Finding your perfect gold engagement ring can be daunting. With lots of decisions to make and jewellery techniques to decipher, it can be hard to find a ring that suits your style, budget and skin tone for a piece of jewellery that will be adorning your ring finger forever.
Whether you’re choosing for a loved one ahead of a proposal or you’re selecting your own engagement ring, here are our top tips to help you find your perfect ring to mark your engagement.
Selecting your perfect shade of gold for your engagement ring
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold is likely what you think of when referring to ‘gold’. It is a beautiful warm-toned metal. Depending on the carat, yellow gold may be mixed with some other metals to create an alloy.
Yellow gold is a timeless option that is versatile for many styles, from traditional and vintage to contemporary and minimal.
White Gold
White gold is a cooler tone, making it similar in colour to silver but with more strength. White gold is created by mixing white metals, like palladium, or nickel in with pure gold to create an alloy then often coated with rhodium to give it a bright ‘white’ finish.
While white gold has been used for over 100 years, Art Deco jewellery really helped boost its popularity as a contemporary, chic and cheaper alternative to yellow gold or platinum.
It is a good option for fans of silver and cool-tones in their jewellery or clothing collections.
Rose Gold
Rose gold is a unique option that is a pink-toned metal which tends to be a good neutral option, not leaning too warm or too cool.
Rose gold is created by mixing copper with yellow gold. Different amounts of copper mixed into the alloy can result in darker or lighter shades of rose gold, ranging from subtle pink hues to deeper redder rose gold.
While rose gold was present in the 19th century, it rose to popularity from around 2012 and continues to be a fashionable, contemporary choice in wedding and engagement rings.
Mixed metals
Mixing metals is a fashion-forward choice to channel modern jewellery trends, giving you the option to choose two or more types of gold in your engagement ring or in your wedding ring stack.
This allows you to be creative and unique, and express your personal style. It is a great option if you wear various tones of jewellery, so you can mix and match.
From cooler toned white gold to warm yellow gold, versatile rose gold to modern mixed metals, selecting the gold that complements your skin tone, and matches your wider jewellery collection and preference.
What carat gold should you choose for an engagement ring?
Once you have selected the type and tone of gold for your engagement ring, you can now think about more details, such as the quality of the gold and how many carats you want.
Carat refers to the purity of the gold. The higher the carat, the higher the percentage that gold makes up of the alloy.
- 9 carat is the most common carat for jewellery you might wear daily. It is made up of around 37.5% pure gold, making it more affordable but with the risk of tarnishing over time.
- 14 carat has slightly more pure gold, at 58.3%, making it more durable.
- 18 carat is often considered the ‘ideal’ purity for gold and is a popular choice for both wedding and engagement rings. It is made up of 75% pure gold.
- 24 carat is the most expensive option, with 99-100% pure gold. It often has a very bright, vibrant colour, though it is very soft, making it a less popular choice for engagement rings that are worn every day.
The most popular carats for gold engagement rings are 14 and 18 carat, as they have a good balance of purity and durability.
Elegant gold engagement ring designs
Classic diamond engagement rings for timeless elegance
Did you know the first recorded diamond engagement ring dates back to 1477? It was commissioned by the Archduke Maximillian of Austria for Mary of Burgundy.
Over 500 years later, a beautiful diamond ring is still a timeless choice for an engagement ring.
From round to radiant, pear-shaped to princess, you can choose your diamond engagement ring shape to suit your style and chosen silhouette. They can also be subtle or a statement depending on the size of the diamond, and it’s often easy to find a wedding ring that will complement a diamond ring, making them a versatile yet stunning option.
Bright and bold gemstone engagement rings
For fans of vibrant colours, selecting a bright, bold, precious or semi-precious coloured gemstone for your engagement ring is a unique option.
From rich red rubies to sparkling sapphires, and everything in between, there are many gemstones that you could select due to preference or sentimental reasons, such as the birthstone of your future spouse.
Chic engagement ring styles for minimalists
Those looking for more subtle, minimalist options for engagement rings may want to choose a chic solitaire ring that is versatile and can be worn seamlessly alongside other minimalist jewellery.
There are no rules when it comes to engagement rings. If you’re not a regular jewellery wearer, you may want to opt for an engagement and wedding ring hybrid to only wear one ring, with a bejewelled wedding band.
Statement multistone engagement rings
If you want your engagement ring to make more of a statement, choosing a multistone ring will definitely capture attention. Designs like cluster engagement rings and halo rings are a dazzling option.
What else to consider when choosing a gold engagement ring
It can be tempting to find your fantasy engagement ring with no limits. However, it’s a good idea to give some thought to practicality to ensure that you can love and wear your gold engagement ring for years to come.
Budget
Having a clear idea of your budget can help you manage your expectations and only look at rings within your price range to avoid falling in love with something 10 times your budget!
Don’t forget to look for vintage or antique engagement rings, as these are a more budget friendly option.
Wedding ring
If you have a clear vision of what you’d like your wedding ring to be like, make sure that your engagement ring fits with this, both physically fitting next to it but also in terms of style, to create a cohesive wedding stack.
Maintenance
It’s likely you’ll be expecting to wear your engagement ring every day. To help keep its strength and integrity, make sure to give it regular maintenance, from gentle cleaning and storing in a cool, dry space, to removing it before showering or exercising. Paying attention to maintaining your engagement ring will help to ensure you can wear and enjoy it forever.
Final thoughts
When it comes to finding an elegant gold engagement ring, be sure to select something that reflects your personality and preferences, from a diamond or gemstone, to the tone of gold and overall jewellery design.