Diamond engagement rings are proudly and traditionally worn by a bride-to-be as a powerful symbol that she is “taken” and will soon be married to her true love. The ring is viewed as an indication of love, faith, fidelity, celebration, and the wealth of the groom. By placing the ring on his soon-to-be-wife, the groom gives the world an outward demonstration that he not only loves his bride, but also can afford to marry her and take her from her father’s care. Diamond engagement rings, with their perfect clarity and indestructible nature, have come to symbolize the purity and eternal commitment between a man and his wife.

Diamonds are relatively new as gemstones for engagement rings, the result of some very clever marketing by the diamond trade industry about 150 years ago. Other precious gemstones like sapphires, rubies, pearls and emeralds served as symbols of an engagement to be married in many countries, especially among royalty. Today, diamond engagement rings dominate the bridal jewelry industry.

Variations among Diamond Engagement Rings

Current bridal fashion favors a solitaire diamond engagement ring set in a band of yellow or white gold, sterling silver, or platinum. However, there are limitless rings for you to choose from, or have custom-designed. The cut of the diamond may catch your eye; Princess cut, Tiffany cut, Cartier cut, Square cut, Pear cut, Teardrop cut, Bezel cut, or Round cut – all are stunning and irresistible. The gorgeous Trilogy ring with its three equal-sized diamonds is said to represent the past, the present, and the future.

The clarity of the diamond engagement ring is important to many brides. Clear white diamonds of SI-1 or SI-2 have no carbon specks or flaws. Most diamond engagement rings must pass rigorous tests by the Gemologist International Association to be declared IF-VS2 clarity, and are considered to be either Ideal or Premium cut. Alternatively, some buyers actually prefer to have a carbon speck deeply imbedded in their diamond as a reminder that the diamond is a creation of nature, formed from the blackest carbon into a thing of timeless beauty.

While we generally consider diamonds as being clear, in fact diamonds come in many colors such as yellow, blue, or pink. Gemologists say that some of the most exquisite natural diamond colors are found in canary yellow diamond engagement rings. Colored diamonds are always the subject of delighted comments from buyers and friends of the bride who see these rings as unique and very meaningful.

An increasing trend among diamond engagement rings are cubic zirconium and moissanite stones. Among diamond traditionalists, these are “fake diamonds” of little or no worth. In reality, these clear white stones are diamonds, as “real” as those mined in Australia or Africa. The only difference is that these diamonds are man-made in laboratories rather than by nature over hundreds of years. Both are made from carbon, both have a pure white color. In fact, the CZ and moissanite diamonds are more refractive than natural diamonds, giving them a blinding brilliance than never dims. These diamond engagement rings cost only a fraction of what a highest-quality natural diamond would cost. Most buyers find that the band in which the diamond is set costs more than the diamond itself! For couples with a limited budget but who also want a large, impressive diamond, the CZ and moissanite diamonds may be the answer.

Couples go about getting engaged in many different ways. Some couples go shopping for engagement rings together, giving the woman the opportunity to select every detail of her engagement ring, while others skip the tradition of the engagement ring altogether. Still, many men want the thrill of a surprise proposal, complete with giving that special someone the perfect engagement ring. At the same time, the average man has not purchased a ring for his girlfriend until that monumental time comes, leaving him to wonder how to determine what size ring will slide perfectly onto her finger at that magic moment.

Sneakily figuring out a woman’s ring size may be simpler than you think. If she has a friend or sister who may know her ring size, you may simply ask. If you take this route, make sure the person you ask is trustworthy enough to keep the secret! But if asking someone is not an option, you can still determine her ring size without spoiling the surprise. First, take note that ring sizes are different for each finger, so be observant of which rings she currently wears on her ring finger. With a little crafty ingenuity, you can use a ring that she wears on her ring finger to determine her ring size without cluing her in on your plan. With these tips, you can surprise that special woman with the most magical moment of her life, paired with a perfectly fitting engagement ring.

