lifetime ago! This client has been with his partner for twenty years and they have four beautiful children. She desperately wants to get engaged. Every time there is an engagement ring promotion, she tags him and would love nothing more than to make it official.

But, like anyone with children there are always bills to pay and the engagement ring slides down the list of priorities. While they are incredibly happy together, and have made a wonderful life and have a happy home, it is still an unresolved issue (probably more for her than it is for him) I think at my core, I just love making people happy, and I get such a thrill out of seeing a couple go on their journey from a Will you marry me to I do.

Ultimately, we want to help you choose the ring you want without any penalties for paying it off over time. You can deal directly with us, and not worrying about being put through a third-party provider. That way it leaves more in your pocket now, for all the things you might also need, like buying or moving into a new place, home renovations or new additions to the family.

So, what are you waiting for? Talk to us now about how we can help you get the ring you deserve without breaking the bank. Simply Click Here to book an appointment.

Seriously, why wait any longer? If you have been thinking about popping the question, this is the new way to buy an engagement ring.

Looking to propose with an Altr created diamond?

To celebrate Altr created diamonds coming to Australia, we are giving couples looking to propose a $500 gift card to use towards their Altr created diamond engagement ring, when they place an order before 30th December 2018.
Altr created diamonds have the identical physical, chemical, optical and molecular structure of a traditional mined diamond. By utilising the latest technology to replicate the natural conditions of heat and pressure of the earth, results in a saving of 30%-40% to the price of the standard engagement ring.

Email us at Altr@xennoxdiamonds.com.au to claim your $500 gift card. 


You can read more about how the Altr created diamonds are grown here and some FAQ about the  Altr created diamonds here.

Are you a little bit of a techno geek like me? Do you love the anticipation of getting your hands on the latest trend in technology? If you are then I bet you can’t wait for the newest Apple product to land (Yes, I am a diehard follower – sorry to all the Android lovers)

That’s why I was so excited to see the latest development in the diamond world, ALTR lab created diamonds. The idea that man can create a diamond absolutely blows my mind. It reminds me of the old cartoon The Jetsons, about a futuristic family who lived in the sky travelling around in hovercraft spaceships. Anything they wanted could be printed through a magic printing machine. Isn’t it funny how so many things from science fiction become reality?

Are lab created diamonds new?

While it might seem new, the concept of lab created diamonds has been around for over 60 years. It is just in recent years that they have perfected the art of crafting these stunning stones into gem-quality diamonds. But diamonds for personal use are just a small portion of what the future holds when it comes to creating diamonds. There are so many applications for having a transparent substance that is also incredibly strong. Can you imagine in the future having your iPhone glass face made up of diamond? No more replacing screens because you dropped your iPhone.  

Now, in the beginning, I was just as sceptical as the next person, I mean lab created diamonds? What changed my mind was a test given to me by the creators of these amazing diamonds. The creators placed 10 diamonds in front of me and asked me to separate them into mined vs created. I spent a great deal of time looking at each diamond, from the front, upside down and even in different lights. What I found though, was while I thought I could tell the difference between the two, the truth is I failed miserably. Considering I am a diamond expert and I look at diamonds every day, I found this quite shocking. The only way to tell the difference with a 10-x magnifying lens was by looking at the girdle where it is inscribed that it is a lab created diamond.

If you would like to learn more about how these amazing gems are created, check out my blog about ALTR lab created diamonds here. If you take the method of creation out of the picture ultimately what you are left is with a beautiful gem that sparkles brilliantly. I think deep down what everyone wants is to make their partner happy and give them the diamond they deserve and desire. In a perfect world, we could all afford to get the largest diamond possible for our partners. But in the real world, we all have expenses that we need to balance out. What I have seen over the last month with the clients I have shown the ALTR lab created diamonds to has been nothing short of amazing. Clients have been able to give their partners the diamond that will make their heart skip a beat.

While I know some of you are saying, it’s the thought that counts and your partner should be happy with whatever size their partner gives them. What I have come to see over the last 22 years and helping more than 6800 clients choose their engagement ring, is exactly 0% of them have come back in 6 months’ time and asked for a smaller diamond. Further, as we get older, we only want nicer and bigger things not smaller. So, the bigger diamond that you choose now, will undoubtedly last you longer, before you start thinking of upgrading.

I strongly believe in the power of storytelling through jewellery. Whenever I ask someone to tell me the story of how they were proposed to, they can often recant in detail where they were and what their partner said. Never have I heard them say, they proposed to me with a 1ct F VS diamond engagement ring. For me, the sentiment and story behind the giving of a diamond is the same with a created diamond as it is for a mined diamond. What is important is that you have chosen it for your partner and that he plans a romantic proposal, in a way that his partner wants to receive it.

