People come to me with a photograph of a ring they love, a diamond certificate they do not quite understand, or a proposal date that is suddenly very close. I begin by asking about the person who will wear the ring. That conversation tells me far more than a list of preferred grades.
If you are choosing an engagement ring jeweller in Paris, I would look for someone who can explain the diamond, show you the quality of the finished ring and be clear about what can be made in your time frame. I would ask the same things of my own atelier.
Alexia Sorokina · Graduate gemmologist and founder, Say Yes in Paris
Choosing the right jeweller
That depends on what you want to take home. If a completed ring feels exactly right, choosing one you can see and try on may be the answer, particularly when time is short. If you are looking at loose diamonds through a dealer, ask who will design, make and set the ring, and who will look after it afterwards. If you want the setting created around a diamond chosen for her, an atelier gives you time to discuss both parts of the ring together.
I would ask to see finished commissions similar to the ring you have in mind. Look at the work from more than one angle, and ask who will actually guide your project. At Say Yes in Paris, I work directly with clients on the diamond, while our Paris artisans make the ring around the stone we select. A simple solitaire deserves that care as much as an intricate bespoke design.
The diamond behind the report
Ask for the grading report for the exact diamond you are considering, and read it before you make your choice. At Say Yes in Paris, natural diamonds weighing 0.30 carat or more come with a GIA report. You can verify its number through GIA’s official Report Check. The report records the stone’s carat weight, colour, clarity, measurements, polish, symmetry and fluorescence. For a standard round brilliant, GIA also gives an overall cut grade. It does not give the same overall cut grade to an oval, pear or emerald cut.
The report gives us a starting point. I then examine how the diamond actually looks. Two stones with the same grades can have different proportions and a different presence on the hand. With an oval, for example, I look at the outline and at the darker pattern through its centre as the stone moves. Fluorescence deserves to be assessed in the individual diamond; the word on the report alone is not a reason to dismiss it.
I am a graduate gemmologist and have spent more than fifteen years working with diamonds, including in Antwerp. I explain what I see in a stone and why I would choose it for a particular ring. Sometimes my recommendation is to put more of the budget into cut and proportions instead of paying for a colour or clarity grade whose difference will be hard to see once the diamond is worn. I go through that decision in my guide to choosing a D Flawless diamond.
The ring itself
Look at the setting as closely as the centre stone. The claws should hold the diamond securely and be neatly finished. The band should have enough substance for everyday wear while remaining in proportion to the stone. Turn the ring to see its profile. Think about its height, how it feels against the hand and whether a future wedding band can sit beside it. If there is pavé, look at the regularity of the smaller diamonds and their settings.
Ask whether the setting is made for the diamond you approve. Its exact measurements matter: they determine how the stone will sit and how the metal will support it. This is part of what it means to have an engagement ring made in Paris, rather than simply collect one here. The work of the setter and the final finish should be visible in the ring you receive.
What the price includes
Compare complete proposals. Ask which diamond is included and see its report number. Check the metal, the design and what work will be needed to make the setting. Two rings can have the same centre-stone weight and very different diamonds. A lower price might reflect the stone’s cut or a simpler setting; a higher one does not automatically make a ring more beautiful.
I would want the jeweller to explain where the budget makes a visible difference. You should be able to compare the stones you are considering, know why one is recommended, and understand the price of the finished ring before you commit. If you are visiting from abroad, ask for the complete price and what arrangements are possible for collection or insured delivery.
Who guides the project
Experience with engagement rings goes beyond knowing diamond grades. The jeweller also needs to understand the person receiving the ring and the date on which you plan to give it to her. You may not know her size. Your conversations may need to remain discreet. You may be in Paris for only a few days.
I lead the diamond search and speak with each client directly. If a design is difficult to resize, I will say so before it is made. If the deadline changes what we can create, I will explain the options. You can also read about a commission I worked on for Ruslan and Kateryna: their diamond came from New York, the platinum solitaire was made in Paris, and finding her ring size was part of the work.
Read client reviews for the same reasons. Look for details about the diamond selection, the finished ring and how questions were handled after the sale. A rating is useful; the experience a client describes tells you more.
Before you arrive in Paris
Many international clients begin with a conversation before their trip. Tell me when you will be in Paris, what you know about her taste and the budget you have in mind. I can show you reports and detailed videos of diamonds we are considering, discuss the setting remotely and arrange an appointment when you arrive. That leaves your visit for the appointment and the moment you came to Paris for.
If the proposal must remain a surprise, the handover can be planned discreetly. The Diamond Concierge can help place the finished ring in your hands in Paris and, when there is time to prepare it, help with the proposal itself.
After the proposal
The ring should feel as good to wear every day as it does when she first opens the box. If you are unsure of her size, tell me before we choose the setting. Some designs leave room for an adjustment afterwards; others, particularly a full eternity ring, do not. I will explain what is possible for hers.
If the ring needs attention later, you can come back to me. The atelier can examine it and advise on cleaning or repair. I will explain what the warranty covers and any cost before work begins. You can read our aftercare terms in advance.
When there is time to search
When we have several weeks, the search can go far beyond the diamonds already in Paris. I speak to diamantaires in Antwerp, New York and Hong Kong, and look further still when the right stone may be elsewhere. We can compare more possibilities and keep searching if the first diamond is almost right but does not quite belong in your ring.
Once we have chosen it, its exact proportions guide the setting. We can consider how high it should sit on the hand, refine the design together and give more intricate work the time it needs. Our Made to Measure rings usually take about five to six weeks; a fully bespoke creation may take longer.
If your proposal is much sooner, tell me the date before assuming it is too late. When a suitable natural diamond is available in Paris and the atelier has enough time, a classic solitaire in 18-carat gold can sometimes be made, set and finished within a day. I will confirm the diamond and the atelier’s schedule before promising a collection time. Our same-day engagement ring guide explains what is possible and what needs longer.
Before you decide
See the exact diamond and its grading report. Confirm whether you are choosing a finished ring or having one made around that stone, when it will be ready and what can be done if the size is not right. Ask for an order confirmation that reflects what you agreed. The final invoice should identify the diamond, its report number and the metal used.
A jeweller should be glad to answer those questions. I certainly am.
Begin with a conversation
Tell me when you hope to propose and what you know about her taste. I will begin with the diamond and explain what we can create in Paris within the time you have.