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Luxury

How to pick an engagement ring: a guide to buying the best wedding jewellery that fits your personality, from De Beers’ heart-shaped diamond to Elizabeth Taylor-inspired gems

STORYSCMP Style Reporter
Graff’s Promise setting engagement rings. Photo: Graff
Graff’s Promise setting engagement rings. Photo: Graff
The Moment – a wedding special

  • Round brilliant-cut diamonds by Graff are the perfect option for the classic bride, while a cushion-cut gem makes for a great contemporary alternative
  • Brides who opt for Oscar de la Renta gowns would love a heart-shaped ring, while Tilda’s Bow collection by Graff is made for those looking for a more unique option

Once it is slipped onto that all-important finger by your loved one, an engagement ring becomes an extension of you, a constant presence that soon becomes a defining part of your identity. “The engagement ring is an important piece of jewellery for a young woman, as it carries substantial emotion and feelings,” says Arnaud Bastien, the president and chief executive of Graff Diamonds for Asia. “It might not be the largest or most valuable item, but it remains probably the most meaningful piece of jewellery [you will ever own].”
The engagement ring is an ultimate form of self-expression. In one piece, it communicates your preferred style and taste
– Jonathan J. Abram, director at Ronald Abram

And just as the engagement ring and the wedding band show the world that you are happily ensconced in a lifelong relationship, it is also a miniature representation of your personality and style. Says Jonathan J. Abram, director at Ronald Abram: “The engagement ring is an ultimate form of self-expression. In one piece, it communicates your preferred style and taste.”

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Here, we present a guide to the different types of engagement rings and what they say about the wearer’s style and personality.

1. Classic

You cannot discuss engagement ring styles without talking about the round brilliant-cut diamond, an iconic shape that people immediately associate with engagement rings, and a widely popular choice. The round diamond, whether a solitaire with a six-claw setting or accompanied by a pavé setting, is the top choice for brides whose personal style is more classic; the bride who gravitates towards Carolina Herrera gowns when shopping for a wedding dress and probably has more than one well-tailored, crisp white shirt in her wardrobe.
Engagement rings from the Graff jewellery collection for the classic bride. Photo: Graff
Engagement rings from the Graff jewellery collection for the classic bride. Photo: Graff
“The most classic diamond cut of an engagement ring is a round brilliant, accompanied by a timeless design, like our Promise setting set, with two shoulder stones, or Graff Icon setting set, with a halo of diamonds to accentuate the beauty of the centre stone,” says Bastien.

A stunning example of a Graff Promise engagement ring with a round brilliant-cut diamond includes one accompanied by two pear-shaped side stones. Another design in this setting pairs the diamond with side stones in a baguette cut, with the angular lines of the baguette cut offering a nice contrast to the round diamond. For brides who want to add more sparkle to their ring, the round brilliant-cut diamond in Graff’s Icon setting is surrounded by smaller diamonds and matched with a pavé band.

2. Contemporary