A couple of weeks ago, I spent the afternoon with Lauren Batchelor at her home studio where she works for her Dad, David Batchelor, also a jeweller. Not only did I leave with a whole new understanding of what goes into making a ring, but I walked out sporting a gorgeous silver midi-ring – made just for me. (SO CUTE!)
Lauren studied at DUT where she obtained her Bachelor of Technology in Jewellery Design & Manufacture. Being so passionate about the industry, and wanting to take her knowledge a step further, Lauren is now studying part time through the Gemological Institute of America, which is based in Carlsbad, California. She recently achieved her Graduate Diamonds Diploma, and will be continuing with her studies next year to work towards becoming a qualified gemologist. ALL while creating her own jewellery brand which will be hitting the stores next year. SHEW!
This post is particularly helpful for any guy who is considering a custom made engagement ring for his soon-to-be fiancé. I know so little about rings and stones and carats (don’t we eat those?) that I thought there must be some men out there who could use a little guidance in the jewellery department. They say that men want to know what we are thinking and that we as ladies should be more direct….well – here’s your chance. Copy the link, paste it in an email and SEND. Or if that’s not your style, have a girlfriend or sister send it saying “No pressure or anything, we just thought that since you and my sister are talking about a future together, this might come in handy one of these days”.
1. When choosing an engagement ring, what are the things that someone should consider?
The first thing to consider before you step into a jewellery store is your budget. If you are having a ring made it is very important to know how much you want to spend, and how much you are willing to go over that budget if you need to. If your budget is more on the modest side, then approach designing a ring with an open mind. It might be more affordable to consider a sapphire or morganite as your centre stone instead of a diamond. If you approach buying a ring knowing it is going to be expensive, or are willing to design around your budget, you should be absolutely fine! I promise we, the jewellers, are not trying to steal your money and buy ourselves fancy things. Just take a look inside my kitchen cupboards – straight up baked beans and 2 minute noodles.
The next thing to consider is the personality of your bride to be. Before you set your mind on a design, think about whether it would suit her lifestyle. Is she active? Is her job hands on? If so, stay away from high settings that could get caught and damaged. Is she quirky, or traditional? Flashy, or reserved? All these little things are important when choosing or designing a ring. Although, maybe you’re one of those lucky guys who don’t have to do much thinking, because your lady says things like, “This one. When we get engaged, buy me this. Lakka”. In which case, try as hard as you can to give her what you know she’ll love.
And lastly, time. If you are having a ring made, give your jeweller at least 3 to 4 weeks to make your ring. We really do want to make you something beautiful, but sourcing stones and waiting on diamond suppliers can take time. The last thing we want to do is rush to finish your job, and not give it the care it deserves. So be a nice guy, and give us a little notice.
2. What are high impact, low cost stones?
Traditionally, diamonds are the go-to engagement stone. They are by far the most durable of all the gemstones, which comes in handy when selecting a ring that your significant other will wear FOREVER. However, coloured stones in engagement rings are becoming more and more common, and I think it’s great. Maybe you are looking to save some money, or maybe your girlfriend wants something a little different? Whatever the reason, there are some lovely coloured gem alternatives to diamonds out there.
Morganites have become a popular choice, as have black diamonds. Although these stones are not ‘cheap’, they are certainly less expensive than a diamond of the same size. Some people feel like they need to spend a large amount on a stone because it’s for someone incredibly special to them. This is totally normal, and absolutely fine! If you want something different to a diamond that’s still considered valuable, sapphires and rubies are two options. They’re actually some of the more expensive coloured gemstones. There are certain stones that I would not recommend, and unfortunately two of them are my favourites in terms of colour. Tanzanite and emeralds are beautiful, but incredibly soft. This means they scratch very easily, which is definitely not ideal when designing a ring that is meant to be worn every day
When selecting a gem, think about what colours she likes, and dislikes, before making your final decision. I would be mildly miffed if my future husband fell to his knees, declared his undying love for me, and then cracked open a box that contained some sort of red gemstone ring. RED? Future father of my children, do you know me at all?! Another thing to consider is, is she pedantic about clothes & jewellery clashing? I know I am. This is one of the advantages of choosing a diamond – they’re colourless (the good quality ones, at least). So if your betty is concerned about her jewellery/clothing, the answer is simple – sell your car and buy her a big diamond.
3. What Styles are trending at the moment?
Pink gold is really in at the moment. It looks absolutely stunning when coupled with the soft pink colour of a Morganite, which is also trending right now. In terms of actual ring designs, the ‘halo’ is really popular. Basically, it’s a rim of smaller diamonds surrounding a larger centre stone. I have had lots of people requesting that particular design lately. It’s a great affordable way to ‘bulk up’ the top of a ring if you don’t have a budget that allows for a large centre stone.
4. What in your opinion is a timeless engagement ring?
A really simple, well made solitaire ring. This style has one single diamond, which gives it a really elegant appearance. There are different styles of solitaire settings, so you can choose a design that is timeless, and that suits your girlfriends style.
5. How do I go about guessing her ring size? What if I get it wrong?
The best way to guess a ring size is to steal a ring that she wears fairly often – this way you know it still fits. Don’t take one that she wears every day. She will notice that it’s missing, and then you’ll have to come up with an excuse – like how you just wanted to see if rose gold complimented your skin tone. Totally normal. Also, make sure that you know which finger this particular ring is worn on. That way, your jeweller can take into account the difference in size between the different fingers. For example, the middle finger is always bigger than the ring finger, and the fingers on her working hand will generally be slightly bigger than that of her non-working hand.
If you are really struggling, and don’t mind one of her friends knowing your intentions, ask someone for help. It’s quite normal for a girl to grab a ring off her friends finger and put it on herself to see how it looks…and feel the size and how it fits on her finger. Sneaky sneaky. Then all you need is to take that sneaky friend with you to the jeweller to size her finger, and they can guesstimate from there.
If you do happen to get it wrong, you should be able to get the ring correctly sized once you have proposed. Certain jewellers may charge you extra for this. However, if you are SO wrong – like, ‘have I ever looked at the hands of the person I’m about to marry’ wrong – you may have a problem. Certain rings cannot be sized once they have been made. Full eternity rings, which have stones running all the way around the band, are one of the styles that can’t be. Half-eternity rings and engagement rings with stones in the band can also be difficult if the size is way off. When a ring needs to be made smaller, a piece is cut out at the bottom of the band, which leaves a little gap. The gap is then closed by moving each side of the band towards each other and soldering shut. While moving and reshaping the ring, the settings in the band may be stretched open, and diamonds could fall out. Which is why it is so important to try be as accurate with her finger size as possible.
6. Any tips for someone looking to get a custom made engagement ring?
Enjoy the process. Don’t get too stressed out and please don’t phone your jeweller the day after your first meeting to check up on your ring. Which at that stage might still be a little lump of gold, “your little gold lump is looking great, we think you’ll love it.” If you’ve done your homework and chosen a jeweller that is professional and trustworthy, you have nothing to worry about. Have fun designing your special ring and trust that it’s in good hands.
Below are some of Lauren’s creations:
Left: pink gold and pink chalcedony necklace Right: Yellow gold rings with aquamarine gems
Left: A coral and silver infusion Right: Pink gold and diamond stacks
Left: 18c yellow gold & diamond ring Right: Lauren’s hands and some of her goodies
Get in touch with Lauren or follow her on social media:
Email: laurenleebatchelor@gmail.com
Instagram: @lollbatchelor
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