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Getting Engaged

Congratulations! You've found the partner you want to spend the rest of your life and now for the daunting task of choosing an engagement ring!  Allison and Yvon at Jewel Beetle have helped many customers make the right choice to suit their lifestyle, taste and budget. We have compiled a few hints below that might help you get started.

Making the right choices
Although the most popular engagement ring is a single solitaire diamond, today people are not so concerned with following tradition and often we design rings based on an idea that has special meaning to the person it’s intended for. No matter what design you choose, keep in mind that your wedding ring needs to fit next to it. We can design your engagement and wedding ring as a matching set; manufacturing the wedding ring closer to the day to ensure a perfect fit. We will also re-polish your engagement ring free of charge, so together they look great on the day.

Engagement Style Rings By Jewel Beetle


What type of lifestyle and occupation does your partner have?
Consider what type of lifestyle and occupation you have. For example, gem settings that do not protrude too high are suitable for active lifestyle or manual workers.
Does your partner like traditional or modern designs?
Consider how some designs may date after a few years. A classic design will stand the test of time.


What jewellery does your partner wear at the moment?
Usually most people have a preference of gold or silver. There are other “white” metals to choose from that will be more durable like white gold or platinum or palladium. (See our guide to metals) for more help. Do you have a unique symbol or special story, which could be incorporated in the design? For example; national symbols, initials, special wording or objects.

ring diamond engagement
"Allison took our very vague ideas and created beautiful, unique rings. We appreciated your friendly, not pushy service."

Sonja & Brendan

 
Need advice on diamonds?
When choosing a diamond we can guide you in making the right choice. Consider the “4 C’s” Carat, Clarity, Colour and Cut. The combination of these characteristics determines the value, rarity and beauty of a diamond. (See our guide to diamonds)

 

Brief history of the engagement ring
Did you know that the tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring as a promise of marriage began in 1477? Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a gold ring set with a diamond as a token of love. This royal tradition has lived on over the centuries and the giving of a diamond ring has become as much of a milestone as the engagement itself. Today, almost 70% of brides receive a diamond engagement ring.

 

 Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

I want to propose but I am not sure what engagement ring my partner would like?

You’ve found the right person to spend the rest of your life with and now’s the time to pop the question. As if waiting for the right moment isn't daunting enough now you have to think about what ring to buy and how much you should spend. At Jewel Beetle we can help you navigate some of these issues. The ‘yes’ part I’m afraid we have no influence over but we can try and make a beautiful ring to help seal the deal!
To guide you through this process, we have a few options available. Choose from a selection of our handmade rings in store.

Browse through our extensive gallery of rings we have made in the past.

Propose with a gemstone instead. We can source single gemstones, diamonds, sapphires or any semi-precious gemstones on request and package them in a nice box with some preliminary designs of your choice. This way, your partner can have some input into the ring design after you have “popped the question”. You can even give us a budget beforehand!

Still unsure? Maybe our 'Proposal Ring' is just what you need! A proposal ring is a placeholder ring, made In sterling silver, engraved with the lettering ” Will you marry me?”. The idea is that you can ‘pop the question’ and take your time to choose your perfect ring together.

What is a Proposal ring?

proposal ring silver and gold

Congratulations you’ve found the right person to spend the rest of your life with and have decided it's time to pop the question.  As if waiting for the right moment isn't daunting enough now you have to think about what ring to buy and how much you should spend.

After going through the jewellery box, asking your partners friends and family for advise has left you more confused that when you started on what ring to buy.

What is a proposal ring?
A proposal ring is a placeholder ring.  Although any ring could serve as a placeholder ring at Jewel Beetle we make special proposal rings in sterling silver. These rings are engraved with the words ” Will you marry me?” either on the inside or the outside of the ring. The idea is that you can ‘pop the question’  and take your time to choose your perfect ring together.


We are currently working on a few more proposal design ideas so keep and eye out for updates on this page.
Alternatively pop into the shop to have a chat with Allison or Yvon or contact us and we can see what we can create for you.

What can I do if I don't know my partners ring size?

This is sometimes difficult but maybe you can find a way to get the size without spoiling the surprise. Here are a few methods that have been tried and tested by some of our customers.

ring sizers
ring size chart
The 'Down to Earth Method'

Just bring your partner into the shop and we will take their ring size. Alternatively, we can send you out one of our universal ring sizers pictured above.


The ‘Borrower’ Method
Bring one of your partner's rings in and we will measure it. It may be a ring that’s not worn on the ‘engagement’ finger so you will need to let us know what finger the ring is worn on and we will make an educated guess for the correct ring size.


The 'Stealth' Method
We can lend you a ring stick so you can measure a ring your partner wears when he/ she takes it off to shower or play sports. Is your partner a deep sleeper? Maybe you can wriggle a ring off when he/ she sleeps and measure it on our ring stick. We can also lend you ring sizers to try them on his/ her ring finger. Just don’t get them stuck!


