How to choose an engagement ring

The VALENTIN Gold & Diamonds team · Updated October 31, 2026

• Diamond
• 4C
• Shape
• Gold
• Style
• Size
• Price

An engagement ring is chosen once and worn for a lifetime. In this guide we have gathered everything our jewelers explain every day in our boutiques – from choosing the diamond to the ring size.

1. Natural or lab-grown diamond

Both are real diamonds – with the same chemical composition, hardness and sparkle. A natural diamond formed in the earth millions of years ago and is rarer, while a lab-grown diamond is created in a controlled environment and costs significantly less for the same size and quality. Read more about the differences in lab-grown or natural diamonds.

2. The 4Cs of diamond quality

• Cut – determines how brightly the diamond sparkles. It is the quality you can see most with the naked eye.
• Color – from D (completely colorless) down. The more colorless the stone, the rarer it is.
• Clarity – the presence of internal inclusions, from IF (no inclusions) through VVS and VS to SI.
• Carat – the weight of the diamond. One carat is 0.2 grams.

At VALENTIN Gold & Diamonds, diamonds are hand-selected and hand-set, and stones of 0.30 ct and above come with a certificate from internationally recognized laboratories such as GIA and IGI, which you can check on our Certificate Verification page.

3. Diamond shape

The round brilliant is the most classic and most brilliant choice. Oval and pear shapes make the fingers look longer, the marquise is more dramatic, radiant and cushion cuts combine brilliance with a modern shape, and the heart is the most romantic choice. If you are not sure, the round brilliant and the oval suit almost any style.

Diamond shapes in our designs

• 

  Round brilliantRound

  57 facets and the most sparkle. The most classic choice for an engagement ring.

• 

  OvalOval

  Lengthens the fingers and looks larger than a round diamond of the same carat weight.

• 

  PearPear

  A blend of the round brilliant and the marquise, worn with the point toward the fingertip.

• 

  MarquiseMarquise

  The most elongated shape – it looks the largest for its carat weight.

• 

  RadiantRadiant

  Rectangular, with cut corners and brilliant sparkle.

• 

  CushionCushion

  A square or rectangle with rounded corners – soft and romantic.

• 

  Emerald cutEmerald

  A step cut with long facets – elegant, and it shows off the clarity of the stone.

• 

  HeartHeart

  The most romantic shape. It takes skilled cutting to achieve perfect symmetry.

• 

  PrincessPrincess

  A square shape with sharp corners and plenty of sparkle.

The images show the diamonds we use when making our jewelry.

4. Gold color and karat

White gold enhances the sparkle of the diamond, yellow gold is classic and warm, and rose gold is soft and modern. 18K gold (750) contains more pure gold, while 14K gold (585) is harder and more durable. Also think about the color of the jewelry she wears every day.

5. Ring style

• Solitaire – a single diamond, a classic that never goes out of style.
• Side-stone – more sparkle around the center stone.
• Three-stone (Trilogy) – three diamonds for the past, the present and the future.

6. Size

If you want it to be a surprise, secretly borrow a ring she wears on her ring finger, or ask one of her friends. The size can also be changed after the engagement – because we make our rings ourselves, resizing by up to three sizes is on us.

Ring size chart

In Bulgaria, ring size is the inside circumference of the ring in millimeters – size 52, for example, means a 52 mm circumference. The chart also shows the diameter and the US size, in case you have a ring measured that way.

How to find out her ring size in secret

• Borrow a ring she wears on her ring finger for a moment and bring it to one of our boutiques – we will measure it right away.
• If you cannot take it, trace the inside of the ring on a sheet of paper or measure it with a ruler. The diameter is enough to find the size in the chart.
• Ask a friend of hers or a family member – they often know her size.
• Fingers are slimmer in the morning and in the cold, and fuller in the evening and in the heat. If you are between two sizes, choose the larger one.

7. Budget

There is no “right” amount for an engagement ring. Set a budget you are comfortable with and choose the best combination of diamond and design within it – a lab-grown diamond allows a larger stone for the same amount.

How much does an engagement ring cost?

The price depends mostly on the diamond – its carat weight, color, clarity and cut – and on the gold. In our catalog, engagement rings with a natural diamond start at around €1,680, and half of the designs start between €2,200 and €6,700. With lab-grown diamonds, prices start at around €1,370, and half of the designs start between €2,100 and €6,500 – for the same budget, a lab-grown diamond gets you a larger stone.

Prices are approximate and do not compare the same design.

Prices as of October 31, 2026. The final price depends on the diamond and gold you choose.

How to care for your engagement ring

A diamond is the hardest natural material, but it can still be scratched by another diamond or chipped by a hard knock on its edge. Clean the ring with warm water, a little mild soap and a soft brush, then dry it with a lint-free cloth.

Take the ring off for sports, gardening and contact with chlorine or cleaning products. Once a year, it is a good idea to have a jeweler check the setting.

Why choose a VALENTIN Gold & Diamonds engagement ring?

Since 1986 we have been creating engagement rings with a signature style, attention to detail and a pursuit of perfection. Our own production lets us oversee every stage of production and offer jewelry crafted with care for quality and design. Discover our engagement rings with natural diamonds and with lab-grown diamonds and choose your ring online or at our boutiques in Mall Bulgaria, Paradise Center and Serdika Center.