I'm an engagement ring designer – here are the three styles I would NEVER buy

An engagement ring designer has revealed three ring styles you should definitely skip if you're looking for that perfect piece.

The marriage wisdom was shared on TikTok by Jordan, the creator of Castlefield Collectiona jewelry company based in Canada that designs and makes rings from moissanite, a gemstone that resembles a diamond but is slightly more affordable.

In the video, which has already racked up over two million views since it was published in October, Jordan breaks down exactly which styles to avoid as it relates to their durability.

“The first thing you want to avoid is a ring without a gallery rail,” Jordan began.

As a first tip, Jordan revealed that you shouldn't buy a ring that doesn't have a gallery rail, which is a piece of metal that fits between the prongs of the ring, as shown above.

“A gallery rail is a thin piece of metal that fits between the prongs of the ring,” she explained, showing a photo of a ring with this specific feature.

The jewelry designer explained that without a gallery rail, your ring risks getting damaged, or even worse.

“Without a gallery rail, especially if you only have four prongs holding your stone, you will lose your stone if one prong gets pulled down and gets caught on something,” she said.

She then showed a photo of a ring without a gallery rail, emphasizing that this is definitely something you don't want to buy because you really need that “extra support.”

“Next, I would never buy an engagement ring with very thin bands,” Jordan said.

“Although such thin tires can be very beautiful, they are simply not very durable.”

She recommended keeping a band of 1.8 millimeters 'at least'.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Jordan explained that it is quite 'risky' to own one of these rings in this particular style.

The expert also explained why she wouldn't recommend buying a ring with a very thin band

“While thin straps like these can be very nice, they just aren't very durable,” she said in the video

Jordan also warned against buying an engagement ring with a diamond band as it could lose stones

“Nowadays it is very trendy to choose an engagement ring with a very thin, barely visible band, but this is very risky,” she told DailyMail.com. 'A very thin band (less than 1.6mm) will be more susceptible to bending and breaking.'

“Plus, gold wears off over time,” she continued. 'If you start with a very thin tire, it will hardly wear away after many years of wear. I always recommend using at least 1.8 – 2 mm of bandwidth.'

Last but not least, Jordan revealed in the video that she wouldn't recommend buying engagement rings with a diamond band.

“Next, I would never buy an engagement ring that looks like that, with a bubble band, that's what they call it,” she said, showing an example of what she meant.

“This has one tooth that holds every two stones in the tire,” she continued. 'This is not sustainable at all.'

The Castlefield Collection founder then showed off another example on screen, a ring with a band complete with oval-shaped diamonds on it.

“You don't want to buy a ring like that,” Jordan explained. 'The question is not if stones will fall, but when.'

Jordan told DailyMail.com that people who buy this ring style usually end up at the jeweler.

'Those who purchase bubble bands must be very careful when wearing them and will likely visit their jeweler often to replace missing stones,' she told DailyMail.com.

However, if you're still eyeing that diamond-adorned ring, there are some protocols you should follow, she explained.

“If you want the look of a bubble band, make sure you hold each stone at least three prongs,” Jordan revealed in the video clip. “This isn't it.”

But when it comes to the price tag, the engagement ring expert admitted that there's no set amount that 'guarantees' you a long-lasting ring.

“Often you pay a premium for branding and marketing,” she told DailyMail.com.

'In reality, it is entirely possible to get a beautiful, high-quality engagement ring with a sparkling main stone that will last a lifetime within almost any budget. The time when you had to spend a few months' salary on a nice ring is long gone!'

She recommended moissanite as a great option.

“Moissanite is a fantastic option for a highly durable, sparkling and ethical gemstone,” she told DailyMail.com.

In the comments section of the video, many users shared more about their own engagement rings

“Because of how affordable it is, people are much more likely to get the big, beautiful stone they've always dreamed of, rather than buying a diamond and settling for what they can afford.”

“On average, moissanite gemstones cost about 1/10 of a natural diamond,” she explained.

In the comments section of her video, many users shared more about their own rings and their styles.

“My engagement ring has six prongs,” one person wrote. 'The jeweler wouldn't use less. 33 years later, still going strong.”

Another wrote: 'My thin band literally deformed last week and I'm devastated. It can be solved, but save yourself the trouble!!”

“My mother's engagement ring is over 20 years old and she lost the stone after a tooth got bent – it could happen at any time,” someone else agreed.

One user shared: 'Thanks for posting this! I agree with all these things. People think jewelry is indestructible because it's expensive, but it's all about design and wearability.”

However, as we look ahead to 2024, it looks like there might be a few new engagement ring trends heading our way.

Some of these trends include colored gemstones, lab-grown diamonds, oval-shaped stones and toi-et-moi rings, according to Provincial and city hall.

“We are also really seeing an increase in the number of customers looking for beautifully colored sapphires set with diamonds,” Lucy Crowther, the founder of the Minka Jewels brand, told the outlet.

'Sapphires and other colored gemstones make for such unique and striking engagement rings, bringing out the customer's personality and creating a sense of individuality in the design.'