What Engagement Ring Material Should I Choose?

There are three basic types of metal to choose from when it comes to engagement rings. Those include steal, gold and platinum. The most popular choice is a classic gold. Platinum is the next popular and steel is generally chosen either when someone has an allergy or when the couple wants to have alternative settings with the engagement ring and wedding band.

Here is a brief overview of these three common engagement ring metals:

Gold
Gold is, by far, the most popular choice when it comes to engagement and wedding rings. Gold rings come in two varieties: white gold and yellow gold. Additionally, you can purchase pink gold and a variety of shades of yellow gold. Gold can be purchased by the carat. The higher the carat is, the softer and more expensive the gold piece will be. 12 carat gold is the most common engagement ring choice, but it goes up to 24 carat for the very fine rings. However, it is recommended that you do not go quite as high because it is important that your engagement ring is durable and will last for generations with out getting dented or bent.

Platinum
Platinum is a popular option for couples that either have allergies to gold or want a stronger metal. Platinum is often more expensive than gold, but it also is more durable and has nearly the same color as white gold (the color is silver). Platinum does not bed as easily as gold. Thus, if you think that the diamond you purchase will be expensive, it might be a good idea to investigate the price of Platinum as well. Platinum has less chance of the setting bending, which would result in a lost stone.

Steel
Most engagement rings are not actually made of steel. However, steel wedding bands are relatively popular among men and women. Steel wedding bands are hypoallergenic and are extremely durable.

Titanium
Titanium is a newer, more expensive wedding band material that some couples enjoy. Titanium has the color of chrome and is stronger than steel. Many couples prefer the stronger metal because they believe that it is an allegory for the strength of a relationship.

While there are a multitude of engagement ring metals to choose from, it is important that you do your research into each type so that you can purchase a ring that is right for you and your future spouse. The ring should be a testament to the bond that the two of you share. As such, make it special!

Read more on What Engagement Ring Material Should I Choose?…

What are the Diamond Shapes in engagement rings and their benefits?

When it comes to engagement rings, there are a multitude of style and shapes to choose from. Some affect the hand in different ways. Others have the advantage of making the rock appear to be larger than it actually is. Here is a very brief overview of several engagement ring styles, but be sure to do your research on your own to select the style that is right for you and your bride.

Keep in mind that in addition to the shape of the cut, the depth of the cut is also important in determining the quality of the stone. Make sure that you select a ring that has very nice symmetry and balance, rather than one that is too deep or too shallow.

Round
The round cut is the most popular. Basically, the top of the diamond is drilled in a circle so that it can be round. The benefit of the round cut is that six prongs usually hold it, which decreases the probability of it falling out of the setting.

Princess
The princess cut is the square-top cut that was made popular by Tiffany’s. The major benefit of the square cut is that it is trendy, attractive and full of color. However, because it is held in place using only four prongs, it can be easily lost if any of the prongs come loose.

Oval
The Oval ring is one of the less popular options, as most brides prefer the round cut. However, the benefit of the oval ring is that the length helps to elongate the hand while the softness helps to add a degree of character.

Pear
The pear shaped engagement ring is one of the least-popular options. In fact, it is so frequently not chosen, that many jewelry stores do not even carry it in stock. If you would like a pear-shaped ring, chances are high that you will have to either go online or special order your ring.

Marquis
The marquis shape is an oval with tips. It not only helps to make the hand appear longer and slimmer, but it also makes the diamond appear larger than it actually is. Marquis are a very popular cut, but are not liked by all brides.

When determining which cut is right for your bride, it is probably important to take a good look around at available options. There are plenty of options with engagement rings even if you go the ‘I’ll design my own engagement ring’ route.

Read more on What are the Diamond Shapes in engagement rings and their benefits?…

What If I Don’t Like the  Engagement Ring He Selected?

Nearly every boyfriend has worried about his future-fiancé not like thing engagement ring that he selects for her. Trust that before he has selected and purchased your engagement ring, he has done loads of research into what’s available and what would most closely suit your unique style. Still, if he happens to purchase a ring that does not directly suit your tastes, what should you do?

