Gone are the days when men's engagement rings were essentially traditional wedding rings but with a new 'engagement' label. There is now a thriving market and loads of choice, so whether you're looking for something chic, quirky or downright sparkly there will be a ring that suits you, or the man in your life, perfectly. And as I spend my days enthusing about diamonds, I'm excited to see that increasingly designers are incorporating diamonds and gemstones into their rings for men. Whether you want something that sparkles or not, we've pulled together practical tips to buy the best men's engagement ring.
If you're buying rings together or as a surprise, an engagement ring is a symbol of love that will last a lifetime. So you definitely need to get the right ring - believe me, it'll bring joy every time he looks at it.
Choosing the best metal
When it comes to engagement and wedding bands, the variety of metals used in designs aimed at men outweighs the number of metals aimed at women. Industrial metals such as tungsten and titanium bring a fresh look and feel to men's engagement and wedding rings, as well as being more affordable than precious metals. These metals are also often used to showcase other alternative materials, like in this black cobalt ring inlaid with wood. However, if you're opting for one of the non-traditional metals or materials it's important to note that rings made from hard, brittle metals like titanium, tungsten or cobalt cannot be resized. So you need to ensure you buy the right size from the outset, and also be happy to accept the risk that if your fingers change over the years you cannot have it sized up or down.
Platinum and gold are more traditional metals, but that definitely doesn't mean boring. Platinum has a luxurious deep silver color, and carries more weight than gold so has a satisfying presence on your finger. It's both malleable and incredibly strong, perfect for jewelry making. And unlike gold it's a pure precious metal - the platinum used in jewelry is not far off total purity, so its color is natural and won't tarnish or fade. It will develop a patina with time, but don't we all?
White gold gives the same white-metal look with a lower price tag. Many rings come in either 18 karat or 14 karat white gold. Yellow gold is alloyed with white metals such as nickel, zinc and palladium. 14k white gold is almost always rhodium plated to give a truly silvery finish and it may be that you need to get your ring replated over the years (usually an inexpensive process). 18k white gold is naturally whiter and brighter and may not be plated. Both karats make for a lovely finish, so it's really down to personal preference and budget.
Setting off the sparkle perfectly, this channel set men's diamond ring comes in a choice of 14k or 18k white gold, or platinum.
Yellow gold might feel like the most traditional metal of all, but its warmth and versatility means it works in any style. Again, when it comes to rings you can usually choose between 18k and 14k, with 18k being the purer of the two. If you're opting for a solitaire diamond engagement ring for your man, yellow gold can set off diamonds of a lower color, making them appear whiter. Yellow gold also looks fabulous with pretty much any other metal, so adds depth and warmth to multi-metal designs.
Diamonds and Gemstones
Diamonds have added a touch of life and sparkle to men's wedding bands and engagement rings for a while now, often in relatively subtle ways such as small accent stones or channel set diamonds. But there is more change afoot, with larger solitaire diamonds popping up in engagement rings for men too. This tension-style setting from Blue Nile can take a round brilliant diamond up to 2 carats. As a statement choice I love it - diamonds bring joy to everybody!
If you're choosing a ring with smaller diamonds (often channel set or bezel set) the diamonds are pre selected and set by the vendor. If you're opting for a setting with a larger diamond, you will be paying far more for the diamond itself and can select the center stone yourself. Ensure you begin to wise up to the 4Cs of diamond buying: cut quality, clarity, color and carat weight as a start. Once you've chosen your diamond shape you can then ensure you're buying a diamond with maximum sparkle.
The tapered lines of this ring draw your eye to the center stone, which can be a princess, emerald or radiant cut diamond.
Of course whilst diamonds give you incredible sparkle, other gemstones add depth and color and make for a beautiful alternative. Remember some gemstones are not as durable as diamonds, so ensure they are set appropriately. Even diamonds need to be set with care to protect vulnerable tips and corners.
Pairing men's engagement and wedding rings
Can you wear a men's engagement ring with a wedding ring? Of course the answer is yes, but there are some important considerations.
Men's engagement rings and wedding rings tend to be much wider than women's rings, which we see stacked together all the time. A quick look and you'll see that most men's rings are 6 - 8mm wide (around 1/4 inch). Unless you have very long fingers, stacking two rings of that width is unlikely to be comfortable. So if you want to wear your engagement ring and wedding ring together on a daily basis, ensure you are going for narrower options like this simple Zac Posen ring for Blue Nile with just a touch of sparkle from an east-west set baguette diamond.
Alternatively, if you're not going to stack your rings together you could wear your engagement ring on your other hand, or a different finger. If that's the plan, bear in mind that the fingers of your dominant hand tend to be slightly larger than those of your non-dominant hand, so it might not be a case of simply moving it from one finger to the next. You just need to ensure you're buying the right size for the finger you plan to wear it on. It's easy to work out your ring size - most sites have a guide - here's a link to James Allen's which is super easy to follow.
And of course, consider His style....
Consider what kind of jewelry he already wears - if it's chunkier you may want to go for something with a weighty feel, if it's subtle look at narrower, sleeker styles. Will something more traditional or more individual suit him best? Maybe he'll appreciate sharp clean lines, the organic look of hammered metal, the sparkle of a solitaire diamond or the modern look of rings with more than one metal.
And if you want something truly unique, try going bespoke. There are plenty of artisan jewelers out there who can create that perfect ring. You could choose a jeweler with an aesthetic you love, or find someone to turn an idea you already have into reality.
