How to choose an engagement ring: a clear guide
Choose an engagement ring in five steps: the setting, the metal, the ring size, a budget built on live metal prices, and a diamond with a proper grading report.
Maison Shifora · · 6 min read
To choose an engagement ring, decide five things in order: the setting style (a solitaire, a halo or a diamond band), the metal, the ring size, a budget that accounts for both the metal and the stone, and a diamond that comes with a grading report from a laboratory such as IGI or GIA. Start with the style your partner already wears, because the right ring is the one they will want to wear every day for decades.
This guide takes each decision in turn, with real pieces from our atelier as examples, so you can move from browsing to choosing with confidence.
1. Choose the setting style
The setting is the shape of the ring around the stone. It decides the ring's character more than anything else.
The solitaire
A single diamond on a plain band. It is the most classic engagement ring, and it never dates. Because nothing competes with the stone, the diamond's cut and quality show at their best, and a solitaire sits flush beside almost any wedding band.
Our Taara solitaire ring holds a 0.50 ct round brilliant diamond, F colour, VS1 clarity, with an IGI report, high in four slim claws so light reaches it from every side. The band tapers softly towards the stone.
The halo
A centre stone ringed by a circle of small diamonds. A halo makes the centre stone look larger and adds sparkle from every angle, and it suits someone who loves light and presence.
The Taara halo engagement ring pairs a 0.70 ct centre with a 0.30 ct halo, 1.00 ct in all, F colour and VS1 clarity, with an IGI report.
Diamond bands and a coloured centre
Not every engagement ring has one tall stone. A band set with diamonds is low, practical and comfortable for hands that work, cook or train, and it can be worn alone or stacked. Our Taara diamond bands come as a pair with 1.00 ct of diamonds in total, G colour and VS2 clarity.
For a softer, warmer look, a coloured stone makes a memorable centre. The Noor champagne cushion ring sets a 2.80 ct champagne topaz with 0.30 ct of diamonds.
Think about the wedding band now
The engagement ring will usually be worn beside a wedding band for life. Check that the two sit well together: a tall solitaire leaves room beneath it, while a halo or a low setting may need a slightly curved or plain band. Choosing them together avoids a gap or a rub later.
2. Choose the metal
The metal sets the colour of the ring and how it wears. Most engagement rings are made in 18KT gold or platinum:
- 18KT white gold is bright and cool beside a white diamond.
- 18KT yellow gold is warm and traditional, and flatters warmer skin tones.
- 18KT rose gold is soft and romantic, with a pink glow from copper in the alloy.
- Platinum 950 is naturally white, dense and heavy, and it ages gently rather than wearing away.
18KT gold is 75% pure gold, firm enough to hold a diamond securely for decades. Softer 22KT gold is beautiful for bangles and necklaces but less suited to holding a stone in fine claws. Our guide to 18KT, 22KT and 14KT gold explains the differences.
Each of the rings above can be made in 18KT white, yellow or rose gold or in platinum 950, and the Taara solitaire is also offered in 14KT gold and silver. When you change the metal on a product page, the weight and the price change with it, because platinum is denser than gold and so the same ring weighs more.
3. Get the ring size right
The ring size changes both the fit and the price, since a larger size uses more metal. Our rings are sized in US sizes: the Taara solitaire is offered from US 4 to US 9, the halo from US 4 to US 8, and the diamond bands from US 5 to US 10.
If the ring is a surprise, borrow a ring your partner wears on the same finger and measure its inside diameter, or ask a close friend to help. Fingers are slightly larger in warm weather and in the evening, so measure more than once. Our guide to finding your ring size at home explains three reliable methods, with a size chart.
4. Build your budget on real numbers
An engagement ring has two parts to its price: the stone, which is fixed by its size and grade, and the metal, which follows the market. At Shifora every product page shows a full price breakup: the net weight of the metal, today's rate per gram for your chosen purity, the making charge, the diamonds and our craftsmanship and service, all adding up to the final price.
A few principles help a budget go further:
- Cut first. A well-cut diamond looks brighter and often larger than a heavier stone that is poorly cut.
- Choose an eye-clean clarity. VS1 and VS2 diamonds look clean to the naked eye; paying more for flawless grades buys rarity you cannot see.
- Use the metal choice. 18KT gold costs less than platinum for the same design, and 14KT less again.
- Watch the rate, then decide. Gold and platinum prices move through the day, and our live metal rates page shows them. The price is locked the moment you place your order.
Our article on how our live pricing works walks through every line of a price.
5. Insist on certification
For a diamond engagement ring, ask for a grading report from a recognised laboratory. Our Taara solitaire and halo rings come with an IGI report, which records the diamond's cut, colour, clarity, carat weight and measurements. The report also states whether a diamond is natural or laboratory-grown; our guide to lab-grown and natural diamonds explains why that matters for price and resale.
The gold itself should be hallmarked for purity. In India, look for the BIS hallmark with its purity grade and HUID; our guide on how to read a gold hallmark shows what each mark means.
6. Plan the timeline
Leave time before the proposal. Pieces in stock leave our atelier within a few working days, while made-to-order pieces take longer, and each product page says which applies. Delivery times for each courier are shown at checkout, and every parcel is insured for its full value.
If you would like to see the ring before it ships, we offer a private video call with our atelier. For a different stone, a size outside the listed range or a design of your own, write to us early, so there is time to make it properly.
You can browse every engagement and wedding ring in one place on our rings page, or explore the Taara collection, our everyday diamonds.
In brief
What is the most classic engagement ring? The solitaire: one diamond on a plain band. It never dates, it shows the diamond at its best and it sits easily beside a wedding band.
Which metal is best for an engagement ring? 18KT gold or platinum 950. Both hold a diamond securely; choose white, yellow or rose gold for colour, or platinum for a naturally white, heavier ring.
How do I find out my partner's ring size secretly? Measure the inside diameter of a ring they already wear on the same finger, or ask a close friend. Our ring size guide has a chart.
Should an engagement ring diamond be certified? Yes. A report from IGI or GIA confirms the diamond's grade and origin. Our Taara solitaire and halo rings come with an IGI report.
How long does an engagement ring take? Pieces in stock leave within a few working days; made-to-order pieces take longer, as stated on the product page. More answers are on our FAQ.
Questions about a piece, a size or a delivery? Write to us at info@shiforaa.com or book a private video appointment with the atelier.
