DESIGN YOUR OWN ENGAGEMENT RING
Choosing a diamond should feel exciting, not overwhelming. This guide walks you through every decision in order — stone, shape, setting, metal and size — so you can buy with confidence.
Step 1 — Choose your stone
Light Gold Diamond offers two centre stone choices. They are different materials, and the difference matters.
| Lab Grown Diamond | Moissanite | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A real diamond — identical in chemistry, structure and optics to a mined diamond, grown in a laboratory | Silicon carbide. A beautiful gemstone in its own right, but not a diamond |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 10 — the hardest material known | 9.25 — extremely durable, second only to diamond |
| Brilliance | Classic white diamond fire | Higher refractive index, so noticeably more rainbow fire |
| Certification | IGI certified | Not graded on the diamond colour and clarity scale |
| Price | A fraction of a mined diamond of the same specification | The most accessible option at every carat weight |
Both are set in the same solid metals, in the same designs. If you want a diamond, choose lab grown. If you want maximum size and sparkle for your budget, choose moissanite.
Shop Lab Grown Diamond Rings · Shop Moissanite Rings
Step 2 — Understand the 4Cs
Every diamond is described by four qualities. Here is what each one does, and what we use.
Cut
Cut is how well the stone has been proportioned and polished. It has more effect on how a diamond looks than any other factor — a well cut stone returns light to your eye instead of leaking it out of the bottom. Cut is the one C we never compromise on.
Colour
Colour is graded D (completely colourless) through Z (noticeably tinted). The difference between neighbouring grades is very hard to see once a stone is set. Our centre stones are E colour — colourless, one step from the top of the scale.
Clarity
Clarity describes the tiny natural inclusions inside a stone. Anything graded VS or better is eye clean — no inclusions are visible without magnification. Our centre stones are VVS–VS, so you are paying for clarity you can actually see.
Carat
Carat is weight, not size, though the two track closely. Our engagement rings are available from 1.00 CT to 5.00 CT. Two things worth knowing:
- Elongated shapes — oval, marquise, pear, emerald — look larger than a round stone of the same carat weight, because more of the stone sits face up.
- Price rises sharply at the round numbers. A 1.90 CT stone looks the same as 2.00 CT and costs less.
Step 3 — Pick a shape
Shape is the most personal decision in the whole process. Round is the most brilliant and the most popular; oval and elongated cushion give the most finger coverage; emerald and asscher have long, architectural flashes instead of sparkle; marquise, pear and heart are distinctive and romantic.
We cut eighteen shapes, in both lab grown diamond and moissanite — round, oval, pear, cushion, elongated cushion, emerald, radiant, princess, asscher, marquise, dutch marquise, moval, heart, hexagon, baguette, coffin, old mine cut and lozenge.
Step 4 — Choose a setting
- Solitaire — one stone, nothing to distract from it. The classic.
- Halo — a ring of small stones around the centre, making it look significantly larger.
- Three stone — past, present and future. Adds width and presence.
- Pavé — small stones along the band for continuous sparkle.
- Bezel — metal wrapped around the stone. The most protective setting, and the best choice for an active life.
- Vintage inspired — milgrain, filigree and detail drawn from antique design.
- Nature inspired — vines, leaves and organic forms.
- Toi et Moi — two stones side by side.
Step 5 — Choose your metal
Every design is made in solid metal — never plated. Choose from 925 sterling silver, 10K, 14K and 18K gold in white, yellow and rose, and platinum.
- White gold is rhodium plated for a bright white finish and will need re-plating every few years.
- Platinum is naturally white, denser and the most hard wearing. It never needs re-plating.
- Yellow and rose gold need no maintenance beyond normal cleaning. 18K is richer in colour than 14K; 14K is harder and more scratch resistant.
Step 6 — Get the ring size right
A ring that fits is the difference between a ring that gets worn and one that sits in a drawer. Our sizing tool converts between US, UK, EU, Indian, Japanese and other scales, and you can measure at home with a strip of paper in a couple of minutes.
Certification and what you receive
Every lab grown diamond is IGI certified, and your order arrives with its certificate and a jewellery appraisal. Moissanite is a different material and is not graded on the diamond colour and clarity scale, so no diamond certificate is issued for it — we describe its specification openly on every product page instead.
Budget: where to spend and where to save
- Spend on cut. It is the only C you cannot improve later and the only one that changes how the ring looks across a room.
- Save on colour and clarity. Beyond E colour and VS clarity, you are paying for a difference you cannot see.
- Save on carat by going just under a round number, or by choosing an elongated shape that reads larger than its weight.
- Choose a halo if size matters most — it adds visual scale for far less than a larger centre stone.
Still deciding?
If you would like a second opinion before you order, get in touch — we will talk you through the options on your shortlist. You can also have something made to your own design through Custom Design.
Please read our Refund & Return Policy and Shipping Policy before placing your order.
