For those of you on the search for the perfect sparkle for your engagement ring finger, the dream wedding band, a gift for your future husband/wife or jewellery to accessorise your wedding day attire then look no further.

Today I have the pleasure of talking to Diamond Boutique, a beautiful boutique which sells a huge range of gorgeous fine jewellery. With near enough every cut, style and colour available you will be spoilt for choice.

Let’s get to know a little more about Diamond Boutique and read their invaluable advice on how choose an engagement ring…

Could you firstly tell www readers a little bit about you?

My name is Pritesh Vegad and I am Founder and CEO of Diamond Boutique. I graduated from Northampton University with a Masters in Business Computing and worked as a senior business consultant for major consultancy organisations over a period of 8 years. I got married to Mira in 2005  and had the opportunity to travel around the world, which we grabbed with both hands. We spent 12 months on the road travelling from Japan to Lao to New Zealand to Easter Island and more. In total we visited 23 countries. I have been married for nine years now and have two beautiful girls, Arya and Aanya, who are my world.

What do you love/dislike about your job?

I love to travel so this is one of the things I really enjoy about my work. As I personally select each and every gem I have to travel to Hong Kong, Thailand, Madagascar, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, amongst others, to source the most beautiful and rarest of gems. I am extremely passionate about coloured gemstones so having the opportunity to help and guide clients is fantastic and extremely rewarding for me.

How did you get into the wedding industry?

My passion for gemstones and jewellery was ignited when I myself was searching for an engagement ring, all the way back in 2005. I started to read and educate myself in the field of gemmology and slowly developed a real passion and desire for coloured gemstones. It was only in 2012 when I quit my day job and followed my dreams of having my own jewellery business and Diamond Boutique was officially born online.

What do you aim to achieve for your clients?

Quality, confidence and exceptional customer service.

Quality – with coloured gemstones it is all about the colour of the stone. Quality is key if you want a beautiful gemstone with excellent lustre.

Confidence – we give good old fashioned advice. Be honest and respectful of people’s budgets and requirements.

Customer service – we pride ourselves on exceptional customer service. We will go above and beyond to make our customers happy.

What style is your work?

Diamond Boutique specialises in high-grade coloured gemstone jewellery, anything which has colour we love! Our style is classic with a modern twist.

Could you tell us some information about your pricing?

Our jewellery ranges from £500+. We use premium alloys and H SI diamonds as a minimum standard, although most of our jewellery comes with G VS diamonds. Our custom design service ‘Art of Possible’ allows the customer to design their very own piece of jewellery.

Do you have any tips for couples selecting an engagement ring?

1) Diamonds or Coloured Gemstones

The first thing you need to think about is whether you or your partner prefers diamonds or coloured gemstones or both. Diamonds have and always will be the gem of choice for engagement rings whether you opt for a classic white diamond or something a little fancy such as a canary (yellow) or a rare pink/ blue diamond. However, over the last few years, and particularly since Kate Middleton was given a beautiful sapphire ring, there has been an increase in engagement rings being presented to future brides with coloured gemstones, whether it be a sapphire, ruby or emerald.

There are many reasons why people opt for coloured gemstones with the most popular reasons being favourite colour, birthstone and value for money.

2) Budget

Once you have decided on your budget you can start your search for the perfect engagement ring. This is an important factor as it will help you to establish what your options are. Generally speaking you will get more stone for your money with certain coloured gemstones however the prices for high-grade sapphires and rubies are at an all-time high. It is important to do as much research as possible and seek professional advice where possible to ensure you get what you pay for. You can call the team at Diamond Boutique should you have any gemstone related questions with no pressure to buy.

3) Classic Vs Contemporary Vs Vintage

Once you have determined the gemstone of choice and budget, the next step is to select the style of ring. Today, the most popular style of ring is ‘classic’. Classic usually refers to engagement rings which have a plain band, usually in gold or platinum, with a diamond or coloured stone set in a beautiful 4 or 6 prong setting. This style of ring is timeless and elegant. The second most popular style is ‘contemporary’ with engagement rings featuring diamond halos, diamond shoulders or both. The third style is ‘vintage’ and usually suitable for those who prefer something a little quirky and different. Whatever style you go for just ask yourself what will ‘she’ like and if it will compliments them and their personality. At the end of the day you know them better than anyone else, or at least you should do!

4) Bespoke

Bespoke engagement rings are becoming very popular, especially as people want to express their love with something a little more unique and personal. When seeking a bespoke service it is important to have a vision or idea, which with the help of a specialist jeweller, can be brought to life. Your involvement in the ring making process largely depends on the jeweller you select so it is important to understand this from the outset. Diamond Boutique’s Art of Possible service starts with an initial consultation with a specialist. Your inspiration and ideas are then used to create a 2D sketch of the ring. Following this the sketch will be used to create a 3D CAD model so you can see the ring from all angles. Once this is approved by you we create the real ring.

5) The Right Jeweller

The last and one of the most important tip is to select the right jeweller. My advice would be to research the company you are interested in and give them a call to discuss your requirement. If they have a store, visit them. It is imperative that you feel comfortable speaking to them and they – as the expert – provide you with precise information regarding the specification of the ring. You need to trust the company you select to commission your special engagement ring. Don’t fall for the hard sell, you know what you want so stick to it! Regardless of your budget, you are spending your hard earned cash, so make sure you do your homework, find the right jeweller and enjoy the moment. 

How can we get in touch with you?

You can contact me on +44 7920047249 or email pritesh@diamond-boutique.co.uk

Amazing. Now I want to go ring shopping myself hehe. I just adore those colourful gems. Be sure to have a browse on the Diamond Boutique site to see all of their gorgeous designs XOXO Lou

*This is a sponsored post.