Archive for April, 2009

An Engagement Ring Transcends Mere Jewelry

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

Jewelry is a nice accessory to any outfit, and many of us get very creative with the way that we wear our jewelry. There are people who enjoy wearing different jewelry depending on the outfit that they are wearing, and others who really love the foundational jewelry that they wear and can never be caught without their special watch or a particular bracelet. Most jewelry is primarily worn as a statement of fashion (with the exception of a watch, which has a particular practical function).

An engagement ring is indeed a piece of jewelry, but it serves a very different purpose than most other forms of jewelry. It is true that the perfect diamond engagement ring is eye catching and very beautiful to look at from the point of view of aesthetics and fashion, but it is also a symbol. As the legendary psychologist Carl Jung posited throughout his voluminous writings, the consciousness of mankind coalesces around symbols. He called these symbols “archetypes of the collective unconscious.”

Love is perhaps the most profound and powerful of human emotions, and the love that you feel for your partner when you have decided to make the ultimate commitment and join hands in holy matrimony is inexplicable in words. So the symbol of that all encompassing love, the diamond engagement ring, transcends the purpose of any other form of jewelry that is worn as a statement of fashion.

The fact that diamonds are nearly indestructible and therefore “permanent,” as it were, symbolizes the lifelong commitment that you are making to your spouse-to-be when you present her with a diamond engagement ring. The ring is saying “I promise to love you forever.”

Diamonds are essentially the hardest substance on earth, able to endure anything that comes their way without crumbling. The diamond engagement ring is a symbol of the durability of your relationship. It is a statement to the effect of “nothing, no force on earth, can drive us asunder, until death do us part.”

A perfect union is indeed strong, like a diamond. It is durable too, and it is a lasting relationship that will span the lifetime of the couple who enter into it. But there is another symbolic factor to consider when you analyze what the diamond engagement ring represents.

Diamonds are very beautiful. When you gaze into a well cut diamond you can get lost in the facets and the angles that lend a sense of dimensionality that trumps the mundane world around us. Diamonds are brilliant, and they shine proudly under lights or out in the sun. The ideal loving relationship between a man and woman is one of the most beautiful expressions of being that we have here on earth. That love is, in a very real sense, the origin of mankind, because we all are born as a result of this type of union.

A diamond engagement ring is not just another piece of jewelry. It is a symbol the beauty that is present when two people are deeply in love, an outward expression of something that is cheapened when you try to explain it.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Diamonds, Engagement Rings, jewelry
Posted in Buying Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Ring Musings, Wedding Rings | Comments Off

Engagement Rings: Does Size Matter?

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

When you are going to purchase an engagement ring, there are many factors that you need to consider. Of course you want to stay within the price range that you feel comfortable with, and the fact is, you can get a very nice ring in any reasonable price range, so the buyer has a lot flexibility on that score. But what about size? Does the size of the diamond really matter? Should you try to buy the biggest diamond that you can possibly afford?

The perfect ring is different for different couples depending upon their unique taste and sense of style. Some people are very traditional and would never consider an unusually colored diamond, and others are blown away by a diamond with a blue or champagne hue. There are couples who demand intricate complexity in their setting, and others who prefer the neat and simple statement that a diamond solitaire ring makes. There is no right or wrong in matters of taste. When you are shopping for a diamond engagement ring it is all about you. Which ring stands out in your eyes?

Many people are impressed when they see a really large diamond on someone’s finger, but there are subtleties at play that a jeweler would notice but a layman would miss. The size of a diamond is not the only indicator of the cost of the ring. There is such a thing as diamond quality, and if a ring is not GIA certified for quality, you can get a larger stone for the same price as a smaller on that is in fact GIA certified.

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is not a for-profit entity. They are an independent body of diamond and gemstone experts who are dedicated to preserving the integrity of the diamond industry. When they certify a stone, their seal is etched into it (it is invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen under a jeweler’s magnification tools). So when you are considering the question of whether or not size matters when you are shopping for a diamond, you have to consider the quality of the diamond that you are going to get as well as the size. A Gemological Institute of America certification is very important to some couples, and they may wind up with a smaller diamond than a couple who is willing to settle for a lesser quality stone that is not certified. Once again, this is a matter or personal opinion and preference. There are no absolutes concerning what “the best” course of action is.

