Different Types of Engagement Rings to Buy for Your Special Day

Deciding you want to buy an engagement ring is so much easier than actually buying it. Unless you’re into social curation tools like Pinterest and We Heart It, you’ll be hard-pressed to understand what style of engagement ring you even want. Sometimes, it’s not even about what you need but rather about what would suit the shape of your hands or fingers. There are so many factors when it comes to deciding the style of your future engagement ring and all of this can get very overwhelming.

Types of Engagement Rings

The Basics

Before diving into the various styles that engagement rings come in, you should understand how to pick a style. Consider factors such as how often the ring will go to be cleaned. Think about what kind of work you’ll be doing on a daily basis and whether you’ll wear the ring while working. If you tend to snag your jewelry on your clothes frequently, you should take this into consideration as well.

These are all important factors that will go into determining the kind of engagement ring you will eventually purchase. Here is a list of 3 well-loved and classic styles for engagement rings that people recommend and recognize all over the world. This list will help you get to know these styles and lead you to the one you want.

#1: The Vintage/Antique Setting

These rings are intricate and wondrous pieces. They feature a lot of filigree and milgrain work that is dated but doesn’t look so. Most of these vintage styles are designed around specific time periods and different eras. Some of these are Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco. Each time period has its own pros and cons but the delicate handwork on these kinds of rings is unbeatable if you’re looking for something timeless.

Filigree, for example, is super delicate metalwork that joins minuscule metal beads together. Sometimes, the metal thread is used and twisted to hold the jewel in place. On the other hand, milgrain is a type of engraving that adds an antiquated look to jewelry. You will recognize this because it uses beads or balls of metal that surround the band and crown on the ring.

This intricate work is not always restricted to the sides of the band. Many beautiful vintage style rings have lace-like patterns made of metal all around them. The best thing about the Antique setting is that your ring will truly stand out and be one of a kind.

#2: The Cluster Setting

A Cluster Setting or style is exactly what it sounds like. It features a cluster of stones that are held together tightly. These resemble a larger diamond from afar. Some rings have a larger center stone and smaller ones on the sides, whereas others have stones of equal size grouped together to form a shining circle.

The good thing about this set is that it can make a smaller stone look much bigger. This is because smaller stones, when clustered together, make up the surface area and size of a much larger one, concealing their individual sizes. What’s more, as the cluster of stone catches the light at different points, the naked eye can detect a lot of depth, dimension, and texture in the ring.

We should also mention that the Cluster setting isn’t as pricey as some of the other styles mentioned here. This is because you don’t have to purchase one large center stone or solitaire to make the ring. If you have small hands, this ring style is perfect for you since it’s known to complement elfin and delicate features.

#3: The Cathedral Setting

We move on to one of the most timeless and elegant engagement ring styles out there. The setting gets its name from the curving arches of a cathedral as it uses slim arches of metal to hold a large center stone in place. It may be used with another gemstone but is most often seen gracing the sides of a diamond.

It doesn’t matter how the cathedral is set into the band. What makes this setting distinctive is the way the arches hold up the stone high above the band in their iconic style. The arches give a lot of extra height to the stone and make it appear larger than it actually is. This means that you won’t need to purchase a particularly large diamond if you want this setting, especially if it’s to be worn on small hands.

The only con of this setting is that it can snag on clothes quite frequently so when you’re out with it, be extra careful!

Read, A Useful Guide for Those Interested in Meteorite Tungsten Rings