Archive for April, 2009

Engagement Rings & Creativity

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

Whenever we think about engagement rings, many of us tend to conjure a mental picture of the stone, and in most cases, that would mean discussing the diamond that is the centerpiece of most engagement rings. Indeed, the stone in an engagement ring may be the most eye-catching element for many when they first see the ring. But the wearer of the ring is going to look at it many times daily for the rest of her life, and her spouse will do so as well.

An engagement ring is a very unique purchase, unlike any other piece of jewelry or article of clothing. It is more like a tattoo than it is a fashion choice that is disposable if you feel as though it is not expressing who you are in a few years. An engagement ring is permanent, so when you decide on your engagement ring or wedding ring set, you have to realize that it is destined to become a family heirloom.

Any time we are around an object of seeming beauty for an extended period of time, that very fetching and inviting allure pulls us in closer, and we begin to examine the details and the intricacies. A painting is like this, or a musical piece that you love when you first hear it. Subsequent listens beckon in different ways.

Engagement rings are a work of art in their own right, and once you are drawn in by the most prominent and obvious aspect of any artistic manifestation of creativity, be it a symphony or a well designed, platinum engagement ring, you then begin to examine the details. This can be a blessing for the artist, or it can be a curse. But it is certainly a fantastic and rare opportunity. If a jewelry designer can create a custom engagement ring that stands up to the scrutiny of an eye that can see true quality, he or she will enjoy limitless opportunity.

When you are tying to find the perfect engagement ring that really tells the love of your life that you “get it,” examine the ring for creativity and artistic integrity. Take a long look at the detail. The engagement ring is not just the stone. Honor the craftsmanship of the jewelry designer, because if you do value the intricacies of the design, you will wind up with a ring that you love to look at on your wedding day, that’s for sure. But you will also love the very same ring on the wedding day of your sons and daughters.

Everybody understands what they are looking at when they see or hear a creative expression that expresses something meaningful. No symbol is more powerful than that which would galvanize the eternal resonance of true soulmates entering into the promise of loving matrimony. When we shop for an engagement ring, perhaps we should focus on the design at least as much as we are hypnotized by the stone. Of course the stone is key, but the intricate detail etched into the body of the ring is just as important when you consider the overall quality of a diamond engagement ring.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, platinum engagement ring, wedding ring set
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Engagement Ring Customer Service

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

Engagement rings are our business, and we have been around couples and committed singles who are interested in buying an engagement ring for their significant other for many years. When we don’t have exactly what they are looking for, we don’t just tell them no, we don’t have that, or no, jewelers can’t do that. We try to source what it is that they are looking for and do all that we can to deliver what they want. This is the key to ongoing success if you want to be a long-term supplier of engagement rings, and I think that valuing the consumer and going the extra mile to try to satisfy their needs is what good customer service is all about regardless of the industry in question.

The conversations that you have with your customers, and potential customers, are the best barometer of what you need to do to set yourself apart from your competition and offer what the customer is looking for. If you have the engagement ring styles that none of your competitors can offer, perhaps because they have not been listening attentively to their customers’ feedback, then your engagement ring business is going to continue to prosper and grow. If you stay stuck in your own ways and don’t try to gain a clear understanding of the needs of the modern engagement ring shopper, you may well fall by the wayside, and the more progressive jewelers will wind up with the business that you always counted on.

We have stayed abreast of what is going on in the industry, keeping aware of the latest trends and innovations in jewelry making equipment for one thing. When new technologies are introduced into the jewelry making business, more becomes possible on several different levels. People who are not in the jewelry business, for the most part, simply look around at the finished products when they are shopping for an engagement ring, and they may never consider how the ring was actually made, or what types of equipment were utilized to make it.

