How do I go about designing my own engagement ring?

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Designing your own engagement ring can turn out to be a great decision, as finding the perfect ring online can be both frustrating and time-consuming. One ring might have the right shaped diamond, but it is only offered in gold and you want platinum. Or you find the perfect ring, only to discover that your size is not available.

Designing your own ring means that you can combine all the things you want - the width and metal of the ring band, the type of stone, which side stones you want, and so on. And it also means that you are unlikely to see anybody else wearing the same engagement ring as you!

Diamond are traditionally used in engagement rings, and once you have decided which shape you are going to use, you must also consider the quality of the diamond, i.e. its cut, colour, clarity and carat, otherwise known as the 4Cs.

The best way to find out this information is to look at the diamond certificate. A diamond certificate is a complete report of the quality of an individual diamond, including information on shape, weight, clarity, fluorescence, colour grade, measurements, proportions and finish grade. It is proof of the class of a diamond, and will help you to compare similar stones in order to get the best value for money.

However it is only useful if it is reliable and has been issued by a reputable and independent laboratory with no financial interest in the stone. There are many independent diamond laboratories that issue certificates, but the most universally renowned and respected is the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA). Other reputable labs include the International Gemmological Institute (IGI), the American Gem Society (AGS) and Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD), otherwise known as the Antwerp Diamond High Council.

It is wise to buy from a jeweller that offers diamonds certified by one of these labs, or one approved by the CIBJO. The CIBJO is a European organisation with a number of affiliated national gemmological laboratories which all grade diamonds to the same strict standards as the GIA.

Remember, not all laboratories are strict; in fact some are used by retailers for that exact reason. So if you've never heard of the institution that is offering a grading report, enquire about its credentials.

If you buy an engagement ring without a diamond certificate, you are doing so based on the salesperson's assessment of the diamond, and not that of a trained gemmologist. This can be extremely risky as not all British retailers will be able to give you accurate information about the diamond they are selling you. So, even if they appear to know all there is to know about the stone, double check the information on the certificate for your own peace of mind.

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