Many are of the mind that it is not the quantity of something that really matters, but the quality. This seems like a wise assessment in most instances, and it may be the best way to approach the purchase of a diamond engagement ring. However, an engagement ring is a very personal purchase. In the final analysis, when you are asking the question, “does size matter when you are purchasing a diamond engagement ring?” the answer is this: size matters as much as you think that it does.

Tags: diamond color, Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, GIA
Posted in Buying Diamonds, Ring Musings, Solitaire Engegemnt Rings, Wedding Rings | Comments Off

Finding Unique Engagement Rings

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Every relationship is unique, and the reason why an individual would want to marry another is because for some reason this particular person stands out to them among all others. When you think about “love at first sight,” it is as though there is some type of special glow around a certain someone, and they are like a magnet of attraction, not to everyone, but to a special someone. The very reason why two people would want to get married is because each of them feels as though the other is something unique, a one-of-a-kind friend and lover that they want to spend the rest of their lives with.

So when it is time to get engaged, and you start shopping for the ideal engagement ring, you should be looking for a ring that is as unique as your relationship. No lady wants to be sitting next to a couple at dinner and notice that the woman at the next table is wearing the very same ring that she is. So when you are shopping for an engagement ring, it is not that you need to outspend the next person and get a diamond the size of a medium egg as an expression of “one-upsmanship.” What is important is to find a diamond engagement ring that is original in design and that is consistent with your personal taste.

Most engagement rings that are at the lower end of the pricing scale are mass produced, and though they may be attractive in their own right, they are not going to be very interesting, original, or unique. It all depends on the taste of the wearer, but when you start to consider intricate and fancy cuts, unusually colored diamonds, and designer arrangements, you can get creative and find an engagement ring that is singularly appealing to you. If you are of the mind, you can actually sketch out a design and present it to the right jewelry designer and create a ring that is completely unique to you and the symbolic expression of your relationship with your partner.

It is hard to reinvent the wheel and there are of course tried and true general engagement ring designs, but when you understand the different nuances in carat, cut, color, clarity, (what they call the 4Cs) and imagine the many variations that can be employed, the possibilities are almost endless. Choosing the perfect engagement ring that matches your personal taste and sense of style is something that may require a little patience and some comparison shopping, but the search will be worth it. After all, this ring is going to be worn for a lifetime, and there are few choices that are going to stick with us more consistently than the engagement ring choice that we make. If you get tired of a jacket that you bought a couple of years ago, it’s easy to put it into mothballs and buy a new one. But an engagement ring is a lifetime commitment, and it is important that you make a choice that you can live with for the long haul.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, unique engagement rings
Posted in Buying Diamonds, Designer Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, Ring Musings, The 4 C's, Wedding Rings | Comments Off

Engagement Ring Hints

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

If you have given it a lot of thought and finally decided that you are going to ask that special someone to be your bride, many thoughts may run through your head. You might find yourself envisioning having a family and playing catch with your son in the yard, or teaching your daughter to ride a bike for the first time. You may get a warm feeling imagining the holidays spent beside a roaring fire, and the special, intimate moments that you will share with the love of your life over the years to come. Coming to the conclusion that you are ready to settle down and get married is a heady time indeed. But you can’t put the carriage in front of the horse. Before all that good stuff happens, you have to pop the question, and you have to buy the ideal engagement ring, or you never know what the answer to that question may be.

Purchasing an engagement ring is a lot of fun, because you know that if you pick the right one, you are going to make someone that you love very, very happy. But if your relationship is like that of many couples, your taste in a ring may be very different from hers. So how can you make sure that you are buying a diamond engagement ring that not only appeals to you, but that will definitely appeal to your fiancÃ©e-to-be as well? I think the answer to that question lies in asking the right people the right questions, but doing so is very tricky so you have to probe for information using considerable caution.

What I am getting at is that you can ask her mother, her sister, and/or her friends what types of diamond rings she really likes. Is she partial to antique engagement rings, or does who always mention how much she adores Art Deco arrangements? Has she always mentioned how much she would love to have a bezel set ring, or is a black titanium engagement ring something that she has always dreamed of? Girls talk, as they say, so the people who are closest to her probably know what type of engagement ring she would truly cherish. But you want this to be a surprise, and as I just said, girls talk. So you have to understand who among her inner circle is someone who can keep a secret. Many people are prone to getting excited when they hear about this kind of thing and have a hard time keeping mum. Others can do it easily. You have to figure out whose brain you can pick without having her spill the beans.