There is nothing wrong with this, and it is entirely natural. I don’t always stop and consider the dough making equipment involved when I buy my morning bagel. I never think about what type of machine may have been required to make my plastic eyeglass frames. It is information that I don’t need to know, and folks who are shopping for a diamond engagement ring don’t have to know that it took a particular type of technology to be able to easily shape a titanium engagement ring, or to cut a diamond in a very precise and unique manner. They just know what they want, and if I am not designing the rings myself, I am going to have to source it from someone who was forward thinking enough to obtain the equipment that’s necessary to satisfy the desires of the modern engagement ring shopper.

Customer service is perhaps the most important element of any successful business, and when you want to be able to enjoy long term success selling engagement rings, you need to listen to your customers and find a way to provide them with exactly what they are looking for, when they want it, at a price that they can afford.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, titanium engagement rings
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Engagement Rings: Past, Present, and Future

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

The tradition involved in presenting a prospective spouse with an engagement ring is a rich and storied one, but since diamond engagement rings are a statement of fashion as well as being a symbol of love, new and innovative styles emerge as times change. Each generation is going to alter the tradition slightly, and that is a good thing, and it is the way that traditions continue to grow rather than falling into entropy and eventually dying out. Evolving design possibilities for engagement rings emerge as time passes due to technological advances as well as stylistic innovations.

Additionally, the prices of some precious metals and stones have become more in line with the spending ability of the general public over the years, and that has impacted the tradition and opened up more possibilities for couples who are shopping for an engagement ring.

Since the engagement ring is such a traditional piece of jewelery, the styles of the past still look relevant today, but, more modern stylistic notions have entered the craft and there is a mingling of the traditional with the modern in the realm of engagement ring design these days. In the end, the purchase of an engagement ring is a personal choice, and there are indeed a good many engagement ring choices out there.

Many people have looked at the engagement rings that they have seen on the fingers of their older family members since they were children and fallen in love with them. Indeed, many of these classic engagement ring designs are stunning even today. A lot of women feel as though they would love to have an antique ring, and buying an antique engagement ring can be a good choice. There are also vintage engagement rings being made in the present that are intended to be reminiscent of the classic styles of years gone by, and they are certainly a viable option for those who are seeking a vintage flavor.

Diamond solitaires have been an industry standard for years, and they are very popular today as well. As we say, the diamond engagement ring is a deeply embedded tradition, and the simple elegance of a diamond solitaire engagement ring is not something that is likely to go out of style any time soon.

Contemporary designs utilize the advances in technology that we mentioned that give jewelery designers the ability to create innovative alloys that can provide interesting colors. Technologies that were not available decades ago allow the modern design professional to shape diamonds more creatively while adding more intricacy in the detailing of the engagement ring. Mokume Gane engagement rings are becoming quite popular, and Celtic engagement rings are very interesting with their trademark knot designs.

What specific future innovations may be in store for the traditional engagement ring is anybody’s guess, but in all likelihood, we will continue to see a mixture of the classic and the new. One thing is for certain, however; the engagement ring has always been a symbol of an enduring and committed, loving relationship, and that is a tradition that is worth upholding.

Tags: celtic engagement rings, Diamond Engagement Rings, diamond solitaire engagement rings, Engagement Rings, Mokume gane, Vintage Engagement Rings
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Engagement Ring True Stories

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

The true love that is symbolized by a diamond engagement ring is something that is unique to this special type of ring, and it is interesting to hear some of the different stories that people have to tell about their own engagement ring experiences. We have spoken to many people over the years who have been willing to tell us their personal engagement ring stories, and we will endeavor to share some of them with you here. From stories about losing a platinum and diamond engagement ring and finding it the day before the wedding, to winning the money for the perfect custom engagement ring at the race track, we have heard them all. But not really. I’m sure that we will hear more, because truth is indeed stranger than fiction, especially when you are talking about engagement rings. But a friend shared his engagement ring experience with me a while ago, and I found it to be a good story.