What has been the most appealing thing about Lab Created Diamonds?

I would say for most of the clients I have served, the size is one of the most contributing factors. I mean who doesn’t love a bit of extra bling. When I got engaged 17 years ago, the average size of a diamond engagement ring was a half a carat. Today the most popular diamond size that we sell is a one-carat diamond. Even now we are starting to see that size increase with some brides looking at the 1.10ct – 1.20ct diamond sizes. So, my usual advice to the guys out there is to propose quickly, because I think we will be at a 2ct diamond size before you know it. At this point in time, it is hard to go past the ALTR lab created diamonds from a value for money standpoint.

The second benefit that often resonates with the clients I speak to is the environmental benefits and minimal carbon footprint associated with created diamonds. Today I think we all realise that we share the same planet and it is the only one that we have, so it’s up to us to look after it. Most people don’t realise that they need to dig up over 1000 tonnes of earth, not to mention using over 100 gallons of water just to find a 1ct diamond. Whereas the ALTR lab created diamonds have their own wind turbines to power the presses that create these diamonds and use a fraction of the water to yield the same 1ct diamond. So not only can you give your partner the diamond you know they want but look after the planet as well. And with every diamond being able to be traced back to the specific lab that it was created in, you can be sure that your diamonds are 100% conflict free.

The final question that I am often asked is, ‘would you buy an ALTR lab created diamond for your own wife?”. My answer is YES!!! Currently, I am looking for a set of matching .75ct diamonds to create stunning diamond studs for her. After all, they have the same physical, optical and molecular structure as a mined diamond, and according to the FTC, they are a diamond in every sense of the word. So, the only question you need to ask yourself is whether you are ready to join the future of diamonds with me?

lab created diamonds
FAQ on lab created diamonds

Believe it or not Christmas and New Year’s Eve are the two biggest events on the calendar for proposals. Having helped over 5800 couples on their journey to finding their perfect engagement ring, it never ceases to amaze me how popular this time of year is.

I can’t really blame guys for choosing this time to propose. Everyone is normally taking time off with their partners to celebrate the holiday season, families are coming together, and lets be honest a fair amount of holiday cheer is involved. Whatever your reason for choosing this time of year to get engaged i have;

7 important tips that will help your proposal go off with a bang!

Often the process of choosing an engagement ring can be all consuming, and it seems to take everything they have just to make this important decision. One of the great things i get to do is to coach guys through the process not just about buying an engagement ring, but all the things they need to do before and after the pick up the ring.

Just remember, it doesn’t need to be difficult. Choosing an engagement ring can not only be easy, but also a fun and enjoyable experience as well. So if you have been thinking of taking the plunge this Christmas time – Don’t put it of any longer. 🙂

If you would like help, in choosing the perfect engagement ring, there is a lot of great information in my recently published book, “Rock Her World” or you can listen to a sample chapter here
Rock Her World

 

Valentine’s day is one of the most romantic days of the year to propose. This Valentine’s day, to celebrate the launch of my newly published book “Rock Her World” – The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Engagement Ring. I designed and created a beautiful Valentines Day engagement ring for one lucky couple to help them on their engagement journey.

After welcoming everyone, I wanted to give them a little overview on all the things that they needed to know about creating the perfect engagement ring. Expert tips on finding a diamond that sparkles unlike any other and some great options on how to protect your engagement ring once its made. Especially for the guys there were some great pointers on how to deliver the ultimate proposal.

Aria Restaurant

You can watch the slide show of the Rock Her World presentation here. We were even fortunate enough to be able to raise $1000 for the MASKS Foundation (Make a sick kid smile)

Valentines Day Engagement Ring Finalists

To make sure we kept the guys on their toes, we drew 3 lucky finalists. The three lucky gentlemen then had to go to the back of the room, where I could give them some proposal advice, on how to make the proposal moment memorable. The ring was under safeguard of our dedicated security guard. Who not only held the magic ring box, but two additional boxes without a ring in it. The lucky grooms to be, then had to each select a box.

Valentines Day Engagement Ring finalists

Valentines Day Proposal

With Nik finding himself the lucky winner, it was now time to propose. It was his turn to ask his special partner that question she had been waiting to hear. Nik did a fantastic job, and had many of the ladies (and some of the guys) in tears. Having told Joanne that win or lose, he was already a winner, he got down on one knee and proposed.

Valentines Day Engagement Ring proposal
The lucky couple are the first to wear one of my engagement rings from my new collection.

Valentines Day Engagement Ring

As the first one was created for Valentines day, I have decided to call this one VALENTINO. It also featured an Pink diamond set into the side of the setting, and a high performance 1 carat Passion8 “Hearts and Arrows” diamond in the centre.

Valentines Day Engagement RingIf you would like to know more about this beautiful ring, please don’t hesitate to email me. We can make all our rings to suite any diamond size or quality.

