Our Guide to Engagement Rings

The best place to start when it comes to ethical diamonds is understanding the four C’s (cut, colour, carat and carat) and how they contribute to any diamonds value. It is also advisable to seek advice from a certified gemologist (look for ‘FGA’ qualifications, opposed to a ‘diamond expert’ which frankly, means nothing). Our in-house gemologist is a fountain of knowledge and is delighted to assist you.

It is better to judge a stone by the feeling it gives you rather than the GIA (mined) or IGI (lab-grown) grading it has received. The grade can serve as a starting point, but should not be the sole determining factor. So, our advice is to see the stone before committing. We can show you a selection of diamonds within your budget diamond during a consultation, be that virtual (via a magnification video camera) or in-person.

Our key piece of advice is to choose something timeless, and what goes better with everything than diamonds. Think of the centre stone as a piece of art and the ring as the frame. You can be bold and do something different and unique, but it is important that the ring design reflect the stones quality. In a similar vein, opting for a neutral frame means the painting suits any room. White metal or mixed metals (white and yellow) tends to match everything, so we suggest either for those seeking something chic and timeless.

The process of making your ethical engagement ring (collection or bespoke) starts with Lylie putting pencil to paper and sketch her ideas down. From 2D, it is transferred into 3D software and, once perfected, is printed using a CNC machine. This process means we do not manufacture excess ‘dead stock’, nor do we use unnecessary energy and resources.

The 3D print is used as the impression wax for casting into the chosen salvaged metal, using the lost-wax casting process. One of our skilled goldsmiths hand finishes the castings at the jewellers’ bench. The ring structure is then passed to our setter in Bedfordshire, where your selected ethical stones are handset. The ring then moves on to the polisher. Your ethical engagement rings final stop is the Birmingham Assay Office, where it is checked for purity and hallmarked, receiving our renowned Salvaged Hallmark to recognise the use of recycled precious metals.

We offer a very personal experience and are here for anything you might need, be that resizing your ring, maintain your ring (sometimes an insurance requirement), cleaning your ring (and that’s on us before to big day, to ensure optimal sparkle) and providing a valuation (for insurers – we can advise on good ones if needed).

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We offer a very personal experience, and would be delighted to help you in any way we can. Book a no-obligation virtual or in-person consultation to begin your journey.