A Guide to Diamond Engagement & Wedding Rings for LGBTQ Couples

Choosing a diamond engagement or wedding ring is both an emotional and technical decision. As specialist LGBTQ+ jewellers with decades of experience working with natural and lab-grown diamonds, we understand that quality, provenance and design all matter.

Introduction to our LGBTQ ring guides

Two brides engagement & wedding ring guide

Two grooms proposal & wedding ring guide

Gender-neutral proposal & wedding ring guide

Diamond ring guide

Ring size measurement guide

LGBTQ+ proposal inspiration guide

Precious metals guide

Caring for your rings guide

FAQs

Whether you’re choosing a classic solitaire, a bold statement band, or a rainbow diamond design, this guide will help you understand your options with confidence.

The 4 C's of Diamonds
When choosing a diamond, it’s important to understand that no two stones are ever exactly the same. Each diamond has its own balance of characteristics that work together to determine its overall beauty and value. The key is not simply to chase the highest technical grades, but to find the right combination for your eye, your design and your budget.

Carat - the weight of a diamond. 1 carat is 0.2 grams. Engagement or wedding rings may feature a single 0.05 ct to 0.5 ct diamond, or a cluster of smaller stones. Just a footnote - you should not confuse the carat weight of diamonds with the carat used for the purity of gold (e.g. 18ct gold).
Colour - diamonds are graded from D to Z where D is completely colourless (most prized and expensive), while Z has a yellow hue. Most engagement rings use 'near colourless' stones, typically graded G-H. The standard set by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) describes the grade ranges as follows:
Clarity - is a way to describe marks and flaws within a diamond. Tiny "inclusions" are small pieces of black carbon or other minerals located inside the diamond. External blemishes, those on the surface of the stone, are also incorporated into the clarity score of a diamond. Popular grades for engagement rings are VS1, VS2 ('very slightly imperfect') and SI1, SI2 ('slightly imperfect'). In these classifications, there are imperfections but so tiny you can't see them with the naked eye. Diamonds are formally graded according to the following scale:
Cut - the shape and facet arrangement. The most usual cut is the "modern brilliant" which has 58 facets to maximise the diamond's sparkle. Other popular choices are princess (square) cut and baguette (rectangular) cut. There are many other fancy diamond shapes, so select the one that suits your style - see the section below for further details.

The price of a diamond reflects all of these qualities and other characteristics unique to the stone. With expert guidance, you can select a diamond that feels exceptional to you - one that delivers sparkle, presence and meaning in equal measure.

Coloured Diamonds: Rainbow & Symbolic Options
At WOOLTON & HEWITT, coloured diamonds are our specialty. We source natural stones that are treated to create vibrant colours, allowing us to set rings in the colours of the LGBTQ+ rainbow. Our EMOTION in DIAMONDS collection features iconic rainbow engagement and wedding rings - a truly symbolic way to celebrate love, diversity, and self-expression.

Lab-Grown Diamonds
The quality and availability of lab-grown diamonds has increased dramatically in recent years. These are true diamonds, but created in a laboratory rather than deep within the Earth.

The process uses high temperature and pressure starting from a tiny carbon seed to form a full-sized diamond suitable for jewellery.
Main benefit: more affordable than natural diamonds, without compromising on beauty or durability.

We offer both natural and lab-grown diamonds, so you have the freedom to choose the option that best suits your values and budget.

Key Diamond Cut Shapes
The cut of a diamond plays a crucial role in how it interacts with light and how it ultimately appears in a ring. Each shape carries its own character - from timeless and traditional to bold and expressive - so the right choice depends on your personal style, the setting design and the statement you wish your ring to make.

Round Brilliant - The most classic and widely chosen cut, engineered to maximise light return and sparkle through its precise faceting - see example design.
Princess Cut - A contemporary square shape with sharp corners and strong brilliance, offering a clean and modern look - see example design.
Baguette Cut - A slim, rectangular step-cut stone with understated sparkle, often used for a sleek, minimalist aesthetic - see example design.
Heart Shape - A romantic and symbolic cut that requires expert craftsmanship to achieve perfect symmetry and maximum brilliance - see example design.
Asscher Cut - A square step-cut design with cropped corners and a distinctive 'hall of mirrors' effect, known for its sophistication - see our bespoke pieces.
Marquise Cut - An elongated shape with pointed ends, designed to create a graceful and dramatic silhouette - see our bespoke pieces.