When this friend of mine first fell in love with the woman who was to become his wife a couple of years later, he was a young guy who was still attending college. Of course this means that he didn’t have very much money. It was truly love at first sight for both of them, and within a couple of months they started talking about getting married. They discussed the perfect engagement ring, going to online jewelry stores and researching the diamonds and precious metals. They learned about the 4Cs of diamond quality, and about the way that quality diamonds are certified by the The Gemological Institute of America. They discussed whether they would prefer a large diamond or if such an engagement ring might be too pretentious. Then they explored the precious metals, learning about the various gold alloys, silver, platinum, palladium, titanium, and tungsten engagement rings. They even considered whether or not my friend should wear a man’s engagement ring. In the end, they did locate the engagement ring that was perfect for them. They had a lot of fun dreaming about the future, and this was just one of the many things that they discussed. They also imagined a nice wedding, and what it would be like to have a family and buy their first house. They were, after all, two young people who had fallen in love.

On Spring break when they were seniors in college they went to Las Vegas. They had a wonderful time, and their love was brimming over. They couldn’t wait. They knew it was kind of a rash decision, but they went to a wedding chapel and they got married.

Because they had very little money, they had no ring. And things were tight for them for the next couple of years. But two and a half years later, while both of them were working rather low paying jobs while looking for a break, my friend, who went to school for drama, landed a role in, of all things, a Las Vegas Strip production of a Broadway play. The salary was phenomenal. He went online and bought the ring that they had decided on those years before when the two of them were just dreaming.

It came via next-day courier, and he surprised her with the news about the role in Las Vegas, and then, he produced the ring. When I heard that story, I had to think that indeed, dreams really do come true. Especially when there is love in the dream.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, Gemological Institute of America, the 4Cs
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Engagement Ring Tradition

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

There are many traditions that we share across the generations, and in many cases different cultures around the globe share certain customs. The engagement ring tradition is one of them, and it is a fascinating one indeed.

It seem that around the beginning of the thirteenth century Pope Innocent III decreed a mandatory waiting period between the time a couple became engaged and when they were actually allowed by the church to become betrothed. The tradition of the engagement ring came out of this. A man who proposed would give the object of his affection an engagement ring as a gift so that other prospective suitors could see that she was spoken for and awaiting the time when the marriage could take place.

During the first few centuries after the custom was adopted, few people could afford expensive stones for their engagement rings, so only the wealthy were able to give diamond engagement rings or engagement rings adorned with other precious stones. The more common folk gave very modest bands as gifts, and there are several countries in Europe that still do so, even if they can afford precious stones.

Here in America and in Great Britain and many other countries, we share the tradition of wearing the engagement ring on the left “ring finger,” as we call it. This practice stems from back in the classical era when it is said that people believed that the fourth finger of the left hand held within it the vein of love, or vena amoris. However, there are countries whose engaged couples traditionally wear their engagement rings on the fourth finger of the right hand, Ukraine and Poland among them.

Are engagement rings strictly for women? The answer is no. There are cultures where it is quite common for both a man and woman who are getting engaged to exchange the gift of an engagement ring. The practice is in fact taking place more often here in America as well, though it is still far from commonplace.

There is a unique legal aspect to the gift of an engagement ring in some states here in America that is very interesting to those of us who are fascinated by the quirks in the law. Traditionally, when someone gives a gift to another person, the gift becomes the legal property of the recipient. The giver of the gift cannot legally lay claim to it as his or her property once it has been given to somebody else. But an engagement ring is different. When you give someone an engagement ring it is legally considered a “conditional gift” in certain states, meaning that there is a legal implication that the gift belongs to the recipient only if she (or he in rare instances) follows through on the “condition” of getting married.

Like all customs and traditions, the giving and wearing of an engagement ring by women (and some men) who are planning to wed is long standing and very interesting to research. It looks like any woman who is floored by receiving the perfect diamond wedding ring has none other than Pope Innocent III to thank!

Tags: dimaond engagement rings, engagement ring facts, engagement ring tradition, Engagement Rings
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Top 10 Reasons to Buy an Engagement Ring Online

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

When a man decides it is time to pop the question, or when a couple decides that they are going to get engaged as a decision that they arrived at together, there is a lot of planning that needs to be done. The wedding will be something that requires a lot of thought, and they will have to decide on living arrangements and if they want to have children right away. But the engagement ring comes before all of these things, and it too is a big decision. The purchase of an engagement ring is a sizable investment, and it is an important symbol of the love that the couple have for one another, so it needs to be approached logically.