Before answering this question, it is important to ask yourself two questions: what does this engagement ring mean to me? And will I be happy to wear the ring he selected everyday for the rest of my life? Here is some advice for addressing these two questions:

What does this engagement ring mean to me?
The engagement ring is a symbol of your love. It is a hand-selected token of the bond that the two of you share and will continue to develop for years and years to come.

Will I be happy to wear thins ring everyday for the rest of my life?
You should feel proud to show off your engagement ring – the symbol of your love. Therefore, if you do not feel proud of the engagement ring that your fiancé has selected, chances are good that you will silently resent his selection.

It is better to appreciate the ring and truly love it than to convince yourself that you will be able to someday love the ring simply because it is a symbol of your love. An engagement ring is a symbolic token, but that doesn’t mean that is doesn’t have to be aesthetically attuned to your personal tastes.

If you do not like the engagement ring that your fiancé has selected, by all means, tell him so that you can exchange it for a ring that reflects your tastes and personality better. You can exchange the ring at most places for one that you love.

Broaching the subject of exchanging the ring can be tough. However, your fiancé should most likely bring it up first. If you have recently proposed to your girlfriend, it is important that you open this line of communication. Your new fiancé will not want to hurt your feelings by asking to exchange a ring that you are proud of. Therefore, it is up to you to let her know that if she is not completely happy with the engagement ring, she can exchange it for another.

Read more on What If I Don’t Like the Engagement Ring He Selected?…

What Can You Do If You Lose the Engagement Ring?

If you happen to lose the engagement ring, you’re kind of out of luck, aren’t you? Particularly if it was a ring that she selected or if she was expecting the ring right when you bent down on one knee to propose. Well, it’s not the end of the world if you come up empty handed when you ask for your woman’s hand in marriage, but you probably won’t have the happiest of proposals if the ring truly is lost.

First things first- don’t panic. This sort of thing actually happens quite often and you can most likely find it. Perhaps in all of your pre-proposal nervousness you left the little gem on your dresser? Or maybe it’s in the pocket of the coat hanging by the door? Whatever the reason and location, you are sure to find the ring as long as you are patient – and have lost it in a location that does not frequently double as a giant black hole!

After your retrace the steps of your house, look in your car, your office and your friend’s car, if you have still not found the ring, then look again. And again. If after several attempts to retrace your steps have not produced your ring, then there is only one thing left do to: panic. Especially panic if it was an expensive engagement ring.

Being that you might not have intended to tell your would-be fiancé about the engagement, you may not want to tell her that you have lost the ring. Indeed, she will not only be sorry for you, and disappointed, and perhaps lose her faith in your ability to carry small objects, but she will likely know that you were planning to propose. Thus, any surprise element of the engagement will be stricken.

And yet, you will most likely be very sad and even frustrated because you cannot find the ring. Hopefully, you had not been saving for years for the ring, because the loss of it could put your engagement back a few years.

However, keep in mind that most men get insurance on the ring or some sort of warranties. Some warranties will cover lost or stolen rings, but you will pay a hefty price for it. It is highly advised that you purchase an insurance rider for your engagement ring, especially if it will be in your possession for more than a day. The rider is free, up to a certain limit, with many mortgages. Otherwise, you can get insurance only on the ring and agree to pay it for your fiancé, if she accepts.

Having some sort of insurance or security is critical if you are going to sustain your sanity after a lost ring. Your fiancé will also be impressed by your foresight and intelligence!

Read more on What Can You Do If You Lose the Engagement Ring?…

The Meaning of the Engagement Ring

Engagement rings have been giving to fiancés for centuries as a symbol of the lasting love and bond that a man and a woman share together. Your engagement ring should be designed or selected specifically with your relationship in mind. Therefore, it is not a good idea to reuse engagement rings or to take the purchase of them for granted.

Many people even design their own engagement rings, either by getting artistic and hand-crafting them, or having a jeweler customize the stone and setting for them. When you personalize your engagement ring, you are creating a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry that will last you and your wife for the decades to come.