Once you have scoped out the ring you will use to determine the size of the engagement ring, it is time to take action. What you do at this stage takes choosing the best course of action based on knowing your future fiancé. If she is absent minded and loses things often, you can likely slip that ring in your pocket, take it to the jeweler for measurement and return it unnoticed. But if she is emotionally attached to the ring or knows where it is at all times, you will have to determine her ring size in a more clever way. One option is to make an impression of the ring and take it to a jeweler who can determine its size. You may press the ring onto a block of clay, a bar of soap or any pliable substance that will hold the shape and size of the ring. Just make sure to remove any evidence left behind on the ring! Another option is to try the ring on yourself, and mark the place it reaches on your finger. Then, go to the jeweler and try to determine which size is the exact match.

Whatever approach you take, your future fiancé will certainly notice the effort and ingenuity that reminds her of why she wants to make the journey of life with you in the first place.

Diamonds are a woman’s best gift and are the perfect gift for a wedding or an engagement, one of the most precious and valuable stones of today. Diamonds are a symbol of love, romance and power. However the groom-to-be finds it very difficult to choose the perfect diamond ring for his bride. Knowing the four famous Cs, which are cut, color, clarity and carats of a diamond is not enough to choose the ideal ring. So, one should know exactly how to choose the precious stone.

The style most popular today is the polished round one. It was one of the first cuts and carves that was developed and it depends totally on mathematical equations to create a stone with fire. It is one of the most brilliant creations of the early lapidates.
Brides always want the best and most unique ring for their special day. These days diamonds are available in many shapes and sizes. For instance, they are pear shaped; heart shaped, diamonds shaped like a tear drop, oval shaped, emerald and so on. We have so many choices today, that it has become very difficult for us to choose our diamonds. We even have the choice of getting our diamonds cut according to the shape we choose. There is unique faceting of the stone also available, like the square princess cut diamond.

There are a few patented authentic cuts that are available too, such as the long Ashoka diamond, Arprey and Garrad Eternal cut diamond, Elara which is a square cut diamond, whose corners are rounded, Asscher diamonds which are square with rounded facets, Couples diamond which are diamonds that form the shape of the circle of hearts, or arrows, a symbol of love and romance.

Though diamonds are not a very rare precious stone, its distribution has been controlled by the market, thus making it a very valuable and high priced gem. Diamonds are ranked according to their clarity. It should have a mirror like effect. The clearer the diamond, the more expensive it is. Diamonds are priced according to their carat weight. The prices keep fluctuating in the market; however the purest form of the diamond is very high priced. A one carat diamond costs more than 10point diamonds and two carat diamonds cost double the price of one carat diamonds.

A diamond is the ultimate gem stone. It is a polymorph of the element carbon. It is one of the most powerful gems and is a pure symbol of love, romance and power. It absorbs the negative energy that comes to the body. It calms the brain, making us very relaxed. It is known to take away nightmares. It is a sign of prosperity. A diamond can be enhanced with accompaniments such as baguettes and trillions.

You have finally met the girl of your dreams and you are ready to pop the question. Before you do, you have the tough job of picking out the perfect diamond for your bride to be. It used to be a lot easier, since there were pretty standard cuts being offered. All you needed to remember was the four Cs rule of diamonds, which are color, carats, cut and color. Now, with all the new different designs and cuts adorning jewelry store show cases, it can be tough to choose the right one.

One of the earliest cuts developed is still the most popular cut today. The round brilliant diamond has come a long way from the being cut with simple tools by gem cutters from a bygone era to now being cut using exact mathematical equations. These new cutting techniques bring out all of the dazzling brilliance that the diamond has to offer. There are other traditional cuts, such as the pear shaped diamond whose cut is similar to the shape of the fruit it is named after. There are also heart shaped diamonds that certainly convey the affection you feel for your intended or the emerald and oval shaped diamonds, both of which are still popular.

There are brides that don’t want the traditional shapes, but would prefer to have one that is unique in design. There are several patented cuts that are now being offered.

The Elara is a diamond that has a square cut with rounded corners.

The Couples Diamond requires extreme precision during the cutting process because the facets inside reflect arrows or a circle of hearts.

The Asscher is unusual in that it has a square cut but has rounded facets.

