The ultimate guide to pick the perfect engagement ring

With less than 55 days till Christmas day, those thinking of popping the question over the festive period - traditionally the most popular time to propose - need to start getting their wedding ducks in order. Bobby Leigh Pemberton from leading fine jewellery dealer Humphrey Butler has provided the following comments about choosing the right engagement ring - the stones, the etiquette, the price. Bobby says, "The nurture of nervous prospective grooms has become essential expertise for us, and it is always a huge honour to be allowed to assist at this crucial juncture in people's lives.

"Like so many businesses, jewellers love to pretend that what we do is mysterious and complex. To the uninitiated, buying an engagement ring can seem deliberately opaque, wrapped in a great deal of fluff and fantasy. The importance of diamond grades (a mesmerising jumble of random letters), the origins of sapphire, the significance of a birthstone, the percentage of salary one has to commit: all these elements, some of them old wives’ tales, can be thrown into the mix to keep the poor buyer confused, harassed and not a little dismayed at the complexities of what should be great fun.

"So how to clear this fog of uncertainty? The best advice we can offer, as with so much in life, is wonderfully simple. Buy what you like, and you won’t go far wrong.

"Let’s start with stones. Diamond, sapphire or ruby? A semi-precious stone? Unless you know explicitly that the recipient has already cast gentle aspersions on a friend’s choice, there is no correct answer. That idea your grandmother maintained about emeralds being bad luck on account of their slightly softer structure? Pay no attention. A gemstone of any colour or shape securely mounted in either a vintage or more modern setting should provide the perfect foundation stone for marital harmony and a lifetime of admiring looks. 

"Whatever may have been said on the subject of finance, to spend anything more than you are comfortable with is folly. From £1,000 to £100,000, we have found wonderful rings for no end of clients over the years. Tears have been shed, corks have been popped, and no one has ever been accused of scrimping.

"We try and keep our collection as broad and interesting as we can, with something to suit all budgets and all tastes, from the magnificent and stately to the subtle and understated. You will find more pieces by following this link to our website, but even if you see nothing to inspire you here, we would be happy to try and hunt something out for you. Just let us know what you are after - and if you already have the perfect stone, we can always provide the workmanship to create the right setting.  

"We know from personal experience how wonderful (and daunting) this episode can be. If we can help, even with more advice, we would be delighted to do so. And even if Humphrey happens to know your prospective mother-in-law, discretion is assured."