I've finally decided it's time to propose to my girlfriend. I don't have even the slightest doubt anymore that she's the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, so now I need to sort out the ring. I've never bought anything like this before and there seem to be endless choices once you start looking at stones, settings and metals. What sort of engagement rings are worth considering, what should I pay attention to, and where in the UK would you look for something genuinely beautiful?
Don't get too hung up on carat size straight away, because the setting can change the whole appearance of the ring. A slightly smaller stone in a well-proportioned setting can look far better than a larger one that sits too high or overwhelms the band. I'd pay close attention to how securely the stone is held, how comfortable the band looks from the side and whether the setting leaves enough room for a wedding band later. It's also worth deciding early whether you want platinum, white gold or yellow gold, because that narrows the search quite a bit.
You can drive yourself mad comparing certificates and tiny differences in stone grades before you've even decided what sort of ring you actually want to put in the box. I'd narrow it down to a few basic directions first, maybe a single centre stone, a halo, or a band with smaller stones, and only then start comparing the details. Spend some time with the engagement rings here: https://pierrejewellery.uk/katalog/engagement-rings . Save three or four that catch your eye and come back to them the next day. The one you keep returning to is usually a better clue than another hour of comparing specifications.