Buying Guide

Choosing the right engagement ring, as with any piece of jewelry, is strictly a matter of personal style. You can go with the simplicity of a single-diamond setting (a "solitaire"), or a more complex setting with multiple diamonds.

Whichever you choose, you first need to consider both the setting (which holds the diamond) and the band (which holds the gem on the finger). Then you should determine the style of the ring.

The Setting

Settings are made of metal, most frequently platinum because of its strength and durability. A setting can consist of prongs (in 4- or 6-prong configurations), channels, or simple pressure.

If you have a prong setting, you need to consider which configuration you prefer. There is much debate about which is better; some argue that the 4-prong shows more of the diamond, while the 6-prong provides a more secure setting. Really they are both secure, and the choice should depend on the cut of the diamond and your personal taste and sense of style.

The Band

When deciding on a band, you'll need to know the size that's needed, and you'll also have to choose the material it'll be made of. The size can be determined by having Smith & Co. measure the recipient of the ring, or you can borrow an existing ring that fits well and we'll measure it.

Smith & Co. can also help you "surprise" the recipient by providing you with the new engagement ring — and then after the question has been "popped," carefully measuring and sizing it before returning it quickly to your fiancée. We always guarantee fit, design and choice, so the sale isn't over until the recipient is pleased.

The most common materials used for engagement rings are gold and platinum. Gold has been used for jewelry since time began, but it is a very soft metal in its purest form, and bends easily. It is usually alloyed with nickel, copper, and/or zinc. Its purity is measured in karats, 24 being the purest, and 14-karat being 58.3% pure gold. Most gold sold in the United States is 14-karat.

Platinum is an extremely durable metal, and is more rare than gold (in its pure form, platinum trades for almost twice as much as gold). It does not tarnish and is hypo-allergenic, so it won't irritate your skin. The purity of platinum is measured by a three-digit number; the first two digits indicate the percent of platinum in the band, the rest is either a palladium or iridium alloy.

Choosing a Style

When choosing a style of ring, remember that thousands of styles exist. If you can't find one at our store or in a magazine that suits you, you can always have us custom-make one to your particular design.

In determining the style, you should consider the shape of the fingers and hands. Generally speaking, the size of the ring and diamond should correspond to the size of the hand. Again, the choice of style is up to you, but you should try to keep it simple so that the ring does not "swallow" your hand.

For more clues on style, you can look at other jewelry you and/or your partner wear, and determine if it is more modern or antique, gold or silver, etc. If the wearer hardly wears any jewelry, simplicity is the best bet. The more extravagant the style of dress, the more extravagant the jewelry style should be.