You can also be very attentive when she is looking at ads in a magazine or when she seems to be admiring another woman’s jewelry. Try to take notice of the types of rings that she already wears to get a feel for her taste. When true love is present, it’s hard to go wrong, but it is a good idea to do all that you can to find the engagement ring that will melt her heart and make the moment of proposal last for a lifetime.

Tags: Engagement Rings, titanium engagement rings, Wedding Rings
Posted in Buying Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Ring Musings, Wedding Rings | Comments Off

Unique and Stunning Asscher Cut Engagement Rings

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Okay, so you are a man who knows little to nothing about women’s jewelry, and you decide that you have been single long enough and you are ready to ask your honey to marry you. You may start thinking about the perfect place to pop the question. Maybe you should take her on a vacation…perhaps a tropical island or a ski trip in the mountains. Maybe it would be best to go to your favorite restaurant, or a concert in the park. Or maybe you are one of those guys who is feeling the ballgame scoreboard proposal or the freeway billboard thing. However and wherever you choose to do the deed, your next challenge is to learn something about women’s jewelry. You are going to have to select an engagement ring that is hard to say no to, and that is going to take some effort.

Not knowing a lot about women’s jewelry before you get married is not necessarily a very bad thing. It is totally possible that you wouldn’t have a girlfriend at all if you were the type of guy that is deeply into women’s jewelry and accessories. But I digress. Once you know that you are going to be buying an engagement ring, you have to know what’s out there and try to get some sort of inkling about what type of ring will truly wow your fiance-to-be.

A diamond is a precious commodity, but the way that it is cut is one of the things that sets one stone apart from another, and like anything else, there are varying standards of quality when you are talking about cut. One unique and stunning cut is the Asscher cut diamond. The style was patented by the Dutch brothers Asscher back in 1902, and the Asscher cut has been synonymous with elegant lapidary excellence ever since. The Asscher stone has a squarish shape with the corners cut so that the stone actually resembles an octagon. If you are wondering what type of engagement ring you may be able to present to your spouse-to-be that is truly precise and unmistakably eye-catching, you may want to consider an Asscher cut diamond. It is interesting to note that because of the fact that the cut is patented, each and every Asscher stone can be identified and authenticated (under magnification of course) through the family seal that each diamond carries on its girdle.

There is a saying that goes something like “I don’t know art, but I know what I like.” If you are somewhat intimidated by the prospect of buying an engagement ring, fear not. Simply do some web browsing and get a feel for the choices that you have, and think like the person who is considering buying a work of art. Find something that you like and it is very likely that the woman in your life will like it as well. Pay attention to detail, take notice of the intricacy of the cut, and let your common sense and personal taste guide the way.

Tags: Asscher Cut Engagement Rings, Diamond Engagement Rings, diamond rings, engagement ring, Wedding Rings
Posted in Buying Diamonds, Designer Engagement Rings, Engagement Ring Sets, Engagement Rings, Gemstone Facts, Ring Musings, Wedding Rings | Comments Off

Engagement Rings For Spring

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

We are getting toward the sweet spot of the Spring when it is getting warm enough to enjoy outdoor activities before it gets too hot to do so comfortably. When you begin to smell the flowers blooming and hear the birds chirping, you know that spring has sprung, and love is often in the air as well. There is a particular magic that accompanies springtime, and the season seems to bring new lovers together and existing couples closer. If you are considering popping the question to the woman in your life, there is no better time than now, and when you do, you are going to want to have the right engagement ring at the ready.

Many of us tend to forget how good it feels to give someone a gift. I know that I am sometimes surprised on Christmas when I get back in touch with the joy of giving, because it is an experience that you don’t have every day. There is no better feeling than watching someone that you love open that perfect gift. Christmas is a special time that comes around only once a year, but imagine how profound it is to give your fiance-to-be the perfect engagement ring. That is something that happens just once in a lifetime. Presenting your partner with a diamond ring is such a unique experience that you really have to do your homework and be certain that you are getting the best value that you can when you go shopping for rings.

Diamond jewelry is indeed a beautiful external expression of the commitment that you are making to your future spouse, but in these times, it is also nice to know that you are trading in currency that has fluctuating and uncertain value in return for a solid and valuable commodity. I am not an economist, but I have to say that I would feel more confident owning a diamond and gold engagement ring instead of some stock in General Motors around now. So these days you can feel better than ever about investing whatever amount of money you feel that you can afford into the ideal engagement ring that will leave your partner absolutely speechless.