The 'Accomplice' Method
Enlist a friend or family member. Maybe they can take her window shopping and try on rings just for fun. People often like to try each other’s jewellery so he/she may not get suspicious!


The 'Placeholder' Method
We have made silver ‘proposal’ rings with the inscription will you marry me- on either the inside or the outside of the ring. Propose with this ring and let them choose. If you tell us your budget we will guide your partner towards designs that fits your budget. Talk to us about this method.

Good luck if you have another creative way to find out your partner's ring size, we’d love to hear about it!

I have a limited budget to buy an engagement ring, what are my options?

At Jewel Beetle, we understand that everyone has a different budget in mind when purchasing an engagement ring. It’s often more cost effective to purchase a stock item than have a piece especially made. Often our stock rings are models that we can reproduce more efficiently than a one-off ring.For example if you find one of our stock rings in 18ct gold we can reproduce this same ring in 9ct gold or even silver. Also, diamonds can be substituted for other more affordable gemstones. Tell us what budget you have in mind, and we’d be happy to advise you of your options. From sterling silver to Platinum. We have even made an engagement ring in sterling silver with CZ for a couple on a limited budget and a few years later they returned to have the ring remade in gold with a diamond.

Can Jewel Beetle help me design an engagement ring?

Yes, over the years we have helped many customers design their perfect engagement ring. You can ignite your imagination by browsing through our extensive gallery of past designs and commissions. We’re sure you will find them inspirational and we can give you an idea of what something similar may cost. Let us know your budget as this determines what is possible and what alternatives or other options are available to you. For more information on our design process click here.

What metals are best suited for an engagement ring?

Gold is the traditional choice for an engagement ring and stands the test of time quite well. However , Platinum is the most durable of all the precious metals For more in-depth information on different types of precious metals see the Precious Metals section on our 'Frequently Asked Questions Page'

Does Jewel Beetle offer conflict-free diamonds?

Diamond engagement rings are a popular and traditional choice for an engagement ring that stands the test of time. Rest assured that we source our diamonds from our own reputable diamond merchant that we've been working alongside for over 18 years. Each diamond is subject to the international "Kimberley Process"meaning all our diamonds are guaranteed conflict-free.

Are the diamonds Jewel Beetle use certified?

We source all of our diamonds from our trusted diamond merchant based in Auckland. Diamonds that are over 0.25ct will come with certification, usually a GIA certificate.(Gemological Institute of America) Smaller diamonds, less than 0.25ct are not certified but we can include the details of clarity, cut and carat weight on a jewellery appraisal for your finished ring if you would like one.

Does Jewel Beetle offer man-made diamonds?

At Jewel Beetle we mostly work with natural diamonds. For those wanting an alternative to a natural diamond we can offer man-made diamonds. Synthetic diamonds that are made in a laboratory. These diamonds have the same chemical, physical and optical properties as natural diamonds. The technology has improved a great deal making it almost impossible to tell the difference between a natural and lab-grown diamond. They are a more affordable choice and we are able to source these diamonds on request.

What happens if my partner doesn't like the engagement ring I purchased?

If you have purchased one of our engagement rings from stock, we are happy to exchange this for you. You can either swap it for another ring we may have in stock or use the credit amount towards having a bespoke ring made.

Do you include a valuation of my engagement ring?

Yes. If you require a valuation for insurance purposes we can provide this for you. If we have supplied a diamond for your ring that is over 0.25ct this will come certified, usually with a GIA certificate. Most rings that we make to order over a certain value will come with an insurance valuation provided we supplied all materials for the commission. Please ask us if you have any questions regarding this.

Does my engagement ring come with any guarentee?

At Jewel Beetle we have a very high standard of manufacture and check each item before it leaves the workshop, however in the unlikely event of a workmanship defect we offer a lifetime guarantee. Please contact us as soon as possible, we will endeavour to replace or repair the item for you. Our guarantee does not cover wear and tear, accidental or consequential damage. We believe that we accurately describe the products in our online store and that the photos of our individual pieces of jewellery display the colour with a reasonable degree of accuracy. However, our jewellery is handmade and slight differences may occur on some items due to the nature of our handmade manufacturing process. Also, the colour that you see on your computer screen depends on a number of factors including the colour quality of the computer screen that you are using. Also, our stones and pearls may reflect different colours depending on the light. As we use natural stones and pearls in our jewellery you need to be aware that there may be some colour variations within the stones and pearls and that some will have natural inclusion. Any inclusions are not flaws and in many cases these are evidence that the stones / pearls are not man-made. We believe that inclusions enhance the natural beauty of our products. Diamonds of course are an exception to this. When you receive your purchase and you believe that it is significantly different to that described in our online store or that it is faulty, we ask that you advise us within 7 days of having received your purchase

Email: info@jewelbeetle.co.nz

In the case of any dispute the Consumer Guarantees Act will apply.

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