Online shopping is becoming more and more popular, and these days, many anxious men and excited couples are choosing to buy their engagement rings online. Here are the top 10 reasons to buy your diamond engagement ring from an online jeweler.

10.) It Saves Gas

Okay, so the cost of gasoline has dropped almost in half since the outrageous prices of last summer. But hey, the economy is tough, so why drive around town, and perhaps out of town, to shop for an engagement ring when you can do it online?

9.) More Competition

When you shop online, you are seeing engagement rings from all over the globe, and due to the competition for your business you will very likely get the best prices online.

8.) Selection

There are thousands of online jewelers offering virtually unlimited engagement ring choices, from titanium engagement rings to designer platinum engagement rings. The online selection of engagement rings is clearly superior.

7.) Convenience

When you buy your diamond engagement ring online, you browse the Internet, point, click, and simply wait for the delivery person to knock your on door with the perfect engagement ring.

6.) Ease of Research

If you choose to buy your engagement ring online, you are not forced to rely on the words of a salesman in a jewelry store who has a slanted viewpoint. You can do your research objectively and gain an understanding of the ins and outs of engagement rings before you buy.

5.) Saves Time

Not only do you save gas by not having to drive around looking for the right diamond engagement ring, but you also save a lot of your valuable time.

4.) You Keep it a Secret

If you are a man who wants to surprise his girlfriend with a diamond engagement ring and a proposal, you don’t want to be seen at the local jewelry stores. Word spreads quickly, and when you shop online for your engagement ring, nobody is any the wiser.

3.) Support Online Jewelers

Online jewelers work hard for their customers, and they appreciate your business! When you buy your engagement ring online, you are making the statement that you believe in e-commerce.

2.) Low Overhead, Lower Price

When you buy your engagement ring from a brick and mortar store, you, the consumer, assume the cost of their overhead.

1.) Comparison Shopping

There is no substitute for being able to compare two rings side by side, and when you shop for an engagement ring online, you have the ultimate ability to comparison shop from the comfort of your very own home.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, online jewelers, Platinum Engagement Rings, titanium engagement rings
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Staying Within Your Means When Buying an Engagement Ring

Monday, April 27th, 2009

When you are buying an engagement ring for the woman that you want to make your wife, you have to take a lot of things into consideration. The purchase of a diamond engagement ring is a matter of the heart first and foremost, and the primary thing on the mind of most people who are shopping for an engagement ring is that they want to make their girlfriend the happiest woman on earth when she first lays her eyes on that glistening diamond ring. That having been said, a diamond engagement ring that is set in a precious metal like gold or platinum is going to be a major purchase, so you do have to keep financial considerations in mind regardless of how large the quantity of your love may be.

There is a formula that has been circulated that says that a man should spend two months’ salary on the engagement ring that he is going to present to his lady when he proposes. Many people are okay with this, and it is a decision that is personal. However, nothing is etched in stone. It is feasible that a person who makes a very good salary and has a significant amount of disposable income might want to spend more than two months’ salary on a custom diamond engagement ring that absolutely stuns everyone who sees it.

On the other hand, another person may feel as though spending two months’ salary on an engagement ring is simply much more than he can comfortably afford. This doesn’t mean that he loves his paramour any less than the first fellow. He is just staying within his means and that is a quality that any woman should value in a potential spouse.

If the sky is the limit when you are shopping for an engagement ring you can simply shop around and explore the various designs that you see and pick whatever ring that you like without regard to cost. However, most of us have to work within some type of budget and choose something that we do actually like, but something that we can afford as well.

The good news is that there are very nice engagement rings in all realistic price ranges. There are smaller diamonds and diamonds of less than perfect quality that look fantastic unless you were to scrutinize them under a jewelery loupe. There are also metals that a person on a budget can choose that are less expensive than the standard gold or higher end platinum rings, like silver, tungsten, titanium or palladium.