Because an engagement ring is given at the time of a proposal, it is important that you assess the type and style of ring that your future wife would want. The proposal and the ring should be selected specifically for your girlfriend’s enjoyment and to suit her tastes. You are telling your girlfriend at the proposal time that you would like her to make a lifelong commitment to you and that, likewise, you are prepared to make a lifelong commitment to her. The ring is simply a symbol of that love.

It is important that when you present your girlfriend with the engagement ring that you are sincere and that you express your undying love and interest in her. You are asking her to abandon her state of being single and to join with you in what will be a lifetime of matrimony. The better your engagement speech is, the better your proposal will be in terms of meaning and impact.

Throughout the course of your marriage, it is important that you both always wear your rings. The rings will thus travel with you wherever you go and they will stay as a constant remembrance of the love that you share. The ring that you purchase will be worn for the rest of your wife’s life together, so it is important that you make the purchase of it wisely.

Generally, couples will upgrade the engagement ring on anniversaries and special occasions by adding additional stones or by changing the setting. Keep in mind that your engagement ring will serve to share your love not only for the duration of the life that you share with your wife, but chances are good that it will also stay in your family for generations as you pass it to your children and grand children.

Read more on The Meaning of the Engagement Ring…

What are the Current Engagement Ring Trends?

When it comes to engagement rings, there are changes in trends every decade. There was a time when everyone wanted a pear-shaped diamond. Now, many stores do not even stock the pear-shaped diamond. Once, everyone wanted ornate engagement rings. Now, brides are preferring to have very simple and streamlined designs.

Here is an overview of some of the most important trends in engagement rings.

1. Princess cut
The princess cut engagement ring is a square-shaped diamond that sits within a normal four-pronged setting. Tiffany’s made this cut very popular with young ladies all over the world. The princess cut is very simple because it only requires four prongs, whereas other shapes use six or more to hold the diamond in place.

When purchasing the princess cut, it is important to look at the color and brilliance of the reflection in order to determine rock quality. The clearer the ring, the more fire it will have when reflected in the sun. Spend some time comparing different princess cuts.

2. Princessa
The princessa cut is basically four small princess-cut rocks that are scaled and fit together to give the illusion of being one large princess-cut stone. While this style has increased in popularity among budget-shoppers, it is often perceived as a “cheap” method of purchasing a ring that you cannot afford. Some couples view it as the equivalent of purchasing a fake diamond – even though all of the princess pieces are genuine diamonds. The reason for this feeling is because the larger rock is meant to look like a 1 carat, for example, but is truly the equivalent of being a 1/2 carat. Most people say, “buy what you can afford, not what you want but can’t afford.”

3. Platinum
Platinum is an alternative to white gold and is more durable and will not dent, like gold could. Therefore, many brides would rather have a platinum band than a gold band. When selecting a platinum band, make sure that your bride likes the color silver and that she has no allergies to consider.

4. Six-pronged round diamond
The six-pronged round diamond has long-been a popular choice in rings among brides around the world. The major benefit of the six-pronged ring is that it is strong. The frequency of a diamond falling out of a six-pronged ring is relatively low, so you can be comfortable with the purchase. The style is also a classic and will be popular for years to come.

Read more on What are the Current Engagement Ring Trends?…

When you think of titanium, you probably imagine long lasting strength. Could there be a stronger statement of the commitment and love symbolized by a wedding ring? This metal, while seemingly so common, has extraordinary properties that make it a perfect base for engagement and wedding rings.

When it comes to metals, titanium is one of the strongest. A large amount of force is needed in order for a titanium ring to get bent out of shape. Unlike gold wedding rings, for example, smacking your hand in the car door is unlikely to bend one. It’s possible to scratch it, but it’s not easy. A little polishing and it will look like new again.

In spite of this hardness, there is no need to worry about a titanium ring getting stuck in an emergency situation. In rare instances, a gold ring can be bent into a finger, causing painful pressure. That’s less likely with a titanium wedding ring. If it does happen, you can cut off the ring just like you would any other.

