Dainty Engagement Rings NZ: The Design Guide

Dainty engagement rings are simple and delicate. They don’t draw too much attention but still make a statement with their design and story.

What is a dainty engagement ring?

Dainty engagement rings are often defined by their low profile and simple designs. They are often simple solitaire diamond engagement rings. They are also designed for everyday wear without huge diamonds or gemstones. The low profile also means that they sit closer to your finger.

Why are dainty engagement rings becoming popular?

Some of the best stories are whispered. And the same can be said about some of the best engagement rings. It speaks to a more down-to-Earth relationship. And while engagement ring trends come and go such as asymmetrical designs and double halos, the dainty engagement ring never goes out of fashion.

Dainty rings can also be stacked and make designing a wedding ring and eternity bands a lot easier.

What to look out for when designing a dainty engagement ring

When designing a dainty engagement ring, you want to make sure you choose a strong enough metal. Because dainty engagement rings tend to have thin bands, they are more prone to breaking.

At Four Words, we recommend working with 14K gold if you are looking for a yellow gold or rose gold band, otherwise Platinum for a silver finish.

We recommend bands with a minimum width of 1.8 mm. Anything smaller risks the band bending or breaking.

It is easy to get lost in the numbers, however, the difference between a 1.6 mm or 2mm band in person is very subtle. Our view is we would rather craft something that can last a lifetime, rather than risk it breaking in a few years.

How to wear a dainty engagement ring

A dainty engagement ring will eventually need to be paired with a wedding band so it is important to think about the design of your wedding band and eternity ring at the same time.

Many couples at Four Words get their engagement ring and wedding band designed at the same time to ensure a perfect combination. Our recommendation is to match the colour and band width.

Adding diamonds or gemstones is an excellent way for your dainty ring to stand out from other pieces of jewellery.

A Dainty Emerald Example

For example, one of our clients used diamonds and their birthstones (both were born in the same month) to create her engagement ring. This engagement ring features a green emerald pear, with four accent diamonds.

Her Engagement Ring

Her Wedding Band

She then went on to design her wedding band which nicely complements her dainty engagement ring.

Her Partner’s Wedding Band

Her partner was also in on the act. His wedding band also features an emerald and it neatly ties in with a simple but thicker ring. The emerald gemstone is angled, similar to the bride’s engagement ring.

Design your own dainty engagement ring

You can design your own dainty ring set with us. We are a New Zealand owned and operated lab grown diamond and gemstone jeweller. We are climate positive by a factor of five, sustainable, and use recycled gold where we can.

When you buy from us, you support planting native plants on the West Coast of the South Island with Carbon Click. Work with our design team to create something uniquely yours, whether it’s a diamond band or a cluster ring.

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Dainty engagement ring designs

1. Use small gemstones in interesting ways

At Four Words, many of our clients that want a dainty engagement ring use small gemstones in creative ways to represent things that are meaningful to them.

For example, this engagement ring in white gold features a three-stone engagement ring with each stone representing both partners and their family dog.

2. Create sparkle with lots of smaller diamonds

Not every engagement ring needs to feature a large centre diamond. For a client, we created a lovely dainty engagement ring featuring a cluster of smaller diamonds that tappers off towards the band.

Her wedding band featured small diamonds in a yellow gold band. Together, the bridal set has a lot of sparkle with a simple and elegant look.

3. Play with Diamonds in a Pave Wedding Band

We love creating wedding bands, and one way to pair them with an existing engagement ring is to make sure it sits flush.

For example, we recently crafted a curved platinum pave wedding band which sits perfectly next to their engagement ring. It's another way to add class, sparkle and elegance to an existing ring.

If you have an existing engagement ring, we will 3D scan it so that when we craft your wedding band it will sit perfectly against your ring.

4. Using popular diamond cuts in unconventional ways

Dainty doesn’t need to mean boring. This East-West emerald cut is easy on the eye and on the finger.

5. Be inspired by the art deco era

Dainty engagement rings can use lots of different cut diamonds to create a unique engagement ring. For example, this oval cut ring features two pear cut accent stones with a thin band.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How thin can an engagement ring band be?

At Four Words we recommend a minimum of a 1.8 mm band. Anything below 1.8 mm is prone to bending and snapping.

Make sure to work with a jeweller that can still find a way to make your designs come to life. This could be through using a knife edge band which gives off a thinner band appearance and higher gemstone profile.

What is the difference between a simple engagement ring and a dainty engagement ring?

Simple engagement rings are typically solitaire rings. They don’t feature things like a diamond band or halos. They can still have large carat sizes though. Dainty engagement rings on the other hand have thin bands and smaller diamonds or gemstones. Talk to your jeweller about ensuring you get exactly what you are looking for.

Is 0.5 carat too small for a dainty engagement ring?

It depends on your design and what look you are going for. If you are going for a simple and elegant without too much bling, then 0.5 carat is a great size. If you want something a bit more sparkly, we recommend going for something slightly larger.

You can also look at how you can use smaller stones to increase the total carat weight and increase sparkle.

How tightly should a dainty engagement ring fit?

Even though you may have smaller gemstones and a thinner band, we recommend your dainty engagement ring sit snugly on your finger. This means that there shouldn’t be any bulging of your skin or redness, but also if you made a concerted effort to take the ring off, it will slide over the knuckle easily.

Should I use rose gold for my dainty engagement ring?

It depends on the colour you prefer to wear. If rose gold is a colour you frequently wear, and your wedding band is also going to be rose gold, then it’s a good choice. The main thing is that you do not mix colours with your bridal set. This will look awkward.

What is the best diamond cut for a dainty engagement ring?

This is a matter of personal choice. At Four Words we typically see round brilliant cut diamonds, art deco, marquise and cushion cut diamonds. The art deco and cushion cut diamonds are also more vintage. These can also feature as part of a minimalist engagement ring. Whatever the design of your diamond engagement ring, we suggest you design something that you love as opposed to a style or trend that you want to be associated with.

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Design your own dainty engagement ring

You can design your own dainty ring set with us. We are a New Zealand owned and operated lab grown gemstone jeweller. We are climate positive by a factor of five, sustainable, and use recycled gold where we can. When you buy from us, you support planting native plants on the West Coast of the South Island with Carbon Click.

Work with our design team to create something uniquely yours, whether it’s a diamond band or a cluster ring.