The tried and true standard, the ever-popular diamond solitaire engagement ring, is still an excellent choice and there are many different styles, settings, and sizes of stone to choose from. But when you do your research, there are so many different engagement ring choices it is incredible. Most men don’t notice the specifics of engagement rings when they meet a woman who is wearing one, but you can rest assured that your girlfriend most definitely notices. Whether you are leaning toward a diamond and sapphire engagement ring, an emerald cut ring, or a diamond chip engagement ring, take your time and examine your options. A lifelong commitment to another human being is the ultimate gift, and the perfect engagement ring selected with love is a symbol of that commitment that will speak volumes for many years to come.

Tags: bride to be, diamond solitaire engagement ring, Engagement Rings, fiancÃ©, getting engaged, Spring
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Engagement Rings and Online Jewelers

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

When you realize that you have found the woman that you are going to spend the rest of your life with, one of the first things that you think about is finding the perfect engagement ring. When you watch television you hear all of the usual suspects that you see at the mall making their redundant sales pitches, but when you are looking for fine jewelry, you need to keep value in the forefront of your thinking. Companies that spend a fortune on television advertising trying to convince you that they have the best engagement rings are going to pass that expense right on to you, the consumer. Shopping for diamond jewelry is just like any other major purchase: you have to do comparison shopping and get the most that you can for your money.

A man who has decided to get married is rather vulnerable when he walks into a brick and mortar jewelry store. Most men are not savvy when it comes to purchasing jewelry, and when the salesperson gets involved, there are a lot of buttons there to push. They will tell you the exact formula of how much you are “supposed” to spend for your diamond engagement ring, and the innuendos will be in the air concerning the cost of the ring having something to do with the quantity of love that you have for your fiancÃ©-to-be. Most of us live on some sort of budget, and even though you may have decided to take the plunge, that decision didn’t come with a huge windfall of extra money, so you have to stay within your means while simultaneously buying an engagement ring that you are excited about and proud to give. And even if money is no object whatsoever, you want to get the best value that you can when you go the jeweler.

Depending on the size of the town that you live in, comparison shopping for the perfect diamond engagement ring can be challenging. How many jewelry stores are there in your town? If there are ample jewelers to choose from, do you have the time and energy to run all over town looking for the right engagement ring at the right price? Do the stores have a large enough selection to choose from? Can you compare the offerings of competitors side by side? Invariably, the answer to all or most of these questions is going to be a resounding no.

The obvious solution for anyone who is looking to get the perfect diamond engagement ring at the best possible price is to do your shopping at an online jeweler. Shopping for your engagement ring online saves you the legwork and you get to compare practically infinite options side by side from the comfort of your computer chair. When you purchase a diamond engagement ring it is an outward expression of your innermost feelings. When you shop at an online jeweler, you can feel confident that you did the necessary research and got the ring you wanted at the very best price that was available to you.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, diamond jewlery, diamonds online, Engagement Rings, online jewelers, wedding bands, Wedding Rings
Posted in Alternatative Metals, Buying Diamonds, Engagement Ring Sets, Engagement Rings, Ring Musings, Wedding Rings | Comments Off

Diamond Engagement Ring: A Girl’s Best Friend?

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

There is that old saying about a diamond being a girl’s best friend, and even though we love diamonds, the giver of a diamond engagement ring should be the woman’s best friend, not the diamond itself. Good relationships that withstand the test of time are built on a solid foundation of friendship, and the strength and longevity that is symbolized by a diamond engagement ring is rooted in a genuine sense of friendship along with the passionate love that motivates a couple to make the ultimate commitment and get married. Every time the bride-to-be looks at her engagement ring she is looking at a beautiful symbol of love and deep, enduring friendship.

The purchase of a diamond engagement ring is a very important decision that, hopefully, a man will make just once in his life, so he has to be sure that he is getting a ring that the love of his life will cherish forever. When giving a gift the thought certainly counts most of all, but hey, we all like nice things, and there are a lot of beautifully crafted engagement rings out there, from classic antique engagement rings that speak of the elegance and timelessness that reaches across generations, to mind boggling floating diamond engagement rings designed by master jewelers. There are so many options out there for the man who is purchasing an engagement ring it takes a lot of thought to sift through them all and come away with the perfect ring for that perfect best friend that you have decided to spend the rest of your life with.