The aerospace industry and similar leading edge manufacturing sectors use titanium because of its incredible strength. Yet there is another. It’s approximately one third the weight of gold, making it very lightweight. Some like the whisper soft feel of titanium. It sits lightly on the hand and presents no resistance to moving the finger. For those who spend so much time at the keyboard these days, that can be a big plus.

As well, titanium is hypoallergenic and can be worn constantly with no worries about skin conditions. They won’t irritate the skin at all. Titanium is used in hip implants and other medical applications and is perfectly benign.

Titanium engagement or wedding rings aren’t just a practical wonder, though. Plus, they are incredibly beautiful.

Natural titanium is a grayish metal, similar to stainless steel only brighter. It can be polished to a bright sheen and can be made into intricate designs because of its strength. Those qualities make for a subtle, yet ultra-elegant and different style of jewelry. It can also be treated during manufacture to produce a lustrous black. However, make sure you get genuine black titanium; if it has just been coated it will have to be restored periodically.

Men especially like the edgy style that comes with this alternative wedding ring material. By mixing the black and gray kinds you get more of a design range. The end result is an outstanding wedding band that is extremely lightweight as well as distinct and fashionable.

Consider this different look and feel for your wedding ring. After all, you are unique. Shouldn’t your ring be too?

Read more on Stylish and Eternal: Titanium Wedding Rings…

Wedding Rings – Celebrate Your Anniversary With A New Band

Celebrate with a new band? You mean the latest musical group? Er, no. Your marriage was made to last. You made it that way. Celebrate your achievement and your undying devotion by giving the perfect gift: a wedding anniversary ring.

Whether it’s your 10th anniversary, your 25th or your 50th, your loved one will appreciate the symbol and the fact of reaching the pinnacle of success. Forming a bond that endures takes dedicated effort. Celebrate that bond with a band, an anniversary band.

Traditionally, paper, silver and gold represent the 1st, 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries. Yet an anniversary band of platinum and diamond is appropriate in any year. Where else can you break tradition and respect it at the same time?

Imagine an antique anniversary band that is newly made. A paradox? This classic design may be studded with dozens of small oval-cut diamonds set into a band of 14kt gold. At the same time, it speaks to the modern heart that wants a special symbol to celebrate the glorious progress toward a lifetime goal.

A sloping pipe-cut band of yellow gold can be crowned with a series of baguettes. The superb clarity and color of these diamonds need not be reserved for the 75th wedding anniversary, or even the 10th. Because an item of jewelry such as this is perfect on any year.

Men, too, are equally deserving of an anniversary band. Success in marriage is a two-way partnership. The ring choices open for them are as wide as those they face everyday to sustain a loving relationship.

Picture a platinum wedding band inlaid with a central cable of titanium. Or, consider a titanium band inlaid with a central strip of sapphires. However you mix and match these materials, the anniversary band at which you arrive will be informed by the finest design. That’s the perfect symbol for the fine undertaking that supports you both through the years.

Every one of those years is equally deserving of a celebration. Mark them all, because dividing the years evenly by five is just a convention. Be unconventional and go for the tungsten ring that traditionally represents the 16th year.

Tungsten? Light bulb filaments? Think again. True, this metal melts at 6,000 degrees so it can never be destroyed in a home fire. True, it’s incredibly strong, durable and scratch resistant. But practical attributes are a small part of the reason to select one of these. They are stunning.

Polished to a high sheen, these lightweight anniversary bands have the look of fine silver. Carved with a contemporary design and topped with square-cut ruby they are not merely a fine piece of jewelry. They are the embodiment of all you have striven to protect and enhance through the years.

Anniversary wedding rings are more than just a fine piece of jewelry. It’s a promise of a memory to come.

Read more on Wedding Rings – Celebrate with a new band?…

Wedding Rings – More than a symbol.

There are numerous styles of wedding rings available today. All the same, what is symbolized by these treasured metal and gem rings remains what it has ever been. A wedding ring says: you are the one, and deserve nothing less than the best possible.