It is indeed the thought that counts, and many marriages are strained by economic concerns after the passion dies down a little bit. It is therefore a good idea to look for an engagement ring that you are certain that your partner will enjoy, but one that does not put you into so much debt that the good intentions turn into a bad situation. Love is grand, but choosing a diamond engagement ring that is within your means is a good way to get off to a solid start together.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, gold engagement rings, palladium engagement rings, Platinum Engagement Rings, titanium engagement rings, tungsten engagement rings
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Engagement Ring Thoughts

Monday, April 27th, 2009

We recently discussed the various places that one can propose and present an engagement ring to a prospective spouse-to-be, and it is indeed interesting to consider the most romantic way to propose. A recent episode of the reality show “Hell’s Kitchen” depicted an interesting real life engagement ring scenario that might give some people some ideas.

The show is about a group of aspiring chefs competing to get the opportunity to be the executive chef at a brand new, five star restaurant. They compete in a manner that is kind of like the “Survivor” concept. One chef is eliminated each week and the last one standing grabs the brass ring and lives the dream of being the lead chef in a gourmet restaurant.

In this episode a patron of the restaurant called the front-of-the-house manager aside and asked to speak with him for a moment. He was a well dressed young man, and he was sitting at a table with a very attractive date. He explained to the manager that he was going to propose to his girlfriend, and he showed him the beautiful diamond engagement ring that he was going to give her. He asked if the chefs could possibly take the ring and place it creatively on a lidded serving platter with her dessert.

When she was served the platter, the lid was removed with great aplomb to reveal the dessert, and the words “Will you marry me?” were written in chocolate, and the diamond engagement ring was sitting on the plate. Her eyes welled up with tears, and her suitor got up out of his chair and knelt down next to her in the crowded dining room, and all eyes were fixed upon him. He said that they had been together quite a while and he had reached the point where he was certain that he wanted to marry her, and he proposed. She hesitated just a moment before acquiescing, and the diners in the room let out a collective sigh of relief before giving them a warm round of applause. It was a very moving moment to be able to see as a viewer, and it was indeed a great way to present the love of your life with a diamond engagement ring.

My first thought when I consider the best way to present an engagement ring is that if you do it in a setting that is not completely private, you are somehow detracting from the intimacy and personal quality of such a significant moment in your lives. But after seeing the way that this man proposed, down on one knee in front of a large group of people, I can see a different perspective on the subject. Giving his girlfriend the diamond engagement ring in a public place demonstrated a certain type of unbridled courage that comes with being totally in love. He was not afraid. He wanted the whole world to know that he had found the woman the he wanted to share the rest of his life with, and he had the honor of slipping that diamond engagement ring onto her finger in front of a roomful of hushed onlookers and millions of television viewers.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, wedding proposal ideas
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Giving an Engagement Ring

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

Some couples make a mutual decision to get married at some point in their relationship rather than the woman waiting for the man to “pop the question”. When couples go this route they may choose to discuss the engagement ring together and actually shop for the ring as a couple. There are clearly a lot of advantages to this approach. For one thing, there is no risk that the bride-to-be won’t like the ring that her man picked out for her. Another nice thing is that they can both feel like they were a part of the selection on an emotional level. The fact that they went through the process of shopping for and buying the engagement ring together could be an experience that adds to their bonding as a couple.

The down side of this arrangement is that there is no element of surprise. The presentation of the engagement ring is an expression of the man’s desire to spend the rest of his life with the woman of his dreams. When everything goes according to plan, the surprise proposal and presentation of a dazzling diamond engagement ring is a storybook moment. It is understandable that some committed couples may know that they are going to get engaged at some point and decide together when to buy the ring. But there is certainly something to the element of surprise that can be magical.

