Understand engagement ring design basics to match your perfect ring with the life you love to live.
You’ll wear it every moment of every day for most of your life. So the last thing you want is an engagement ring that’s going to interfere with your lifestyle.
Your engagement ring needs to reflect the image you are building for yourself, in work and social situations, but it also needs to be practical. As you consider engagement ring design basics with your fiancé-to-be, think about the situations you’ll find yourself in and how your ring needs to complement your lifestyle. While the style you love will win out, it never hurts to give a little thought to how your ring will fit into your day-to-day lifestyle.
Your ring at work
Whatever your career, your engagement ring choice can be important if you don’t want to have to take your ring off every time you go to work. The right ring can even help you promote your professional image. Consider some of the practical design choices for your career:
| If your work involves: | You might consider a ring that: |
|---|---|
| The need for an affluent professional image (salesperson, fashion designer, boutique owner, real estate agent). | Is unique in style or dazzles with its design, size and beautiful diamond. A larger center stone, a fancy diamond shape or an elegant, Hollywood-inspired ring design may be the choice for you. |
| Dirty work (landscaper, chef, housecleaner, sculptor). | Features smooth details rather than nooks and crannies that can capture dirt (such as engraved metals or channel-set stones). Also consider whether the ring will fit easily under gloves if you wear them. |
| Risky situations (police officer, social worker, security guard). | Is discreet. Consider avoiding a big, dazzling diamond and opt for a delicate diamond band or a ring with multiple, smaller diamonds or gemstones. Or, if you have a bigger diamond engagement ring, consider buying an additional simple band you can wear to work. |
| Working with computers or machinery, or working a lot with your hands (office worker, bank teller, factory worker, artist, welder). | Doesn’t have an upraised stone that can knock or catch on things. Consider this when choosing your setting. |
| Caring for people (teacher, childcare provider, nurse, physician, physical therapist. | Doesn’t have sharp, scratchy edges. Consider a bezel-set diamond ring, a prong setting with the diamond set lower or an engagement band with channel-set diamonds so you don’t have to remove your ring every time you go to work. |
Your ring at play
When you’re not at work, how do you choose to spend your time? Make sure the engagement ring you choose can come along for the ride.
| If your play time involves: | You might consider a ring that: |
|---|---|
| Getting dirty (gardening, sculpting, baking). | Can be easily cleaned. You might avoid engraved metals or channel-set stones. |
| Doing fancy hand work (playing music, knitting or sewing, juggling). | Won’t get tangled in yarn or otherwise prevent your fingers from doing the walking. Also note that rings tend to “spin” on certain kinds of fingers, so that the stone can end up on the inside of the hand and interfere with your handiwork. Ask your jeweler about sizing or adding inserts or beads to prevent this from happening. |
| Team or individual sports (soccer, tennis, skiing, basketball, rock climbing, softball, yoga). | Won’t be at risk of scratching or poking teammates or being damaged by a stray ball or fall on concrete. Think about a sturdier metal such as platinum that is less likely to scratch against sports equipment, and consider any protective gear (such as gloves) that must slide over your finger. |
| Travel. | Will make you feel secure when you travel, especially internationally. You might want to consider a diamond that’s more discreet. |
Of course, many women choose the engagement ring design they love best and simply get used to it or opt to take it off in certain situations. The important thing is to give some practical thought to how you’ll wear your ring and make it part of your everyday life — forever and ever.
