Choosing wedding rings

Top tips for choosing wedding rings

Engelbert is a Swedish brand and family business founded in 1920. It specialises in high-quality, in-house-crafted wedding and engagement rings of the very highest standard. Here, Johanna Pietsch, gemmologist and CEO at Engelbert, shares tips, advice and information.

What should you bear in mind when choosing a wedding ring?

— Bear in mind that this is a ring you’ll be wearing for the rest of your life. Seek advice, based on your budget, on what suits your personal style. The ring, just like any piece of jewellery, should enhance and complement your personality, whilst also being comfortable and practical. Based on your lifestyle and the environment you find yourself in, find a ring that feels right.

What sort of wedding ring are most people choosing at the moment?

— When it comes to engagements, it’s almost exclusively diamonds that people talk about. This isn’t a marketing ploy; it’s because it’s the only stone that lasts a lifetime and possesses enduring beauty and durability. Something that is often associated with marriage. It has become increasingly common to wear a solitaire – a single-stone ring – together with a wedding band, a ring set with diamonds in a row. Previously, people often opted for the combination of a plain ring and a wedding band set with diamonds. I believe the princesses have provided inspiration with their various styles of beautiful rings; many people would love to have something similar, albeit not quite as expensive. Ring bands have become more delicate and slimmer, and yellow gold has grown in popularity. Otherwise, the round diamond is still the most sought-after and most expensive, but many are also looking at other cuts, such as cushion or emerald cuts. With these, you get a larger stone for your money, as they are lower in price.

What other wedding jewellery do people want?

— The focus is on the bride, the couple, the dress and the ring. A few simple, genuine pieces of jewellery are a sensible and beautiful choice, such as a diamond pendant around the neck, or a string of pearls and single-stone earrings. It sounds classic, but there’s a point to it: tradition is classic and rooted in custom. If you’re having a less traditional wedding, you can go all out with an elaborate hairstyle or a more rock-chic wedding dress. However, I think you should always keep accessories understated and focus on the essence of the wedding ceremony. Guests shouldn’t go overboard with their outfits either.

What are the pros and cons of buying in-store versus online?

— Oh, I wouldn’t want to buy my engagement ring online. After all, the purchase is an experience in itself. Don’t you want a bit of good service, to sit down, be advised on the various options and build a relationship for future purchases and any alterations? But not only that – you can be terribly misled and cheated when buying online. When it comes to diamonds, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of shopping at reputable jewellers to avoid problems with everything from treated stones, laser-drilled stones, faulty certificates, synthetic stones – you name it. It simply isn’t worth the price. Engelbert uses only rare white Top Wesselton stones of VS quality, which stands for ‘very small’ inclusions. You’re guaranteed a high-quality, conflict-free diamond.

Do you have any fun ‘wedding memories’?

— My own, of course. I was pregnant; we chose to have a church wedding, but had a lovely lunch buffet at our home. We spent the evening just the two of us, which was wonderful. I think it’s important to get married for your own sake and do exactly what suits you. If you love big, lavish parties, then go for it. If you don’t, then make it simple, small and beautiful. It’s the love that’s the focus. Nothing else.

What are your top 3 tips for couples getting married?

1. Treat yourselves to the most beautiful wedding rings you can find. Of course, you’ve got your budget, but it’s better to spend a bit more on the ring – which you’ll have for the rest of your life – than on the party, which is over in a flash.

2. Enjoy your wedding for your own sake, for both of you – it’ll be a wonderful memory. For goodness’ sake, don’t work yourselves to the bone. I know several couples who’ve split up just because their weddings were far too over-the-top.

3. Why not get married in winter? Many people are very busy in the summer, and the weather is rarely reliable anyway.