Welcome to all who don't yet speak engagement-ring-ese! We are decoding all the jewelry lingo, insider terms, and terminology you'll likely encounter on your engagement ring shopping journey! After this short read, you'll be on your way to speaking jeweler.
If you already feel overwhelmed at the thought of reading through this guide, we got you! You can book a free online consultation with us anytime - we’ll answer all your questions, help you sort out your bride-to-be’s style, and even chat about creating custom if that’s where your head’s at!
Engagement Ring Styles
These are just a few ring styles, but the design potential is truly endless. Browse through our Custom Gallery and take a look at our in-stock one-of-a-kind rings to see what grabs your attention.
A ring with a single center stone. We have two signature, completely customizable solitaire styles at Gem Breakfast – Bella and Stella.
Read our blog to learn more about our two bestselling solitaires that are anything but ordinary!
Also called a trilogy ring. this design has three featured stones. Symbolically, it can represent past, present, and future (or really any symbolism you decide to give it!)
A ring of smaller diamonds that encircle a larger center stone. These smaller diamonds can be of the same cut or any variation under the sun.
POPULAR ENGAGEMENT RING SETTINGS
The most popular ring setting, tiny prongs hold the gemstone(s) in place. With the least amount of metal surrounding the stone, it allows more light to interact with the stone, making it appear larger and more lustrous.
We have a whole blog on prongs if you’re interested! The different types and configurations, how to customize them, and more.
A band of gold holds the gemstone securely in place. Considered the most secure setting, it’s a great for protecting softer gemstones.
Diamonds & the 4c's
If you started shopping for diamonds, you’ve probably heard of the 4 C’s – the grading system used for round brilliant diamonds. This is a great place to start, but there's much more to picking the perfect diamond – for all our pro-tips on picking the perfect diamond for you and your budget, read our blog.
CUT
The most important, yet under-hyped ‘C’ of them all, cut is the best indicator of a diamonds overall beauty and brilliance. This is the C to put your money towards if you’re picking up a round brilliant diamond.
For more about diamond cut, read our blog.
Carat
Contrary to popular belief, carat actually refers to diamond or gemstone weight, not size. Two 1 carat diamonds put side-by-side can look completely different.
Clarity
The level of inclusions or blemishes in a diamond. The GIA rates diamond clarity from FL (flawless) to I3 (noticeable inclusions to the naked eye).
Highly included diamonds are known as Salt & Pepper diamonds. More on those below!
Color
Color refers to how white or colorless a diamond looks. The GIA grades color from D (most colorless) to Z (a noticeable brown or yellow tint). The lower color grade diamonds are known as champagne diamonds which are beloved by many.
Keep in mind, you don’t need a choose a D diamond in order to get that white color - many diamonds from G to H look completely colorless!
Alternative Diamond Types
Rose Cut Diamond
Rose cut diamonds are the unique, antique-inspired alternatives to your traditional round brilliant diamond. With their domed top and flat bottom, they glow and glisten more than sparkle. A gorgeous alternative option that stands out amongst a sea of identical diamonds.
And the best part, rose cut diamonds look larger than round brilliant diamonds at the same carat weight. Read our blog for more about rose diamonds!
Salt & Pepper Diamonds
A Gem Breakfast mainstay, Salt & Pepper diamonds are heavily included diamonds. Also known as ‘Galaxy’ diamonds, they have a cosmic, ethereal, night-sky vibe depending on the patterns and colors of inclusions. No two are created equal so every diamonds feels truly one-of-a-kind and representative of the wearer’s personality and energy.
‘Pepper’ refers to the black or dark inclusions, and ‘salt’ refers to the white inclusions. These stones can range from almost completely jet black to milky white and everything in between.
The best part: S & P diamonds are much less expensive than traditional white diamonds, which means a much larger diamond for your dollar. Of course, make sure your fiancé love these unusual stones, but if she does, they’re a stunning, earth-friendly, incredibly unique diamond to choose.
For more on choosing the perfect salt & pepper diamond, plus examples of the color spectrum, read our blog!
Champagne Diamonds
Ranging from slightly honey-hued to mocha brown, champagne diamonds are a deliciously warm, effervescent alternative to an icy white diamond. They have a golden, touched-by-the-sun look that’s hard to resist for many of us! They’re less expensive than white diamonds and a gorgeously unique choice for a lady that loves the path less traveled.
For the full down-low on champagne diamonds, read our blog!
Lab created or synthetic diamonds
Synthetic diamonds are created in a lab under conditions meant to mimic a diamond's natural formation. They’re not our cup of tea, but of course jewelry is all about personal preference. We personally love from-the-earth diamonds that were created millions of years ago – there’s a certain majesty and history in the creation of a natural gemstone.
JEWELRY LINGO
Stackable
An engagement ring or right-hand ring that’s lifted slightly off the finger, allowing room for a straight band to fit snugly beside.
Not stackable:
A low-profile ring that lays flat against the finger. It’s considered ‘not-stackable’ as there’s not room for a straight band to fit directly beside it. In this case, you’d opt for either a custom or already-made curved or pointed band to fit around the stone’s shape.
See endless variations of Gem Breakfast ring stacks on our IG story highlights (maybe even one requested by your fiancé!)
Stone hardness
Gemstones are rated for hardness from 1 to 10 by the MOH’s hardness scale. The hardest and more durable gemstone is a diamond – rated a perfect 10. Sapphires come close at a 9, and every other gemstone falls below that.
For a worn-daily engagement ring, your best bet is to choose a stone rated 8 or above. The more high-impact your lifestyle, the harder the stone you should choose.
Read our blog for our five favorite diamond alternatives suitable for an engagement ring!
A 'not stackable' ring made stackable with a pointed tiara band!
heated
Many colored gemstones have been heat-treated (heated at extremely high temperatures) to intensify their color, remove color-zoning, and improve their clarity.
The practice is so common for sapphires that you should assume all sapphires have been heat-treated unless they're specifically called out as 'unheated'.
Heat treatments are very common in gemstones and nothing to be concerned about as it is generally accepted safe practice.
Read our definitive guide for Heated vs Untreated Sapphires to learn more.
EYE-CLEAN
A gemstone that has no inclusions or imperfections visible to the naked eye. You would need magnification to see any blemishes.
Ring Booty
The underside of a ring that lays against your finger. For more on engagement ring anatomy, visit our detailed blog!
Post-consumer recycled
Precious metals or gemstones that have been recovered from previously used consumer products for reuse in new products. This often means repurposing a family heirloom item to keep a piece of that sentimentality in a new design.
We have a whole blog on post-consumer recycled gemstonesif you’re interested!
If you have any questions on your engagement ring journey or would like to chat custom, send us a message anytime or book a free online consultation with us.
For instant answers to many common Qs, visit our IG story highlightswhere we do weekly Q&A‘s with Catherine, Gem Breakfast Founder. For more in-depth answers, have a look through our blog - we have an article on almost every jewelry-related topic you can think of!