Engagement FAQ

Come in and talk to us! Some people come in knowing exactly what they want, while others have no idea where to start, which is absolutely fine. Our expert consultants will encourage you to try as many rings as possible, explore different stone options, discuss customisation and bespoke design to help you in your search or the perfect ring. Galio is set in the heart of St Albans's romantic Cathedra Quarter, and the amazing Abbey can be viewed rom our Medieval walled garden. You can drop in and see us, or to make an appointment call us on 01727 860329 or email showroom@galio.co.uk.

We offer a full bespoke service where with our in house designer we create a new design especially for you. We also have a demi-bespoke option in which you choose the stone and setting from an existing design here at the showroom, or maybe you have an heirloom or pre-loved ring that you'd like re-purposed to suit your needs and style. Read more about our bespoke process here or take a look at some examples of diamond cuts and ring settings to help you with your research.

The four Cs are important when it comes to diamonds; Carat (weight), Clarity (how clear it is), Cut (the shape) and Colour (how white it is). However, when choosing your forever diamond, it’s the character that matters most - quite simply put, it’s how a diamond makes you feel that can make the biggest difference in how you choose. Read our Diamond Guide section to find out how to assess the quality of a diamond through the 4 C's.

Come in and talk to us! Some people come in knowing exactly what they want, while others have no idea where to start, which is absolutely fine. You can take a look at our inspiration gallery to see if anything appeals to you before you visit. Our expert consultants will show you a wide variety of rings that could suit any existing jewellery your loved one may have, or their general fashion sense or style. We will explore different stone options and customisation to help you in your search for the perfect ring. Our other options are... THE PROPOSAL STONE If you’re not quite sure what style of ring she wants, let our diamond buyer show you a selection of sensational stones. You can hand pick the diamond that will make her say ‘YES’ and then post-proposal come to the store together to choose the perfect setting. After all it’s all about the sparkle! THE PROPOSAL PIECE If you would like to get exactly what she wants but still maintain the element of surprise, choose from our range of sample rings in sterling silver and Swarovski crystal. Propose with this ring. Then, post-proposal come into the store together and feel completely at ease choosing the perfect ring together.

While a white diamond can feel cool and sophisticated, engagement rings don’t necessarily need to be all-diamond, in fact there is a strong demand for engagement rings with coloured stones. Many of our designs are available to set with coloured stones and we can mix both diamond and coloured gems, adding contrast between the white of the diamond and your chosen coloured gemstone. Gemstones can relate to a specific birthstone creating an engagement ring with personal meaning. Besides adding a further dimension of colour to your ring, many coloured gemstones are less expensive than white, high clarity diamonds.

Lab grown diamonds have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. They offer excellent value and are more cost effective than natural diamonds of equal size and quality. Lab grown diamonds are grown using processes that duplicate the conditions under which diamonds naturally develop when they form beneath the Earth’s crust. These lab created diamonds consist of carbon atoms arranged in the characteristic diamond crystal structure, so they are made of the same material as natural diamonds, they exhibit the same optical and chemical properties.