How to choose the perfect wedding & engagement ring.

Gold in it's purest form (24karat gold) is naturally a very soft metal. Too soft to be used in the structural elements of jewellery. In order to add durability and strength, pure gold is alloyed (combined) with various metals.  The karat of the gold is determined by the ration of gold to these metals. Different alloys also offer variations of colour, for example to achieve the warm rosy colour in red/rose gold, pure gold is alloyed with copper. 

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the Karat number tells you how many parts (of the 24) are pure gold.

9 karat gold is nine parts of pure gold (37.5%) to 15 parts of alloyed metals. 9k gold is therefore the most affordable of the gold choices but it is also the most durable. 9k gold has a soft buttery colour, and is the perfect choice for a wedding band or engagement ring with a smaller budget. 

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18k gold ( 75% pure gold) is the most traditional choice for a wedding or engagement ring because it offers a happy medium between rich gold colour and durability.  

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The most accurate way of finding your correct ring size is to visit a jewellery store and ask them to measure it professionally. But this is not always and option when

you're trying to keep it a surprise. So  here is a guide to ring sizing and various ways to determine the correct size.

Have you heard of the four C's of diamonds? Clarity; Cut; Colour and Carat and the four C's by which diamonds are traditionally graded. But what do they mean and how do you know which is the best choice for you? Here at Anne-Michelle jewellery, I will always help you find the post possible choice within your budget, but it's always good to understand what it is you are buying.

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Clarity: Refers to how visibly clear the diamond is and how many inclusions it may have. 

Cut: Tells you about the quality of the cut and the facets. 

Colour: Refer to the hue of a diamond which ranges from pale yellow to pure white/clear.  

Carat: is the unit used to measure the weight of the diamond. 

When choosing a diamond, you will find that the prices vairy significantly depending on the grade, so it's worth deciding which of the qualities are most important to you.

You may also want to consider Lab-Grown diamonds over mined/natural diamonds. 

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What are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

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The first question you may be asking yourself is '' are lab-grown diamonds real?'' and the answer is ''yes!'' The only difference between natural and lab-grown diamond is where and how they are formed. 

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Lab-grown diamonds are chemically and physically, virtually identical to mined diamonds. Just like mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds also vary in colour, clarity and cut but benefit from being both more affordable and arguably the a more eco-conscious and sustainable choice. 

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