 

The question of “How much does a 1ct diamond cost?” is something that I get asked often. Because there are so many factors that make up a diamonds price and quality. The usual answer here is how long is a piece of string. It is a common question that most men ask as they are about to embark on purchasing a new engagement ring. 

At this point in time with the current exchange rate around the .82 cents. A beautiful 1ct F colour, SI clarity excellent cut grade diamond will typically cost around the $13000 all made up in a classic solitaire.

The rough rule of thumb is that under a carat the price will move about a $1000 for every ten points within a particular quality. So a 0.90ct F SI excellent cut grade round brilliant diamond will be approximately $11500 – $12000. The smaller the diamond the smaller the variation in price for the 10 points. Changing the size of a diamond always has a much bigger result on the price, than changing the colour or clarity of a diamond.

Are the difference between all the grades priced the same?

In nature anything that is rarer is also more valuable. So a pure white stone is going to carry more of a premium than a yellower diamond. Likewise a diamond that is flawless. Whenever you move to the top on any given scale the jump in price is going to be greater as that given stone becomes more rare and valuable. So while a jump in price from a G – F may be $300, going from an F to an E colour may be $350, and $400 to the top D colour 

How much does the price change when changing the clarity of a diamond?

How much does a 1ct diamond cost?In todays market, changing the clarity of a diamond will have a bigger effect on the price of a given diamond than changing the colour.

For example moving from an SI2 to a VS2 may have roughly the same affect as changing the size by ten points. Depending on the size of the diamond, this could be as much as $800

How much does the price change for changing the colour of a diamond?

How much does a 1ct diamond cost?

While changing this characteristic has the least impact on the price, the visual effect on the diamond can not be underestimated. Changing from a .50ct (half a carat) G to F will actually only cost around the $200 – $300. Which in my experience is well worth it, as most clients are able to tell the difference with their eyes. 

The bigger the size of the diamond the larger the difference in colour is. Anyone who has been to a hardware store and had to pick out a colour for a wall will know this. Looking at colour as a postage paid stamp is much harder to visualise that looking at an A4 piece of paper. Diamonds are no different. The colour difference in a 1ct diamond is easier to see than a .50ct diamond. The difference in price however, because of the rarity will be more. Usually you can expect to pay around the $500 -$800 more for a jump in colour.

Always happy to help, if you would like to know “How much does a 1ct diamond cost” or another particular diamond size. Please email me, if you would like to compare the price of a particular diamond that you have been looking at.

tips on how to get engagedDid you get a new years proposal? If the answer is no, and you have been together for what seems like “enough time”. Maybe it might be time to take an active role and plan for your upcoming engagement. 

Plan to be engaged

Like anything in life, if you want something special you need to plan for it. Whether it is a new car, holiday or your dream engagement ring, the key is to lay some groundwork. Depending on your age and how long you have been together, you may do some, or all of these tips on how to get engaged.

Tips on how to get engaged 

I wish i could say that guys can take a hint. But the truth is, most of us will procrastinate when something seems a little difficult. For some guys not knowing what sort of engagement ring you want, can be a significant factor in putting off the engagement. Having some tips on how to get engaged and choose the perfect engagement ring can make the difference between having an amazing engagement ring that blows your away and something that you will love just because your partner chose it for you.

  1. A great option is to put in the ground work for him. Go out and visit a few jewellery stores and spend the time to find the ring you want. Have all the details written down on a card, and leave it in a place you know he will find it. Most guys will actually be grateful, that they haven’t had to walk through 10 different stores trying to find out which ring is your perfect engagement ring.
  2. Circling ring pictures from a magazine is also a good start to get him thinking that it might be time to make that commitment official. Depending on how subtle you want to be, you could try leaving them on the coffee table, on top of the remote, or even on the fridge.
  3. Tagging him in a Facebook/Instagram post. Even if you don’t explicitly tag him, as long as you are liking and commenting on a ring picture, he is sure to see it in his news feed. Of course this option will only work if he is on Facebook or Instagram.
  4. If he doesn’t have a Facebook or Instagram account, you can try taking a screenshot of your perfect engagement ring and text it to him. Believe it or not, i am starting to see this tactic a lot more often. Today’s lady often knows exactly what she wants in an engagement ring, and isn’t afraid to tell her partner. 

If you think your partner is putting off a proposal because he doesn’t know what you want in an engagement ring, then we can help. We have some great tips to help guide him through that initial “looking phase” to really find out what your style is and what will look amazing on your finger. 

If that fails there is always our FREE arm twisting service to help get him across the line. You can try tweeting it here 🙂

 [Tweet “I need @XennoxDiamonds FREE arm twisting service to help my partner get the perfect engagement ring”]

 

 

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