There is the Ashoka diamond that requires a raw stone of at least three carats and the final diamond has elongated ends. There is also the Eternal cut diamond that was patented by Asprey and Garrard.

Be prepared to pay more as the carat weight increases. Keep in mind that the larger the stone, the more it will cost. For example a diamond cluster ring that features 10 10pt diamonds will cost less than a 1 carat solitaire. A two carat solitaire will cost more than the one carat and so on. If you want to give your intended a large ring but can’t afford to pay the price for large solitaires, you can enhance the appearance of a smaller solitaire by embellishing it with baguettes or trillions. These additions to the solitaire will make the presentation even more attractive and give the appearance of a more expensive ring.

Whatever style of ring you choose, your bride to be will adore having it grace her hand.

So you want to get engaged, you spent the time to find the right girl now it is time to find the right ring. You say that you don’t have much money, but want to get a great ring for the one you love. How do you find an inexpensive diamond engagement ring?

There are many places to look. The first place to look could be in your own family. Many times in families there is jewelry that is passed from one generation to the next. You could start by asking around the older generations of the family. There might be something nice sitting in someone’s safety deposit box. They might even give it to you if they really like you, or at least sell it cheap. A family heirloom ring might be just the thing to make your girl feel like she is really part of the family.

If this isn’t an option, then it is time to go places that sell inexpensive jewelry. One place could be a pawn shop or second hand store. You are thinking your girl wouldn’t want someone else’s ring, but you could have it cleaned and reshaped so it would look brand new. Then give it to her in a clever way so she doesn’t ask about the box. Most rings bought in these places don’t come with a box.

There are discount stores that have jewelry counters. You might get lucky here and find something suitable. Just make sure it isn’t one she shops at, so you don’t get caught being cheap. You can always look in the mail order magazines. Most of the mail order places are easy to research to find out if they are reliable and their products have quality. You will always want to find out their return policy just in case you don’t like it after it arrives. Another place to look is on the home shopping network, they sell everything. They have a good return policy and usually stand behind their products.

There are also diamond alternatives, like cubic zirconia or moissanite. These can look as good as a diamond but cost much less. You want your ring to look good enough for your girl to want to show it off to her friends. My wife and I chose moissanite for her ring because I was able to get a beautiful stone over half a carat for a tenth of what a diamond would have been.

It is a good idea to do a little research before you shop. You will want to find out what size ring to get and the kind of style your girl would like. You might have to get a little tricky to get the right answers if you want to keep it a secret. You don’t want to get a big ring for someone with a small hand, it wouldn’t look   good.

All women would like a three stone ring from her partner. The three stone ring was designed by the De Beers Jewelry Company and became an instant classic, setting the jewelry industry on its ear. The three stones signify the message of love to the recipient. The first stone often smaller signifies past love. The middle and large stone represents present love and the smaller third stone is for future love.

Who would not want a beautiful classic ring? They can be altered to make them more personal using different stones instead of diamonds. You can use the birthstones of the couple with the smaller stones and leave the larger one a diamond. It can be as special and personal as the individual who will own it.

This ring can be changed to fit any occasion. It can be used as an engagement ring or for an anniversary present. Because it has a classic simple design it can be incorporated into a wedding set quite easily. Birthdays and Christmas are other occasions to give the three stone ring for those who can’t wait until a special anniversary or romantic holiday.

When using the three stone ring as an engagement ring there are several options to turn it into a lovely wedding set. Because the center stone is set higher than the other two it is possible to use a plain band to accompany it. Another option is a wedding band with a channel set of stones the same size as the two smaller stones in the engagement ring. This type of band can really highlight the beauty of the engagement ring. The groom’s ring can also be a band with three matching stones in the same pattern. Usually men don’t like a large flashy ring with protruding stones that can be caught on things.

The cost of one of these rings can very well depend on the type of stones used and the setting. A plain silver band with small traditional round cut diamonds will cost less than one with a white gold or platinum band and large stones. The first thing before buying a ring is to determine the price range you are willing to spend. Many jewelers will try to get you to upgrade to more expensive settings and stones, but you have to stick to your guns or your gesture of love could be a real budget breaker.

