Planning on getting engaged? This article is especially for you! Let us help you make the right decision when purchasing an engagement ring
When we first met Anthony Matthews, Owner of Shiny Rock Polished, we were so intrigued by his extensive knowledge on rings in particular. We sat in awe, listening to him, as we chatted for hours about various diamonds, gems, ring quality and more.
During this exact moment, we knew we had to collaborate with Ant and bring all our readers something big, something EXTRA special and exciting. So, we've teamed up with Shiny Rock Polished to bring you the most invaluable advice on engagement rings and if you read right up until the end, there's an incredible surprise waiting just for you...
We specialise in custom tailor-made jewellery! We find that this process gives the client the power to choose exactly what they want within their budget. From incorporating different details into the ring, to the stone to the setting, so that you end up with your very own, one-of-a-kind piece. It’s better price-wise to custom make with us, especially when considering more expensive, exceptional stones. We personally choose the best stone for your specific budget and our designers choose the most beautiful design to showcase the gemstone… It’s a win win!
In terms of hardness to withstand everyday wear, our first choice would be a cultured or man-made diamond. These are 100% diamonds in every way, except that they are grown in a lab and not mined. They are better priced then mined diamonds and they come in a range of colours, namely; whites, fancy yellows, pinks and blues! Cultured diamonds are also becoming increasingly popular due to the fact that they are more environmentally friendly.
Other gemstones we would recommend are sapphires and rubies. A lot of people don’t know that sapphires come in a range of colours (Pinks, yellows, greens, orange and of course blue.). Like rubies, sapphires are second to diamonds for hardness making them a lot more durable then other precious gemstones. That being said, people like what they like, and we make a lot of morganite and tanzanite engagement rings too!
Book a private consultation with one of our experienced designers! We cater to all sorts of styles and needs, and we can help you create the perfect ring and find the perfect stone to suit your budget. My best advice? Choose a classic style rather than trendy. The ring needs to stand the test of time and if it’s too trendy she may tire of it in a few years.
Contact us directly and we can either set up a private consultation or we can carry out the entire process via email. Whichever works best for you! The design process is generally quite fast. Once the desired style is bedded down and the quote accepted, we create a C.A.D. (Computer Aided Design). This is generated to the exact proportions and dimensions of your design so you know exactly what you are buying. Thereafter manufacturing generally takes up to 2 weeks. We have, under special circumstances, been known to make rings in under 2 days!
We have a stencil that our clients can print and check, but if he needs to keep it a surprise we have a few tricks of the trade that we use to help the guy figure it out. If the size is not 100% correct a ring can generally be sized at a later stage.
At Shiny Rock Polished we like to ensure our client makes an informed decision. There’s nothing worse than inheriting a client who we feel has been ripped off.
With diamonds and precious gemstones there is always a budget. We find a lot of retail stores like to upsell (or sell clients something they don’t need), leaving a client with a higher grade diamond or stone that is quite small. Generally you end up paying for something you cannot see!
We feel it is our responsibility to make sure our clients know exactly what they’re buying. It’s imperative that when a stone is chosen there is a balance between the clients budget and the size, colour and clarity of the stone. Our designers walk our client through the process so that they end up with a tailor-made purchase that suits their needs and their pockets.
Lastly, we always ask our client to consider their bands, as this can actually affect the design of the engagement ring as well as wedding band options.
To see more gorgeous creations from Shiny Rock Polished, have a look at two of our most recent styled shoots:
Love Is In The Air and A Romantic Rendezvous.
We're super excited to have teamed up with Shiny Rock Polished for this INCREDIBLE giveaway! One lucky couple could win a 1.74ct Round Morganite and Diamond Halo Engagement Ring valued at R 18,500.00
To stand in line at winning this amazing prize, complete the form below as well as the following:
1. Like Shiny Rock Polished and SA Weddings FB page
2. Like Shiny Rock Polished and SA Weddings Instagram Page
3. Tag your partner and 2 friends in this post and our Instagram post
4. Share the Facebook Post
***This competition is now closed***
Shiny Rock Polished has been designing beautiful bespoke jewellery for our discerning clientele for over 20 years.
