1) Could you describe the kind of engagement rings offered by Fabergé?
At Fabergé we offer an array of timeless designs featuring colourful gems, flanked by diamond or complementary gemstone set shoulders. We always use 18k yellow, white and rose gold and platinum for our bands, which can be plain or fluted.
Our Colours of Love collection combines the traditional craftsmanship of Peter Carl Fabergé’s inventive mind with modern techniques and contemporary style. This collection exemplifies ‘A Life in Colour’, seamlessly fusing extraordinary coloured gemstones, artistic ingenuity and exceptional craftsmanship. The collection features Mozambican rubies and Zambian emeralds from Gemfields' mines.
Gemfields work with local communities, governments and conservation NGOs to ensure every gemstone sold supports health, education and livelihood initiatives, minimises effects on our environment and protects Africa’s biodiversity.
2) Could you explain the the merits of the various styles of stone cuts (e.g. cushion, brilliant, etc)?
Fabergé engagement rings are predominately set with coloured gemstones, with options of round, oval, pear, marquise and emerald cut gemstones.
Elongated shapes, like the marquise and emerald cut, will suit clients with longer fingers, whilst the cushion or oval cuts suit someone looking for a broader look.
It is worth bearing in mind, the only drawback which comes from having a ring set with a longer stone is that it will be more challenging to fit a wedding or eternity ring next to it, however, at Fabergé anything is possible.
3) Could you tell us about non-diamond engagement rings?
Coloured gemstones are the perfect choice for someone who wants a ring that stands out and creates impact. Whilst coloured gemstones may be considered quite a modern choice, they have in fact been popular for well over two centuries – especially amongst royalty. We introduced our ‘Say Yes in Colour’ campaign in 2016, emphasising our beautiful Colours of Love collection, which features Gemfields’ responsibly sourced emeralds and rubies.
The coloured gemstones in the collection each hold their own unique symbolism of love; ruby represents passion, beauty, courage and sacrifice; emerald represents renewal, harmony, fertility and life, while sapphire represents trust, loyalty, faith and truth.
Looking back at the history of engagement rings is fascinating, as it highlights how diamond centred rings are actually a fairly modern choice – coloured gemstones have, historically, been favoured. Perhaps the most famous engagement ring of the 18th century was given to Empress Josephine by a young Napoleon Bonapart in 1975, you will see the ‘toi et moi’ ring featured a pear cut sapphire next to a diamond.
In 1839, upon announcing their engagement, Albert presented Queen Victoria with a 18k gold serpent engagement ring with rubies for eyes and a large emerald, her birthstone, set in the centre. A serpent may seem an unusual choice, but it is in fact an ancient Roman symbol of everlasting love.
Moving into the min-20th century, when John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953 he chose a stunning tapered baguette 2.84 carat emerald set next to a 2.88 carat diamond, with open-halo setting. Jackie, always a trendsetter, created a wave in women choosing this combination.
Who could forget Princess Diana’s enchanting blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring, presented to her by Prince Charles in 1981. In memory of his late mother, this same ring was use by Prince William upon his engagement to Kate Middleton in 2010, and it has arguably become one of the world’s most famous rings.
Fast forward to 2018 and Princess Eugenie of York debuted her oval cut, incredibly rare coral-coloured padparadscha sapphire ring when she announced her engagement to Jack Brooksbank.
4) Could you describe what your customers tend to ask about when choosing an engagement ring? How do you guide them?
Over the years we have noticed more couples are coming in together to choose an engagement ring. It used to be that the gentleman would secretly borrow a ring from his partner or get hold of their ring size and come in alone or with a friend to make a choice based on their fiancée’s expectations – keeping it all a surprise.
Choosing a ring together can now form a special part of the engagement process and ensures both parties play a significant part in the final design. This does, however, negate any form of surprise, so sometimes a ‘dummy’ ring will be used for the grand proposal and then the official ring will be purchased.
5) Could you run through the various ring settings, their popularity, and merits?
The list is very extensive, but the most popular are solitaire, three stone and cluster.
A solitaire ring is a single set stone, considered traditional and timeless, and therefore an incredibly popular engagement choice. They are the style of ring most suited to accommodate a wedding band or eternity ring, which will be added to the collection over time.
The three stone ring is incredibly elegant and has the benefit of easily introducing a coloured centre stone with diamonds set either side. The trio of stones creates more impact than a solitaire, and all stones can be the same cut or combined, e.g. round centre and emerald cut either side, to create something a little more unusual.
The iconic cluster ring, often favoured by royalty, has a more conservative style which would suit people seeking a more substantial, weighty look. A central coloured gemstone surrounded by a halo of diamonds may be the traditional choice, but customers can reverse the traditional and use coloured gemstones around a central diamond or can be really creative and choose a variety of coloured stones to create a showstopper of a ring.
6) Have you had many same-sex couples buy engagement rings from you? Could you tell us a bit more about this?
Yes, we’ve welcomed an increasing number over the years. These couples predominantly use our bespoke service to adapt pieces in our existing collections to create something reflective of their style and specific requirements.
8) I believe you take ethics and transparency very seriously. Could you tell me more about this?
We work closely with Gemfields when sourcing rubies and emeralds – most notably in our Colours of Love collection. The rubies in this collection are from Gemfields’ Mozambican Montepuez mine while the emeralds come from the company’s Kagem mine in Zambia, offering the wearer a sense of pride and compassion. Read more about Gemfields here.
9) What tips would you give someone about to buy an engagement ring?
We always advise clients to take their time and visit a number of different jewellery shops to soak up inspiration and see what is available within their budget. It’s not a decision which should be rushed.
Start to make a list of the details you like, such as style, cut, colour – perhaps even collect pictures from magazines - and think about what would complement the hand best.
Don’t feel pressured to follow the latest trends or fashion, be unique and only choose something which feels perfect.
For more information on engagement rings at Fabergé, or to commission your own bespoke ring, visit our bespoke jewellery page.