Plain wedding bands can articulate that every bit as well as the most detailed design. Classic styles remain the choice of millions since they need nothing beyond themselves. With the lustre of gold and little or no ornamentation, they can carry the same message as any other ring. They adorn with simplicity and bond a couple together as powerfully as the most perfect diamond.

Modern-day styles show the restless imagination of the world’s best jewelry designers. Experimentations with tungsten, titanium and other alternate metals have all proven highly successful. These rings comprise the latest ideas in ring making, but are bound to become new classics themselves.

Gold wedding rings continue a popular choice, beyond the impetus of tradition. White, yellow or rose, they are strong, beautiful, and last forever and a day. That makes them the ideal representative of a relationship that’s shooting for for the utmost.

Platinum wedding bands favored by many. No better selection could be made. Some metals are called ‘precious’ for more reasons than their rarity in the Earth. This silvery metal is ultra-durable, heavy and stunning to the eye. Its heft betrays the gravity that the engaged couple feel when approaching their commitment. Its beauty symbolizes that of their devotion.

Add to that platinum ring a single or set of diamonds. You’ve now arrived at the pinnacle of wedding rings. A single stone could form a centerpiece of stellar clarity and dazzling color. Whether pure white or deep yellow, or any of the hundreds of different colors available, a diamond set in a platinum band says it all.

All of these possibilities can be expressed to the limit by the master crafter who produces a hand crafted wedding band or engagement ring. With designs as individualistic as the artist and the ultimate recipient, these pieces of jewelry become superior works of art to wear.

But there are practical facets to the selection of an engagement ring or wedding band, as well. Beyond the need to scratch resistance, durability of shape and surface, and other properties they still need to wear well.

Size is a basic element to meet this need, of course. But the design itself can greatly help in achieving that end. A comfort fit ring assists the wearer to want to wear it always. With beveled interior and exterior edges, rounded arcs and additional features integrated in the ring one can in truth want never to take it off.

All these features are equally true of men’s rings as they are of women’s. Men want a selection of styles, superior wear characteristics and a ring that is really fine to look at. They desire something distinguishing. Contemporary rings exceed these ends easily.

But the engagement and wedding ceremony do not end the possibilities in ring choice.

Anniversary wedding rings fete the well-deserved success of continuing that long-term commitment. Whether observing the 1st, the 10th or the 100th anniversary of a wedding, there’s a ring to suit.

A lot of couples would like to increase still further the celebration of their devotedness to each other. Renewing their vows – whether after five years or fifty – is a brilliant way to do exactly that. And for for each one of those possibilities there’s an anniversary wedding ring to help them do so.

Picking out wedding rings is one of the most blissful of occasions. The intention that drives the selection is one of joy. The choices on hand to accomplish that choice are as limitless as the feelings they stand for.

Read more on Wedding Rings – more than a symbol…

Wedding Bands – Hand Crafted Wedding Bands

Today, millions of products are machine made. That includes many fine wedding bands. There is often some input by a superb craftsman to select and set a stone, for example. But much of the process is carried out by highly sophisticated systems.

But there remains no more sophisticated system than the skill in the mind, eye and hands of a master jewelry maker. That skill is much the same as it was centuries ago, but now brought to new heights with modern tools. Yet the careful focus, the precise direction and other attributes of the craftsman are still the essential elements when these master craftsmen design a wedding ring.

That craft, handed down generation after generation, may be less visible today. But it is still just as vital to making a fine wedding band as it ever was. The most sophisticated computer programs can barely begin to simulate even elementary human movements. And none come anywhere close to duplicating the creativity of expert jewelery makers.

Those skills are nowhere more evident than in the hand crafted wedding bands that are available today. For those looking for a truly unique engagement ring or wedding band, one that will never be found anywhere else, a hand crafted ring is your guarantee.

Imagine the delicate, complex scrollwork evident on a classic white gold band. The master’s hand is everywhere evident. The unique sworls, the individual petals and other touches could only have been created by that unique person. At the same time the level of skill is so high, that it might seem as if the ring was made by machine. That’s the mark of a true expert.

