Engagement Ring Basics: What to Know Before You Shop
Maybe this is the first piece of jewelry you've ever bought or worn. You're not alone. It's a lot to take in. Where do you even start, and how do you know you're making choices based on what you and your partner want and not what the industry is trying to sell you?
That's what this guide is for. We break down the technical stuff that actually matters: how different stones and metals behave over time, what properties matter for daily wear, budget realities, how to navigate surprise proposals, and ideas for masculine engagement rings. My approach has always been to provide the most honest and accurate information I can to help customers find the right fit. I don't buy into the jewelry industry hype, and I'm not going to try to sell you on it either.
In these articles, we geek out on this stuff. Material properties, durability over decades, how different finishes hold up, what "hardness" actually means in practice. This guide brings together years of answering customer questions and making rings for people who want to make thoughtful purchases.
The right engagement ring is one you'll be happy wearing every day, made from materials you feel good about, in a style that feels like you. Start here, dig into the topics that matter to you, and make informed decisions based on what actually works for you and your partner.
Choosing the Right Stone
Natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, and moissanite are the most popular white stone options, but they behave differently in important ways. Learn about hardness, durability, pricing realities, and what to consider for a ring you'll wear every day.
Read the article: Natural Diamonds vs. Lab-Grown Diamonds vs. Moissanite
Watch our video playlist: Diamonds, Moissanite & Gemstones: Choosing Your Engagement Ring Stone
Love colored gemstones? Some are durable enough for daily engagement ring wear, while others are better suited for earrings, necklaces, or rings you wear occasionally. Learn which stones can handle everyday life and which need special care.
Read the articles: Choosing Colored Stones for Engagement Rings: A Practical Guide
Which Colored Gemstones Are Durable Enough for Engagement Rings?
Watch our video playlist: Diamonds, Moissanite & Gemstones: Choosing Your Engagement Ring Stone
Most jewelry stores talk about carat weight because they assume you want a diamond. Since we work with diamonds, moissanite, sapphires, and other stones that all weigh differently, we use millimeter measurements, because that's what you actually see on your hand.
Read the article: Understanding Carat Weights
We used to use the term "conflict-free" for our diamonds, but we've come to understand that it oversimplifies a complex global industry. Learn why Aide-mémoire Jewelry no longer uses that term and what we focus on instead when sourcing diamonds.
Read the article: Why We Are No Longer Using the Term "Conflict-free"
Choosing Your Metal
What even is an alloy? Pure gold, silver, and platinum are too soft for rings, so we mix them with other metals. Learn how different combinations affect color, durability, and potential allergies.
Read the article: Metal Alloys
Watch our video playlist: Metal Options for Engagement & Wedding Rings
Compare the most common white metals used in rings, including white gold, platinum, and sterling silver, and learn how each wears over time.
Read the article: Guide to White Metals for Wedding & Engagement Rings
Watch our video playlist: Metal Options for Engagement & Wedding Rings
All metals wear and change over time, but they do it differently. Learn how white gold, yellow gold, platinum, and silver scratch and age, how finishes evolve, and what to expect from years of daily wear.
Read the article: Durability
Watch our video playlist: Metal Options for Engagement & Wedding Rings
Ring Design & Fit
Your engagement ring setting style determines how it will pair with a wedding band later. Learn about setting-on-top, intersected, and cathedral styles, plus why you should wait to buy your wedding band until you've lived with your engagement ring for a while.
Read the article: Engagement Ring Settings: How They Affect Your Wedding Band Options
A ring profile describes the cross-section shape of your band. Learn the terminology (comfort fit, flat, half-round, etc.) so you can communicate your style preferences and understand how different profiles affect comfort and appearance.
Read the article: Wedding Ring Profiles / Cross Sections and Terminology
Width and thickness mean different things, and both matter. They affect how your ring feels, how durable it is, and how it looks on your hand. Learn the difference between the two measurements and how to choose proportions that are right for your ring.
Read the article: How Wide or Thick Should My Ring Be?
All finishes change with wear, but understanding how helps you choose wisely. Learn the difference between scuff marks and scratches, how different finishes age, and why we recommend embracing patina instead of constant refinishing.
Read article: Metal Finishes & Care
Sizing & Care
Ring size is trickier than you might think. Learn what affects your finger size throughout the day and year, how to get accurately sized, and what to do if your ring needs adjusting after you receive it.
Read the article: Getting The Right Size
Like any high-wear item, your ring needs regular care to stay in good shape. Learn how to clean your ring properly at home and which everyday activities might damage it.
Read the article: How to Care For & Clean Your Jewelry
Watch the video: How to Clean Your Engagement Ring
Prongs wear down over time, and catching the wear early means you won't lose a stone. This video walks you through how to inspect your jewelry at home so you can catch problems early and take it to a repair shop before anything goes wrong.
Watch the video: How to Maintain the Prongs on your Engagement Ring
"I'm never taking this off" We hear that a lot, but your skin needs to breathe or it gets irritated under the ring. Learn why we recommend nightly removal, which activities warrant taking your ring off, and safe storage so you don't lose it.
Read the article: Why You Should Take Your Ring Off (Sometimes)
Planning Your Engagement
More couples are choosing rings together, but surprise proposals are still popular. Learn about full surprise, partial surprise, and collaborative approaches, plus creative options like placeholder rings and stand-in proposals.
Read the article: Engagement Rings – Should it be a Surprise?
Planning a surprise proposal but stressed about getting the ring right? Learn how stand-in proposal jewelry solves the guessing game, work for rushed timelines, and let you both choose the forever ring together after the proposal.
Read the article: Three Reasons to Consider Stand-in Proposal Jewelry
Men's and masculine engagement rings are gaining popularity, and you get to define what works for you. Learn practical approaches like silver starter bands, stacking rings to mark engagement and wedding separately, and creative alternatives.
Read the article: Masculine Engagement Rings
Shop Rings
Explore Our Engagement Rings
From timeless solitaires to multi-stone designs and masculine styles, find a ring that reflects your love and personality.
Blog posts
Choosing Colored Stones for Engagement Rings: A Practical Guide
When you're choosing a colored gemstone for an engagement ring, durability needs to be your top priority. Rings take a lot of wear and tear since we do a lot with our hands, and a ring you plan on...
Read more
Engagement Ring Settings: How They Affect Your Wedding Band Options
Shopping for an engagement ring? Before you focus solely on the stone and style, consider how your engagement ring setting will pair with a wedding band. This guide explains the three main setting ...
Read more
Guide to White Metals for Wedding & Engagement Rings
Choosing the right white metal is about more than color. In this guide, we compare sterling silver, Continuum silver, white gold, palladium, and platinum to help you find the metal that fits your l...
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