If the rock fits – Which Engagement Ring Style are You?

You may not be channelling your inner Monica from Friends with her cross-sectioned ring binder (locations ordered alphabetically, geographically and by square feet, anyone?), but chances are you’ve already an inkling of what sort of bride you might be. Whether you’re planning a woodland wedding or want the full Four Weddings and A Funeral, Goldsmiths has the engagement ring to match.

For those whose ideal wedding dress is minimalist yet feminine – think an elegant column of ivory satin or maybe a strapless bodice that gives way to a subtly draped skirt – it’s all about refinement, nothing too showy. A straight-up solitaire won’t do, and an emerald-cut is a little too angular, which is where an oval cut set in platinum with a scatter of diamonds on the shoulder is ideal. An oval cut alludes to someone who pushes boundaries while still respecting tradition, while the scattered stones amplify the shimmer of the central stone. If more drama is required, then a haloed radiant-cut stone with its platinum shoulders set with diamonds will deliver. A radiant cut is a clever fusion of an emerald cut and a round cut that maximises sparkle. It is also a fusion of tradition and modernity, rather like the quintessential contemporary bride.

Emerald cuts are made for the modern bride. This is the sort of woman who favours angular suiting even on her wedding day. A sophisticated one-carat elongated emerald-cut stone set in smoothly polished platinum is the design for those whose personal style leans towards the unadorned, though she may also be tempted by a sophisticated oval solitaire that appears to float above a band of 18-ct yellow gold. For a little more embellishment, there is always an emerald cut haloed with smaller diamonds and with forked shoulders, also set with diamonds. For the truly experimental there’s a Toi et Moi design comprising both an emerald-cut and pear diamond nestled next to one another representing the intertwining of bride and groom.

Unusual stone shapes are there to tempt any romantic brides who are imagining themselves in layers of blush chiffon, saying their vows in dreamy sunlight wearing a crown of roses. An oval cut-stone surrounded by a double halo with diamond-set shoulders is guaranteed to shimmer like fairy dust, while a cluster of diamonds set into a haloed pear shape flanked by parallel lines of diamonds is a unique way to use these precious stones to maximise their radiance. There’s even a single round-cut stone beautifully haloed and with a simple line of diamonds on the shoulders for those looking for traditional with a twist.

There are no twists needed for those brides who want to embrace tradition. This lover of the classics wants the full Grace Kelly – lace, bridesmaids, veil, the lot. For her a classic one-carat solitaire is the only design worth saying “yes” to, though she might be tempted by a trio of diamonds on a band of 18-ct yellow gold, with each stone signifying the couple’s past, present, and future.

Whatever type of wedding you have planned, you don’t need to take a personality quiz, or have a cross-referenced ring binder, to know that Goldsmiths specially selected fire-bright diamonds set in precious metal will always be a bride’s best friend, both for the big day and for every day after.