Dear Men, This Is The 2025 Diamond Engagement Ring Guide You Need

There is no mistaking the spark between you and your lady love. It’s time to make the sparkle on her finger just as evident. You want to pick an engagement ring with a natural diamond that will be a hit with the (soon-to-be) Mrs. But the disorienting dazzle of all the options is overwhelming. Your first few online searches have probably left you more bamboozled than bedazzled. Bezel setting who? Isn’t Pavé something they put on bread in Europe? Solitaire was an old-timey computer game for boomers, last you checked.  

No sweat! This diamond buying guide is here to help rookies identify a real diamond, catch up with the latest diamond jewellery trends, and buy an engagement ring that speaks to your significant other’s style.. 

A Crash Course on the 4Cs

Before anything, some (easy, we promise!) background reading. Familiarise yourself with the 4Cs of assessing a natural diamond’s worth and rarity:

Cut

A diamond’s cut refers to how it interacts with light and is key to its brilliance, fire, and scintillation. Only round brilliant diamonds receive cut grades due to their standardized facets; all other shapes are called fancy cuts. Cut quality depends on proportions, which influence beauty and light performance—leaving room for personal preference within each grade.  

Carat

Carat measures a diamond’s weight, not its size—1 carat equals 200 milligrams and is divided into 100 points. The term originates from carob seeds once used in early trading scales, but today it’s a global standard. Certain “magic sizes” like 1.00 or 2.00 carats are more desirable and can carry a premium, even over slightly smaller stones. 

Clarity

Every diamond is unique and may contain natural characteristics formed under extreme heat and pressure, such as inclusions and blemishes. Clarity is graded based on the size, origin, visibility, and number of these features. Inclusions occur internally or reach the surface, while blemishes are external—accurate grading is essential when buying a diamond. 

Colour

Diamond colour refers to the absence of hue, with even subtle variations impacting quality and price. Diamonds range from colourless to yellow, gray, brown, and beyond, but colour grading is done under controlled conditions by comparing to master stones. The D-to-Z scale is the industry standard, with D being colourless and Z showing noticeable colour.

Interestingly, earlier this year, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) made an important change to its certification process to help consumers tell the difference between real diamonds and lab-grown diamonds. You will find the 4Cs listed in grading reports for natural diamonds only, and not for lab-grown ones. 
 
And why choose a real diamond vs a lab-grown diamond, you ask? Because something artificially mass-produced in a laboratory just doesn’t have the same value and preciousness of a naturally occurring substance. We’re talking about a symbol of your everlasting love and commitment here. One hopes that this would also be a family heirloom for generations to come. A statement piece with emotional value and an investment all rolled in one – what’s not to love? 

Armed with all this wisdom, when you ask the jeweller the right questions, they will have the same impression as your beloved of you having a handle on everything. It doesn’t matter if you actually don’t.

How to choose the right diamond ring?

Now, to find a diamond ring that works specifically for her. Even if you don’t realise it, you’ve been in training for this day all this while. Go back to every bright smile, every disapprovingly raised eyebrow, every shopping trip spent outside a trial room, and every meme she has shared with you with a snorty laugh. This is the information you have to work with. Jot down all you remember, if you haven’t already. Got it? Good. Now let’s dive into some options to suit your sweetheart’s sensibilities: 

The Classic Solitaire Engagement Ring

This simple design lets the natural diamond do all the talking. You can go for a bezel setting, where a rim of gold surrounds the diamond for a contained look. Or you could opt for a standard prong setting, where four prongs hold the solitaire diamond in place for a dainty vibe. Either way, the diamond is solo, but you won’t be! 

Is this for her?  
Do little black dresses dominate her wardrobe? Is her coffee order a hot Americano? Are her living room walls bare, barring a central statement piece? Then choose the Classic Solitaire diamond ring, and you shall pass. 

The Toi Et Moi Engagement Ring

This is yet another classic design that brings together two diamonds in two different cuts on a single engagement ring. The two distinct cuts reflect your individuality. But the real diamonds nestled close together symbolise your union. 

Is this for her?  
If she is someone who has saved birthday cards and slam books from her teenage years for their sentimental value, she may appreciate the symbolism of the Toi Et Moi. 

The East West Engagement Set

Here an oblong diamond, either an oval shape or a rectangular one, is set horizontally (going from east to west) rather than vertically (i.e., north to south). This setting stands out for its unconventionality. A ring with this with its unique horizontal configuration stands out among the other more traditional vertical settings for oval or rectangular diamonds.  

Is this for her?  
Normal is passé. Can she make a white t-shirt and jeans look runway ready with the way she tucks her top in? Are mismatched earrings her aesthetic? If you answered yes, the East-West ring may be to her liking.

The Halo Engagement Ring

In this setting, tiny diamonds highlight a much larger one in the middle, forming something of a halo around it. The smaller diamonds can be put together in what is called a “pavé” setting, its look reminiscent of a paved path. (And no, what you are thinking of is paté. That’s what you put on bread) 

Is this for her?  
Does she have a happening social life with several fans, admirers, and hangers-on vying for her attention? Then the halo engagement ring may make her feel right at home. 

Diamond on a Chunky Band

This one is a bold look. The diamond here usually doesn’t pop above the surface, making it less prone to snagging on fabrics and other surfaces. Nothing prong with that! Some design options will have it rise up just a smidge for that extra oomph.  

Is this for her? Is she into Victorian era literature and loves a classic look from the time? Is she practical and values comfort above all else? She might want to try this on for size. Also, in case she is a Dua Lipa fan, then this is a guaranteed yes (both to you and the ring). 

The Eternity Ring

No worries about the ring rotating in its place and not being optimally aligned on the finger. With natural diamonds studded all over, this engagement ring is glamourous from every angle. 

Is this for her? If your boo loves bling, and doesn’t mind standing out, the eternity ring may be the right choice for her. Enjoy, as she gives your arm a gentle chuckle-tap on a joke only she can find hilarious, and the light from her hand bounces off all over the room.  

By now, you surely have enough clarity to cut through the clutter to not just fall for any tantalisingly dangling carat. That’s a good colour on you. You’re now ready to pick the perfect natural diamond for your precious. Go make her proud!