Engagement rings, wedding rings, and everything about choosing them

From the series: Golden Tips – Goldsmith Koci, Frankopanska, Zagreb

1. Which types of engagement rings and wedding rings are the most popular among engaged couples?

Engagement and wedding ring styles vary greatly from couple to couple; however, we are noticing a trend toward yellow gold and designs—often in slimmer profiles—that either evoke a classic look or are strictly traditional. Women frequently pair their engagement rings with “eternity rings” (bands featuring a continuous row of diamonds), which complement engagement rings beautifully.

Most clients choose diamonds, and recently, lab-grown diamonds are becoming increasingly popular. For many years, white gold was chosen just as often as—or even more frequently than—yellow gold, but the trend is now shifting decisively toward yellow gold. While some silver rings are produced, engagement and wedding rings are typically made of gold, though we also work with platinum on occasion.

Combining different gold tones can look beautiful, depending on the ring design. These color contrasts can range from bold to subtle, adding an extra element of interest to the piece. A wedding band is most often coordinated with the engagement ring, though sometimes the engagement ring is worn on the right hand and the wedding band on the left. There is no single rule for matching the two rings; one might consider the shape, the size of the stone, or the overall style, but the result should always be a harmonious combination.

2. What are the most popular engagement ring models in your collection?

It can be said that the six-prong Tiffany-style ring is a timeless classic that, in various iterations, has dominated the choice of diamond engagement rings for decades.

3. Do you offer the option to personalize engagement rings, such as engraving or modifying the design?

Naturally, these days almost every engagement and wedding ring is personalized; either a detail of the ring or the size of the stone is modified, and an inscription on the inside is a given. Since these rings typically feature a narrower band, engraving on the outside is rare; instead, the inner surface often bears dates, hearts, nicknames, or a word or symbol that holds special meaning for the couple.

4. Do you offer decorative ring pillows?

We offer wedding ring boxes to the bride and groom, whereas decorative pillows are generally found in bridal salons and tailor shops.

5. What advice would you give to someone buying an engagement ring or a wedding ring?

When buying an engagement ring, we advise men to choose a ring that suits their partner’s personality, to trust their intuition, and to stay within a budget that works for them. The same applies to choosing wedding rings: one should select rings that they can envision wearing 5, 10, or even 50 years down the line. Naturally, the place where the rings are made is also crucial, particularly regarding future support for routine maintenance, resizing, and the like.

6. What is your opinion on diamond rings? What should a future fiancé pay attention to when choosing a diamond for an engagement ring (e.g., carat, clarity, cut)?

We feel the same way about diamonds as women do: they are our best friends.

Joking aside, when you spend years interacting with diamonds on a daily basis, you truly form a bond with them; you come to appreciate their beauty and brilliance, as well as their strength and durability, throughout the crafting process.

For us, everything starts with the quality of the cut, followed by the color—or rather, the diamond’s lack of color—and only then do other characteristics, such as size and clarity, come into play. Of course, a great deal also depends on the client’s preferences and the ring model.

7. How can I prevent damage to the stones in my rings during everyday wear?

Diamonds are highly resistant to damage, and regular wear will not harm them. One simply needs to be careful to avoid strong mechanical contact with hard objects or surfaces, which could cause the stone to chip or sustain similar damage—though such situations are extremely rare.

8. What is the best way to maintain rings? Are there special cleaning products or accessories, and do you provide a cleaning service?

It is best to take rings to a jeweler periodically to have them polished and thoroughly cleaned, while also having the stone setting checked.

Common household items like dish soap and hot water, combined with a toothbrush, work well; this cleans and degreases the ring (and the stone), restoring its sparkle. There are also ready-made cleaning products available, and baking soda can help to some extent (when used with a brush). You can even buy “home-use” ultrasonic cleaners for your rings (though, of course, this applies only to rings with durable stones like diamonds, sapphires, etc.—we do not recommend this method for emeralds or other softer stones). However, you cannot replicate the process that truly restores the metal’s shine—polishing—at home; that requires the professional services a jeweler provides. We also offer cleaning services for engagement and wedding rings purchased from us, and this service is free of charge.

9. What are the upcoming design trends for engagement and wedding rings for 2025?

The trend of increasingly choosing yellow gold as the material will continue, and so-called “fancy” diamond shapes—such as oval, pear, princess, and others—will be used more frequently for the center stone of engagement rings. Wedding bands will be selected in classic styles or as eternity rings featuring a full circle of diamonds, though often with a unique twist regarding the shape, stone color, stone cut, or similar details.