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Flower engagement rings offer an elegant look and the appearance of a larger diamond, all without the cost of a single large stone. As a result, many couples are drawn to flower rings thanks to their classic looks, incredible sparkle and comparatively good value.
While flower settings have some downsides — they’re usually more difficult to maintain and clean, for one — they’re a great choice if you want a different and non-traditional engagement ring.
Blue Nile and James Allen both stock a diverse range of flower engagement ring settings that you can customize with your preferred diamond or gemstone.
What Are Flower Engagement Rings?
Flower engagement rings are a type of cluster diamond ring. Instead of using a single diamond, like a solitaire setting, flower engagement rings use a large center stone surrounded by several smaller diamonds arranged in a flower-like pattern.
This gives flower engagement rings a distinctive, classic appearance that sets them apart from other settings. The cluster of smaller diamonds around the center stone can also make the ring and its center stone look and feel larger than it really is.
Thanks to their unique design, flower engagements can stand out from the crowd and receive a lot of attention. Thanks to the numerous smaller stones arranged around the center stone, they often have a distinctive, noticeable sparkle and a great deal of presence.
Flower engagement rings come in a variety of styles, with many drawing on the appearance of certain naturally-occurring flowers. They usually feature round diamonds or other round center stones, as well as a collection of smaller round diamonds surrounding the center stone.
Why Choose a Flower Engagement Ring?
Flower engagement rings have a unique and eye-catching look, making them a good option if you and your partner want an engagement ring that will stand out from the crowd.
Thanks to the feminine design of the diamond cluster, flower engagement rings offer plenty of size without ever looking overly bulky. They can look especially impressive on small hands and fingers.
Because the most expensive part of an engagement ring is almost always the center diamond, flower engagement rings are usually far less expensive than rings of equivalent size with a single center stone.
Of course, the carat weight of the center diamond in a flower ring is significantly lower, meaning you don’t actually get a larger stone — just a setting that looks larger.
Because a flower engagement ring uses numerous smaller diamonds in a cluster, it can have a unique and impressive sparkle. The cluster of multiple diamonds can add an extra dimension to the ring, giving it more presence on your partner’s finger.
Finally, because flower engagement rings come in a variety of different designs, it’s easy to pick an option that looks like your partner’s favorite flower or commemorates a romantic occasion in your relationship.
Despite these advantages, flower engagement rings do have a few downsides. First, since they feature a center stone and several smaller stones, they usually take longer to clean than a more simple setting with just a center stone.
It’s also possible for the smaller diamonds that surround the center stone to come loose and fall out, although this isn’t common if the ring is properly maintained.
Where to Buy a Flower Engagement Ring
While flower engagement rings aren’t as easy to find as solitaire, pavé and other more common settings, there’s still a great range of options out there.
Since flower settings feature numerous small diamonds around a center stone, it’s important to choose a high-quality setting. A good flower engagement ring should have small diamonds that are firmly, securely set inside the ring in a consistent, symmetrical pattern.
It’s also important to make sure that the diamond you’re buying comes with GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or AGS (American Gem Society) certification. These are the two strictest, most reliable diamond grading entities, meaning that you can trust what you’re buying.
In our experience, James Allen and Blue Nile are the two most reliable places to shop for flower engagement rings, as well as other diamond jewelry. Both of these retailers offer great pricing, a large selection of diamonds and settings, as well as GIA or AGS certification.
James Allen
James Allen is a great place to buy a flower engagement ring. They carry a range of more than 200,000 certified conflict-free diamonds, all of which are photographed in 360° to give you a full view of the diamond before you make a purchase.
James Allen have several beautiful flower engagement ring settings that you can customize with your preferred center stone:
- This elegant floral halo engagement ring is available in white, rose or yellow gold, as well as platinum. It features 14 small diamonds and be customized with your preferred center diamond or gemstone.
- This stunning floral engagement ring is available in white, rose or yellow gold, as well as platinum. It features 18 small diamonds and two eye-catching blue sapphires, as well as a center diamond or gemstone of your choice.
James Allen are well known for their customer-focused service and generous return policy, with a 100% money-back guarantee on all unworn rings returned within 30 days. Their pricing is also some of the best in the business, meaning you’ll get the best possible ring for your budget.
Blue Nile
Blue Nile maintain the largest online inventory of diamonds and settings, making them another great option for flower engagement rings. Their pricing is absolutely phenomenal, meaning you can shop with full confidence that you’re getting the best possible ring for your budget.
Blue Nile have a huge selection of flower engagement rings — in fact, they even have a section specifically for floral engagement ring settings. Recommended options include:
- This floral halo diamond engagement ring is available in 14k white gold and features an elegant floral halo made up of round diamonds. You can customize it with your choice of diamond or gemstone from Blue Nile’s extensive selection.
- This starburst floral diamond halo engagement ring is available in rose and white gold, complete with pavé-set diamonds and a diamond starburst halo. Like other Blue Nile settings, you can customize it with your own choice of diamond or gemstone.
Blue Nile offer excellent pricing, meaning you’ll get the highest quality setting and gemstone for your budget. Like James Allen, they’re well known for their generous return policy. If required, you can return your purchase in original, unused condition within 30 days for a full refund.
Evaluating a Flower Diamond Ring for Beauty and Value
As we’ve covered before, diamond prices increase exponentially with carat weight, meaning a large diamond can cost several times more than one that’s half of its carat weight.
Because flower engagement rings use a cluster of smaller diamonds around one center stone instead of a single large center stone, they offer a great deal of presence at a more affordable price than engagement rings with a single large diamond.
This means a flower engagement ring can be a great option if you want something that’s large, elegant and timeless without the price tag of a higher weight diamond.
Still, the usual rules of evaluating a diamond still apply for the center stone used in your flower engagement ring. When you’re comparing diamonds, make sure you pay attention to:
- Cut. The cut of a diamond plays a major role in its beauty — in fact, it’s actually the most important factor for its a diamond’s brilliance and sparkle. For the best appearance, you should choose an Excellent or Ideal cut diamond.
- Shape. Almost all flower engagement rings are designed for a round diamond or center gemstone, making this factor an easy one to get right. If you buy your ring from James Allen or Blue Nile, you’ll have a huge range of round diamonds to choose from.
- Clarity. The clarity of a diamond refers to how clear it is, with a diamond that has fewer inclusions and blemishes earning a better clarity grade. Choose a VS1 or VS2 diamond — these grades look almost identical to a Flawless diamond but cost far less.
- Color. A high-quality diamond should look white in comparison to its setting. For the best value for money, look for a diamond in the G to I range — diamonds in these grades look colorless but cost far less than a higher grade D, E or F grade diamond.
Need help choosing the right diamond and setting? Contact our diamond experts and we’ll help you find the ideal ring for your budget.
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free International Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisals
- One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
- Free ring inscriptions
- Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
- 24/7 Customer Service
- Best-in-class packaging
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisal
- One free resizing within the first year of purchase
- High quality images of about half of their diamonds
- 24/7 Customer Service
- 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
- Best in class fulfillment
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