Since most guys do in fact buy an engagement ring just once in their lives (or at least very rarely), it takes some research to understand what types of arrangements are popular and what your options are. Obviously, it is a good idea to keep your eyes and ears peeled when you are around your fiancÃ©-to-be to try to get an idea of what types of engagement rings seem to “wow” her. Even if she is as in love with you as you are with her, and she is going to say yes regardless of what type of engagement ring you present her with, this is a ring that she is going to be wearing for the rest of her life. You don’t want to present her with a dolphin engagement ring that she secretly despises when you could have picked out a diamond flower engagement ring that brings tears to her eyes and has her friends salivating.

Diamonds are diamonds, and best friends are best friends, but a well selected, quality, creatively designed diamond engagement ring is a beautiful expression of a commitment to eternal friendship between two people who are deeply in love. Shopping for a diamond engagement ring can be a little bit overwhelming, but if you are patient, and you do your homework so that you understand what is out there, you will give your fiancÃ©-to-be a gift that she will treasure for the rest of her life.

Tags: Diamond Engagement Rings, diamond jewlery, diamonds online, Engagement Rings, online jewelers, Wedding Rings
Posted in Designer Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings | Comments Off

2009 Trends in Celebrity Engagement Rings

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Celebrities influence nearly everything we do, from picking out clothes to styling our hair;Â from decorating our homes to selecting products we use. They even influence our engagements and weddings- so it should come as no surprise that we are a little obsessed with celebrity engagement rings. Celebrity engagement rings often give enamored fans a little glimpse of their personal taste and thus their personality. Who wouldnâ€™t like to say that their engagement ring was inspired by their favorite celebrityâ€™s engagement ring?Â Many celebrity engagement rings are custom made, and while most of us do not have the money to get an exact replica, we can find some pretty close versions of the glamorous baubles. Some rings may be vintage, others more modern, but all of them evoke glamour.

Here are three celebrity engagement ring trends of 2009

Solitaire Rings- One diamond doesnâ€™t have to be lonely. Solitary diamonds or jewels can come in many different colors(though white diamonds are always preferred) and shapes including princess cut and square. Fergieâ€™s engagement ring is a simple brilliant diamond solitaire ring. Another idea is to have the band in small pave stones and a large solitaire diamond in the center surrounded by more pave stones- a style that is a lot like the engagement rings that grace the fingers of Natasha Beddingfield and Amy Adams.

Vintage Inspired Rings- Why look forward to the future when you can look to the past for inspiration? Courtney Fordâ€™s square cushioned cut diamond ring surrounded by smaller cut diamonds is 1920â€™s art-deco inspired. Melania Knaussâ€™s engagement ring was also in bit art-deco with a simple emerald cut diamond solitaire- a lot like the ring Ashlee Simpson chose. Tameka Fosterâ€™s ring is inspired by British royalty of the past with a classic Asscher cut, which is a square cut diamond with diagonal cropped corners. And former first daughter Jenna Bush chose an antique ring with a round center stone and two smaller sapphires on either side.

Colored Stone Rings- Even though white diamonds are standard, many celebrities are also choosing more colorful baubles that reflect their personality. And right now, colorful jewelry is a huge trend thanks to the 2009 Oscars.Â A lot of these colorful baubles are diamonds, which is a rare find. Yellow is a common color of many celebrity engagement rings, Rebecca Romjin, Heidi Klum, Katherine McPhee and Brooke Mueller all wore yellow diamond engagement rings.Â Carmen Electra goes for a more Goth route by single black diamond solitaire engagement ring. Mariah Careyâ€™s engagement ring is pink emerald cut diamond that is flanked by two half-moon cut diamonds on either side.

Remember that no matter what celebrity engagement ring trend you choose, you should also choose a ring that reflects your (or your bride-to-beâ€™s) personality. Unlike most jewelry, an engagement ring is more personal and significant, so it would be a good idea to some research. Engagement rings are also a reflection of your relationship, so it is crucial to select the right ring.

Tags: art deco jewelry, asscher cut diamonds, celebrity engagement rings, Celebrity Jewelry, celebrity jewelry knock-ofs
Posted in Celebrity Jewelry, Engagement Rings, Solitaire Engegemnt Rings | Comments Off