Buying an engagement ring is the first step in many decisions. On the one hand, so much joy, excitement, and love is wrapped into each of these decisions. Conversely, we constantly hear from people how the weight of these decisions can sometimes be overwhelming.

We want to start by saying people should not worry about making the “wrong” choices when choosing an engagement ring. Thousands of articles and advice columns try to focus on making something that should be one of the most positive experiences for you and your fiancee into something negative. Instead, we want to focus on a few parameters and factors to help you choose the right ring for you and your partner. 

Making Sure You Pick The Right, Size, Metal & Stone

While we did say at the top that we don’t approve of the concept of “wrong” choices when it comes to ring purchases, that is mostly in relation to how people market engagement rings—in truth, ensuring that the materials in the engagement ring work for your partner, both in terms of preference and sometimes functionality, is essential.

Many people do not know their own ring sizes or their partner’s. Moreover, your partner might prefer the metal (silver, platinum, gold, or something else) and the layout, shape, and size of the stone(s). One of the significant challenges of engagement ring purchasing is that, traditionally, you should do it secretly, which means you will need to figure out how to get all this information. In terms of size, one option is to find a ring your partner already wears (making sure that it is a ring they wear on the appropriate finger) and bring it to a jeweler. 

Should You Keep Your Engagement Ring a Secret?

Tradition dictates that the person looking to propose should buy the ring secretly so that they can keep their proposal a secret. But every couple is unique, and part of life is figuring out which traditions work for you and which don’t. Some partners will actually go ring shopping together, which can help alleviate any of the stress about choosing the “wrong” ring.

If you want to follow the tradition of keeping the proposal a secret, you still have options. You could potentially ring shopping together and then hold on to the ring until you are ready to propose, or perhaps you could browse a store or ask your partner for some parameters for their perfect engagement ring. You can always work through a third party by talking with your partner’s close friend or family member.

Purchase Engagement Rings in Boston, MA

Here at Bostonian Jewelers, we provide beautiful jewelry options to our clients. If you have questions about engagement rings or need help with engraving, resizing, or getting the perfect ring for your partner, please give us a call or visit our store in Boston, MA.

When you start looking for the perfect engagement ring, the size of the diamond isn’t necessarily what to look for. A massive part of ring shopping is knowing what diamond shape you are looking for. Whether designing your ring or giving your partner hints about what you want, finding the right one is no small feat. The most common diamond shapes are round, emerald, cushion, oval, princess, radiant, asscher, marquise, pear, and heart. In the hunt for the perfect diamond, you’ll want to choose the most flattering one. 

Best Diamond Shape for Short Fingers

If you have small hands and short fingers, proportions are critical. Luckily for your budget, petite hands typically look best with a smaller-sized diamond. If this is you, pear, marquise, or oval-shaped diamonds would be the best option—and oval diamonds are currently trending! These diamond shapes have a larger surface area than other options, so they can look more extensive than those with the same carat weight.  

Best Diamond Shape for Long Fingers

Those with longer, thin fingers have a lot of flexibility regarding the shape of your diamond. Larger stores will appear more proportional, and nearly all diamond shapes are flattering with thin fingers. That said, longer fingers will benefit from thicker, heavier bands or double rows of diamonds without overpowering your hand.

Best Diamond Shape for Wide Fingers

You can easily pull off bolder, bigger rings with wider fingers without looking like they’re taking over your hand. Consider trying fancier diamond shapes, such as ovals, marquise, teardrop, radiant, and emerald cuts. These can make your fingers and hands look longer and slimmer if that’s what you want. You should also tell your partner that a larger diamond would be best—consider lab-grown diamonds a budget-friendly option.

Best Diamond Shape for Square Fingers

For those with square fingers—meaning your fingers' tips are more square than rounded—oval, marquise and pear-cut diamonds would be the most flattering. The soft silhouettes of these different shapes will complement your fingers' squareness. In the same vein, avoid square-shaped diamonds, like princess-cut or Asscher-cut, as these will amplify your hand's square shape–unless that is what you want, in which case these shapes are ideal.

Shop Diamonds at Bostonian Jewelers

While the options listed above are ideal for the most flattering diamond shape, choose whichever speaks to you. The ring will still be beautiful, look great on your finger, and always mean something to you. There are no strict rules as to which diamond is right for you–these are just some of our recommendations if you are having trouble getting started. Get started with lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds at Bostonian Jewelers.

Diamonds aren't just pretty gemstones that you put on a wedding ring or necklace; they are also versatile materials that have found various applications in various fields in the modern world. One such field is machining, in which diamonds are used for cutting out metal, computer science, and even medicine. Diamonds can be found in the natural environment, which is rare and difficult to mine, with many ethical concerns; they can also be produced in the lab. Lab-grown diamonds have a lot of advantages over naturally sourced ones, making them a go-to for many technological applications. Here are five advantages of lab-grown diamonds.

Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Cheaper Than Natural Diamonds 

Natural diamonds are expensive because they are rare and labor-intensive and require a lot of machinery, which adds to the cost. This is unlike synthetic diamonds, which can be formed quickly and efficiently in a controlled laboratory with fewer people and equipment. These results in lab-grown diamonds being 30% to 40% cheaper than natural diamonds due to reduced labor, machinery, and transportation costs. So, lab-grown diamonds are the way to go if you're looking for a diamond ring on a budget.

Lab-Grown Diamonds Have Superior Quality

Another advantage of lab-grown diamonds over natural ones is their quality and purity. The production methods used to create these diamonds, such as CVD, Chemical vapor deposition, and HPVD, high-pressure vapor deposition, allow for greater control over the diamond's size, color, and purity, unlike natural diamonds mined from the mantle. Natural diamonds have varying sizes, colors, and purity alongside many dirt impurities and imperfections. The ability to control the size and clarity of a lab-grown diamond has made it a favorite amongst jewelers because it allows them to make and sell diamonds of any size, color, or purity.

Lab-Grown Diamonds Have Ethically Safe Origins

The biggest controversy surrounding diamonds and diamond mining is the so-called blood diamond. A blood diamond refers to any natural diamond sourced from dark or morally reprehensible activities or whose method of mining and distribution helps fuel violence, abuse, and human trafficking. This has been a cause for worry by many buyers of natural diamonds, as purchasing them might mean that you are inadvertently funding a civil war or human trafficking group halfway across the world. Even though the Kimberly process was adopted in 2003 to help track the origins of natural diamonds, there are still some difficulties with determining the origin of a carat of diamond. This is why many people have pivoted to using synthetic diamonds, as they have an ethical origin and can easily be traced back.

Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Environmentally Sustainable

Diamond mining requires heavy machinery, which requires a lot of fossil fuels to function and pollutes the environment. The effect of diamond mining on the environment is often overlooked, even when you remove the heavy machinery from the equation. Mining requires you to mine deep and wide holes, which release a ton of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. They also result in the destruction of forest areas and the destruction and contamination of watersheds and rivers. Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, are different. Since they are grown in the lab, they are less harmful to the environment since they can be grown using power from renewable energy. This makes them more environmentally sustainable than natural ones, which release greenhouse gas emissions and destroy valuable real estate.

Shop Lab Grown Diamonds at Bostonian Jewelers

Synthetic or lab-grown diamonds are the future, and they help mitigate the ethical implications of natural diamond mining. They can come in huge sizes and are a cheaper option. There are many options to choose from, but Bostonian Jewelers will help you choose the best option that suits your needs.

Whether you are looking for some inspiration for yourself, planning for the future, or shopping for that special someone, a variety of engagement ring styles are popular in 2024. From heirloom stones to lab-grown diamonds, we'll walk you through some trendy styles this year. If you are ready to start designing your engagement ring, work with Bostonian Jewelers today and schedule your one-on-one consultation.

Engagement Rings with Family Heirlooms 

Your engagement ring is not just a piece of jewelry; it's a symbol of your love and commitment. It will be one of the most essential pieces of jewelry you own. Why not make that piece even more special by incorporating a family heirloom piece into your ring? A popular way to do this is by utilizing the stone/diamond from another piece of jewelry and repurposing it for your ring. Plus, this can be your "something old" on the big wedding day! 

Solitaire Setting Engagement Rings 

The most popular among celebrities is the solitaire-setting ring style. This ring style is simple and elegant, drawing all attention to the center stone. It has been around for decades and has remained a classic choice well into 2024. Add some spice to this style with engravings or different colored stones — whatever you choose, we can help you create. 

Engagement Ring Stacks 

Why limit your engagement ring to just one? Ring stacks are becoming increasingly popular in 2024. They showcase your love by wearing multiple rings stacked atop one another. You can curate this over, adding sentimental value rings, or you can customize each specific ring to your liking. These rings can be simple bands, birthstone rings, family heirlooms, and endless possibilities. 

Unique Engagement Ring Designs 

Another popular engagement ring style in 2024 is unique designs customized for your special someone. Lean into your style and choose a custom engagement ring that defies traditional styles—think Art-Deco, nontraditional diamond shapes, etc. At Bostonian Jewelers, we provide customized jewelry design and can help you build your dream ring from scratch. Just come with some inspiration, and we can take it from there! 

Shop Trendy Engagement Rings at Bostonian Jewelers 

If you're ready to take that next step, shop engagement rings with Bostonian Jewelers. We have a variety of styles available, including lab-grown diamonds, to bring you a more affordable, sustainable diamond alternative. Get started with us today by visiting our storefront in Boston or scheduling an appointment!

We look forward to working with you to plan the special day.