A Gentleman’s Guide to Jewellery
Bresco Diamonds has a straightforward goal: to provide sound, practical jewellery advice to everyone—including the gentlemen who are usually left standing at the back of the queue when jewellery is discussed.
This guide is for you.
Buying an Engagement Ring
When shopping for an engagement ring, speak to someone who genuinely understands diamonds and jewellery.
Your mother may have strong opinions. Your friend who recently bought his first diamond may now consider himself an expert. Neither is necessarily the person you should rely on for a significant purchase.
There is considerably more to diamond rings than most men would ever reasonably want to know. Cut, colour, clarity, carat weight, proportions, fluorescence, natural or Lab-grown, settings, metals and durability all influence the final result.
A knowledgeable jeweller should explain these factors clearly, without expecting you to complete a gemmology degree before lunch.
Researching Online
There is nothing wrong with researching online. In fact, it can be useful—particularly when you need to appear well informed in front of your future mother-in-law.
The internet, however, is a vast and largely unregulated marketplace. Good and bad merchants sell good and bad product, often using remarkably similar descriptions.
You may encounter statements such as:
“We offer a wide selection of certified diamonds, from flawless, colourless round brilliant diamonds to contemporary oval, princess, pear, emerald and cushion cuts.”
Impressive. But what does it actually mean?
A reputable jewellery studio will show you suitable options within your budget and explain the practical compromises involved. A diamond may look excellent in a carefully edited photograph, but jewellery is tactile. You should see how it looks, feels and sits on the hand.
Sites such as Pinterest and Instagram (including ours!) are excellent places to explore popular designs and get a feel for the many different options available.
What Is a Certified Diamond?
Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as a “certified diamond.” The term generally refers to a diamond accompanied by an independent laboratory grading report – i.e. a grading report.
This report records characteristics such as the diamond’s weight, colour, clarity, proportions, symmetry and polish. Well-known grading laboratories include the Gemmological Institute of America, commonly known as GIA, as well as several other local and international laboratories.
The report describes the stone. It is not a guarantee that the diamond is beautiful, appropriately priced or suitable for a particular ring. That is where professional guidance remains useful.
Jewellery Requires Maintenance
Diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring material, but diamond rings are not indestructible.
Claws can wear, settings can loosen and rings can become damaged through normal use. Fortunately, they do not require quite as much attention as a motorbike, but they should still be inspected periodically.
When you establish a relationship with a physical jewellery studio like us, you have somewhere to return for:
You will also have someone to contact when Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays and Mother’s Day arrive with their usual lack of warning.
Becoming friendly with a reputable jeweller—preferably one with actual jewellery, an actual workshop and actual goldsmiths working at actual benches—can make these occasions considerably easier.
Diamonds or Coloured Gemstones?
Diamonds have dominated engagement rings for generations, but coloured gemstones are becoming increasingly popular.
Sapphires, rubies and other gemstones offer colour, character and an opportunity to create something less conventional. Celebrity engagement rings have also helped bring coloured stones back into the spotlight, although celebrity-sized budgets are not compulsory.
In our experience, diamonds remain the most popular choice. However, the correct stone is ultimately the one that suits the wearer, the design and the budget.
For clients who would prefer to invest more in the setting or upgrade later, a cubic zirconia centre stone can also be used temporarily. Cubic zirconia, commonly known as CZ, has a diamond-like appearance at a fraction of the cost.
It is softer than diamond and will show wear over time, but it can still provide many years of service. Moissanite is another popular alternative. It is durable, highly brilliant and available at a more accessible price than natural or Lab-grown diamonds.
How Much Should You Spend?
The old suggestion that an engagement ring should cost two or three months’ salary was created by marketing departments, not financial advisers.
At Bresco Diamonds, we take a different view: you decide what you are comfortable spending.
A good jeweller should help you achieve the best possible result within that amount, whether the ring is made in platinum, gold or silver and set with a diamond, coloured gemstone or moissanite.
The objective is not to spend the largest amount possible. It is to choose something meaningful, well-made and financially sensible.
There are enough expectations to manage when proposing marriage without adding unnecessary debt to the occasion.
Choosing the Design
When uncertain, simple and balanced designs are usually the safest choice.
Rather invest in a good-quality centre stone and a well-made setting than adding detail simply because there is still space available.
You can also keep the design flexible. After the proposal, your fiancée may wish to adjust the band, setting or finer design details. This does not happen often, but keeping an open mind is sensible, especially consider the wedding band options for the future.
A happy wife may not guarantee a happy life, but arguing about the engagement ring is unlikely to improve your odds.
The Gentleman’s Wedding Ring
Jewellery is inspired by some of the finest natural materials available: gold, platinum, diamonds, and coloured gemstones.
Fortunately, a gentleman does not necessarily need to spend a fortune on his own wedding ring.
Titanium and tungsten rings remain very popular because they are super durable, modern and highly affordable. They can’t be resized afterwards though like precious metal rings, so it is important to keep this in mind.
They are available in a wide variety of finishes and may include inlays of wood, or other materials.
Gold and platinum bands remain excellent choices, particularly for men who prefer a classic ring that can be resized, repaired and maintained over many years.
The right option depends on your lifestyle, occupation, budget and personal taste.
Final Advice
When buying an engagement ring, work with someone who will explain the options clearly, respect your budget and help you make an informed decision.
We have only scratched the surface here. Diamonds, gemstones, metals and settings each deserve considerably more discussion. I.e., better come and see us.
The proposal, wedding planning, bachelor party, wedding reception, and honeymoon will require other forms of expertise. For those, we strongly recommend seeking advice from someone other than the groomsmen….