Every couple has a past they want to celebrate because it has brought them to a wonderful present time and when celebrating the present, there is always a hope for the future. The three stone ring is a perfect symbol of these three periods in a relationship.

Jewelry holds a special place in the celebration of a marriage. Jewelry is used to symbolize a couples love for each other, representing a lasting bond between the two people. Wedding and engagement jewelry is also there to make sure you look great on your wedding day! When planning for your big day, there are three main kinds of wedding or engagement jewelry options that you should be considering.

Engagement Rings

This is the thing that will start the whole process off . The engagement ring, representing the promise of marriage. While alternative gemstones are becoming more popular, you can never go wrong with a traditional diamond engagement ring. If you are a potential groom who wants to present a traditional diamond engagement ring to your significant other, there are three main types to choose from. The simplest, and perhaps most elegant, is a diamond solitaire ring, which is a single diamond set on a gold band. This basic design can be spiced up a bit by adding accents, which are smaller gem stones placed around the main diamond. Finally, a diamond three-stone ring, representing the couples past, present, and future is also very popular and attractive.

Wedding Bands

Wedding bands (or wedding rings) are exchanged at the wedding ceremony to represent the couples life long commitment to each other and the marriage. For this reason, your wedding bands may be some of the most important things you ever buy, since all of your relationships love and respect will be bottled up in them. Wedding bands are usually plain for men and women, although some women will now inset diamonds or other gemstones into their wedding band. The main decision you have when choosing a wedding band is whether you want gold or platinum. Whatever you decide, it is best to keep in mind what the band will look like matched with the engagement ring.

Your Wedding Day Jewelry

To add an extra bit of style and pizzaz on your wedding day, consider getting some wedding day jewelry. This can involve anything from a tiara or necklace for the bride, to new cufflinks for the groom. If you are concerned about costs, given the nature of wedding day jewelry you can likely get away with high quality costume jewelry. After all, you could spend a lot of money on a new tiara and never really find the right opportunity to wear it again.

Picking the Perfect Engagement or Wedding Day Jewelry

There are a few common steps you should take no matter what type of wedding or engagement jewelry you are thinking of purchasing. The most important thing is to take your time, do not just rush into a store and pick the first thing that catches your eye. You are going to be wearing this jewelry for the rest of your life, so you want to make sure it is something you will be happy with. You also want to ensure yourself that you are only buying jewelry of the highest quality, no matter how much you like your piece, if it is of lower quality, it will not last.

Imitation diamonds make it possible for you to have exquisite rings for a lot less money than real diamond rings will cost you. Moissanite is the perfect choice when you are looking for imitation diamonds that do not look fake. Rings containing moissanite look just like real diamond rings and have more fire and brilliance to them.

In order to tell the difference between imitation diamonds and the real thing, you would have to bring the rings to a jeweller. It is only through a high powered microscope that the jeweller will be able to distinguish moissanite rings from those containing real diamonds. You cannot tell the difference just by looking at the ring. This means you can have more rings than ever in your armoire and everyone will think you are rich.

Cubic zirconia is another of the imitation diamonds you can use in rings. It is widely used because of the cheaper price. However, the physical properties of this imitation are not the same as a diamond when it comes to hardness and refractive ability. If you want a stone that more closely resembles a diamond, the best choice is a moissanite ring. The moissanite stone is almost as hard as a diamond and looks beautiful when set in gold, silver or platinum.

If you are unsure which of the imitation diamonds to choose, you should look at both of them and compare their characteristics. Compare both moissanite rings and diamond rings side by side to see whether or not you can tell any difference between the two with your naked eye. You should also have a ring containing a cubic zirconia diamond, so you get the full picture when dealing with imitations. One thing you have to look at is the setting of the imitation you choose. This fact will make or break the overall look of the ring.

You can have imitation diamonds in the same types of settings as you would have with a real diamond ring. By using an imitation, such as in a moissanite ring, you can have a larger stone or several stones in a chanel setting. Choose a high grade metal, such as 14k gold or platinum to show off the imitation diamonds to their best advantage. You will feel like royalty when you have one of these moissanite rings on your finger and will enjoy the admiration of others.