If you’ve stumbled upon this guide, chances are you’re considering popping the question
soon and have decided to opt for a lab grown engagement ring. When it comes to choosing
the perfect engagement ring for yourself or your partner, familiarising yourself with a few
essential factors will aid you in making the best decision. An engagement ring is a
once-in-a-lifetime purchase, and like any other significant purchase, you want to be
well-informed so that you can make the best choice.
Gemstone choice
Lab grown gems have been increasing in popularity in recent years with more consumers
becoming conscious of their products sourcing and carbon footprint. Moissanite is a rare and
precious gemstone composed of silicon carbide that is an excellent alternative to the
traditional mined diamond engagement ring. It is a wonderful white stone option in its own
right, possessing unique optical and physical properties that are full of fire and brilliance.
Mossanite costs up to 90% less than a mined diamond ring and is ethical due to the lab
growing process eliminating all harmful mining activities.
If you really desire a diamond, selecting a lab diamond as the feature stone is always a great
option. Lab diamonds cost around 30% less than mined diamond rings so are still great
options for those money savvy customers! They are also ethical and sustainable, every day
the world changes, which is why we should be making more sensible purchasing decisions.
The purity, quality, and design of lab-grown diamond engagement rings will surely make your
money worth it and well-spent.
Did you know coloured gemstones can also be grown in a laboratory? Although diamonds
are viewed as the traditional engagement ring centre stone, adding a pop of colour means
bringing a sense of confidence to your ring style. Lily Arkwright are proud partners with
Chatham gems and offer a range of lab grown coloured gemstones including: rubies,
padparadschas, emeralds, alexandrites, aqua spinels, blue, yellow, champagne and pink
sapphires.
Choose the right setting
Choosing the right setting is the perfect place to start on your engagement ring hunt. There
are various settings available at Lily Arkwright, for you to choose from and ultimately cherish
forever! If you are really stuck for ideas a simple solitaire setting is the ultimate classic and
most popular engagement ring style or if you have something unique in mind, opting for a
bespoke ring would be an excellent choice.
Know their ring size
We know this can be tough if your proposal is a complete surprise but finding the right ring
size for your partner is a key step in shopping for an engagement ring and talking to friends
and family is a great way to discover this information.
Choose the right metal
Choosing the right metal that compliments your partner’s skin tone, Lily Arkwright offers a
range of precious metal options, from flirtatious rose gold, to traditional platinum and classic
yellow and white gold.
The four Cs of moissanite and lab diamonds
Moissanite and lab diamonds are similarly graded to mined diamonds, using the 4C’s; cut,
colour, clarity and carat.
Cut
The cut is measured by which the stone quality can be evaluated, and is determined by how
well the stone’s facets are proportioned. When referring to the cut, it is not the overall shape
that is being referenced but rather the optimal set of ratios for that particular stone shape.
Colour
The colour scale of moissanite and lab diamonds begins at D being excellent and ending at
Z, all ranges offered by Lily Arkwright coming in two colour grades, D-F which is classified as
colourless.
Clarity
Clarity is graded by the number of imperfections that are within a stone that may affect its
optical performance, therefore you should aim to opt for a high clarity stone.
Carat
Finally, carat weight could be considered one of the most important factors as it determines
the size of your centre stone. Choosing the right stone size for your budget and desired look
can be a difficult task but Lily Arkwright has expert jewellery consultants on hand to help
guide you through the process of picking the right size stone.
Final Thoughts
We hope the above guide was helpful in preparation of searching for a perfect engagement
ring for your partner. If the idea of lab diamond or moissanite rings has piqued your interest
or you would simply like to discover more information about Lily Arkwright and their lab
grown collections simply call them on: 0161 537 6773, or alternatively you can email their
jewellery consultancy team at: hello@lilyarkwright.com or book an in-person consultation.