If you decide that you are going to buy an engagement ring for the woman in your life and surprise her with the ring and a proposal, it is interesting to consider where and how you should go about doing it. You are invariably going to be nervous when you propose, and there is probably going to be an emotional reaction one way or another, so it may be risky to propose in public. But then again, most dates take place in some sort of public place and it might be nice to pull the ring out of your pocket while you are sitting at your favorite restaurant enjoying dessert at the best table in the house, overlooking the bay, while the pianist is playing her favorite song.

Clearly, the best milieu is a place where you both feel comfortable that has some sort of romantic flavor to it. Many people love nature, and pulling out that ring while you are luxuriating on the beach or sitting on a plateau that offers a sublime view of the valley below while hiking would be a nice effect. A carriage ride through the park on a starry night would be an interesting idea, or you could even pop the question and present her with the ring while you were doing something unusual, daring, and memorable, like hot air ballooning or taking a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon or a lush green vista in Hawaii.

When you have found the love of your life and you are ready to give her the perfect diamond engagement ring, time will stand still and in a way it may not matter where you are. But, when you think about it, slipping that ring on her finger while you are dancing alone on a beach in Tahiti at midnight under a full moon might be a pretty good idea…

Pictured engagement ring setÂ from the Lieberfarb Line (www.Lieberfarb.com).

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, engagement rings online
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Engagment Rings: Better Than a Bank?

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

We are supreme optimists here and we would never suggest that the economy is not gong to rebound soon. But when you are a realist, you have to consider the possibility that commodities may be a safer place to put your money than currency, stocks, or bonds right around now. We are jewelers, not economists. But the fact is that jewelers do sell diamond engagement rings made with precious stones and metals so when you buy a diamond and gold engagement ring, you may be making a very wise financial decision.

The reason why people buy diamond engagement rings is to express the love and commitment that they feel to that special someone, and that is as it should be. But when you buy a car, for instance, you are putting out a nice chunk of change. But as soon as you drive your new car off the lot, you immediately lose money, and your “investment” in the new car is actually going to decrease in value month by month. When you buy a nice new suit or a fresh pair of shoes, they are fine for a while, but before long, the wear and tear takes over and you can no longer wear them. Just about everything that you ever buy is destined to lose its value unless it is a very wise and financially informed outlay of money that is more of an investment and less of a purchase.

When you have met the person that you are certain that you want to spend the rest of your life with, the universe has presented you with a beautiful gift. And having the privilege of browsing all of the online jewelry stores for a diamond engagement ring that will have your fiancÃ©e oohing and ahhing is perhaps the most satisfying shopping experience that you will ever have. Even if the purchase of a diamond engagement ring was the same as all of the other purchases that are certain to lose value over time, it would be well worth it to see the look on your love’s face when you present her with the perfect engagement ring. Neither of you will ever forget that special moment, and there is no way that anyone can put a price tag on that type of once-in-a-lifetime experience of giving. The engagement ring itself will be a reminder of how you both felt when you got engaged every time you glance at it over the ensuing years of marriage.

But guess what? When you buy your diamond engagement ring, you are not buying one of the many things that are destined to lose their value. You are taking your currency, currency of fluctuating value, and exchanging it for something that is made of some of the most valuable and precious metals and gemstones on the planet. So your diamond engagement ring is indeed a selfless expression of the love that you share with your partner, but as a little cherry on top, it is also a very solid investment and its value may be more secure than the value of the money you paid for it.

Pictured engagment ring from the Lieberfarb Line (www.Lieberfarb.com).

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, online jewelry stores
Posted in Engagement Rings, Gemstone Facts, Ring Musings, Wedding Rings | Comments Off

Archive for April, 2009

Engagement Rings & Creativity

Engagement Ring Customer Service

Engagement Rings: Past, Present, and Future

Engagement Ring True Stories

Engagement Ring Tradition

Top 10 Reasons to Buy an Engagement Ring Online

Staying Within Your Means When Buying an Engagement Ring

Engagement Ring Thoughts

Giving an Engagement Ring

Engagment Rings: Better Than a Bank?

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