Picture a titanium ring in a contemporary design. The subtle sheen is the result of the master’s attention to detail. The dark cable running down the center was selected by careful thought with an eye to the design of the whole. This two-tone masterpiece could only have been made by a single person striving to create their best work just for you.

An 18kt yellow gold comfort fit band sports a delicate wave of rose gold down the center. Asymmetrically at one top corner is a small round-cut diamond. It was cut by the hand of one who has trained for decades to acquire the needed skill. It was mounted with equal care and attention to this unique creation.

A braided tri-color band shows clearly the hand of the artist. The design could only have been conceived by someone concentrating on the task at hand. It could only have been executed once. To create the same ring over again would violate the canon of artistic principles.

The result in each case is a one-of-a-kind work of art to be displayed as proudly on the hand as a fine sculpture is on the table. Consider a hand crafted wedding band and design a wedding ring that lifts the soul of the wearer as it did the artist.

Read more on Wedding Bands – Hand Crafted Wedding Bands…

The Meaning of the Silver Wedding Ring

Silver wedding rings are really popular in the world we live in today. Along with gold and white gold, silver tops the list of most popular precious metals used to make wedding rings all across the globe. But, where did the wedding ring originate? And what is the meaning behind this precious metal that holds the key to so many hearts? By tradition, the brides ring was silver while, and the grooms’ would be gold. But, today almost any type of metal may be used for the wedding ring of both the groom and the bride. Silver wedding rings are traditionally placed on the left hand and on the ring finger. The reason for this placement on the hand goes back many years as far as medieval times.

Read more on Silver Wedding Rings…

A Few Things to Consider When Buying a Men’s Wedding Band Ring

Many people believe that buying a men’s wedding band ring is a lot easier than buying a women’s wedding band ring. You do not have to spend a huge amount of money on your wedding rings, especially if you both feel as though you know that you love each other. However, since marriage is supposed to be forever, you are supposed to use the ring to show the person just how much you care about them.

Read more on Mens Wedding Band Ring…

As you begin planning your wedding, one of your largest concerns might be choosing your wedding jewelry. Your engagement ring is your first piece of wedding jewelry. Many couples select their wedding bands at the same time as the engagement ring, which is ideal, especially if your engagement ring and wedding band are meant to nest into each other.

Read more on Selecting Your Wedding Jewelry…

The wedding band is one of the first things other women ask to see and it makes people excited just to see it. On the other hand, most men are much less excited about rings. A wedding band to women means a new family with kids and the next chapter in life. Most men do not understand the purpose or importance of the wedding bands, at least in the beginning. It doesn’t really matter unless one takes it off!

Read more on The Significance of the Wedding Band…

Today’s consumers are smart consumers, and many people are realizing that the best way to get a good value for jewelry, including your wedding band, is to buy it online. Unfortunately, when shopping online you don’t have the benefit of experienced jewelers and salespeople, and you can’t try on rings to find one that fits. This presents problems for young people, particularly men, for whom the wedding band is the first ring they’ve ever worn.

Read more on Finding a Wedding Band That Fits…

You’ve finally decided to take that giant step and propose to the woman you love. Youre trying to decide where, when and how to propose. Proposing for marriage is a precious moment, and you want to make sure everything goes just right. But theres just one problem – you havent a clue as to the type of diamond engagement ring you should buy for your future bride! There are so many colors, styles and shapes to choose from with diamond rings, so weve put together this helpful guide for choosing diamond engagement rings – just for you.

Read more on The Women You Love Deserve the Perfect Diamond Engagement Rings…

Common Symbols on a Celtic Wedding Ring and Their Meanings
Modern brides and grooms are returning to the styles of yesteryear more and more. Some are even using Celtic themes and Celtic wedding rings in their ceremonies, as a gentle nod to the romantic ways of old. Many, however, don’t necessarily understand the meaning behind the various symbols that are pictured on the rings.

Read more on Celtic Wedding Ring…

Rings have been used as a symbol of love since ages. No matter whether it is an engagement ring or a wedding ring, a ring is perhaps one of the most memorable gift item that always keeps sweet memories of your wedding alive in your heart.

Read more on Buying Wedding Rings…