Archive for the ‘Engagement Rings’ Category

 
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What you Need to Know About Diamond Carats

Monday, July 12th, 2010

When shopping for a diamond engagement ring, there are many factors that need to be discussed. One of the things that couples talk about are diamond carats, which is simply the weight of the diamond. Obviously, a 1 carat diamond will be much more expensive than a smaller carat stone, because higher carats are naturally more rare. However, the average size of a diamond used in an engagement ring is 1/3 of a carat.

Even if you can’t afford a huge diamond, there are certain settings and design elements that can be incorporated to make the diamond look larger than it actually is!

What Size Should You Buy?

Unfortunately, there seems to be a misconception among many inexperienced jewelry buyers that the bigger the diamond, the better it is. While bigger diamonds are more expensive, of course, that does not mean they are better than a smaller stone. Of course, the size you choose should not only be appropriate for your budget, but also based on your bride-to-be’s preferences as well.

Carat weight is not the only factor that will influence the price of a diamond though. The other C”s of the 4 C’s (color, clarity and cut) also influence the final price.

Finally, you should also base your decision on carat weight by how it would look on your bride-to-be’s hand. If her hands are small and dainty, a larger stone would look ridiculous, whereas if she has larger hands and fingers, a small stone may become lost and look out of place.

How to Make a Small Diamond Appear Larger

Even if you can’t afford a large carat weight, you can still employ certain tricks with the design of the engagement ring to make the stone appear larger than it actually is. If you have an elongated diamond shape, such as a marquise diamond, they will appear larger than they actually are. An elevated prong setting can also create the illusion of a bigger stone, and side or accent stones nestled against the central stone can also create an optical illusion to add size to the diamond.

Total Weight

The total carat weight of a diamond engagement ring depends on the weight of all stones used in an engagement ring. If you choose a ring with several accent stones, this will increase the overall carat weight of the ring and quite possibly increase the price as well. When comparing various engagement rings, make sure you verify the carat weight of each stone, including the central stone, which should make up the largest portion of the total carat weight of the ring.

Even though the carat weight of a diamond is important, many people believe that the higher the carat weight, the better the stone is. While this isn’t always the case, it is important to buy an engagement ring that is within your budget, no matter what the weight of the stones are.

You can view a fine selection of engagement rings to meet all budgets at EngagementRings.org.

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Man-gagement: Engagement Rings for Men

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Yes, men can wear Engagement Rings too!

For more than two hundred years, Engagement Rings have been offered to a woman as a symbol of a man’s commitment to marry her.  The moment that she dreams about her entire life is sealed with a diamond Engagement Ring, and one of the most exciting times of her life commences…planning the wedding.  Historically, not only has the woman been the only one to receive an Engagement Ring, but she was also the only one to wear a wedding band.  It was not until World War Two that men also began to display their marital status and commitment to their wives by donning a shiny gold band on their left hand.  While at war soldiers began to wear the rings to honor their wives back home and prove their commitment to the relationship from so far away.  Since that time, it is more common for a man to wear a wedding ring, but what about the tradition of only women wearing Engagement Rings? This is also changing, more men are starting to wear Engagement Rings right along side their fiancées.

Why is tradition evolving and more men showing interest in wearing Engagement Rings?  In the past, men were shy to be the first ones wearing Engagement Rings and risk getting teased by their buddies, but two things have urged the trend; women want the world to know that their fiancé is betrothed, and men are more and more accepting of fashion in general.  Just like the evolved tradition of men and women wearing wedding rings, it stands to reason that Engagement Ring tradition would evolve as well.

Lets face it, typically, what women want, women get.  Ladies have noticed that they are treated a little differently once they place that Engagement Ring on their finger, and suddenly the world knows that they are no longer on the market.  Many women want their fiancés to share in this experience, and well…they want all the other women out there to know their man is taken.  Also, when a guy wears an Engagement Ring along side his girlfriend, he takes his commitment to another level and really shows her how much she, and this marriage mean to him.  When a man dons an Engagement Ring, he is not “whipped,” as some of his friends may insinuate, but he is actually very astute and sensitive to her feelings.

Men are also getting into the Engagement Ring wearing business because men’s fashion has come such a long way in the last two decades. Thanks to famed fashion aficionados like ball players, actors, and musicians (David Beckham and P Diddy come to mind) men’s fashion has exploded.  The boys that enjoy wearing stylish clothes or jewelry no longer automatically get the labeled: “metro-sexual.”  Men with the latest clothing trends are no longer looked down upon by their buddies, but accepted and often admired.  Male Engagement Rings are a part of this emerging men’s fashion world.  In fact, many high-end jewelers are now selling collections of men’s Engagement Rings, or what some call, “man-gagement,” rings.

Browse a fine selection of engagement rings for both men and women at EngagementRings.org.

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How to Find an Engagement Ring at an Online Auction

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

Buying an engagement ring at an online auction can be an intimidating process, but if you prepare yourself beforehand you can score amazing deals.

The key to finding the perfect ring for your bride-to-be at an online auction site is to educate yourself on the best methods of finding a ring and learning how to avoid scams and sellers that are less than reputable.

Step One: Research

Before you can begin browsing auction listings, it’s important to get an idea of the type of ring your bride-to-be prefers. The best way to do this is to visit local jewelers and compare various gemstones, accent stones, settings and metals to find the engagement ring design you prefer.

Keep her ring size handy as well, as this will also help you narrow your search and prevent you from having to wade through countless search results that aren’t for you.

Step 2: Finding a Ring

Once you know the type of engagement ring you’re looking for, you can begin searching on the auction site. Select the jewelry category, and type in your keywords based on what you are looking for.

Keep it simple, though; for example, “emerald cut diamond ring” or “white gold engagement ring,” will work, but if you are super specific you will end up missing out on a lot of beautiful choices or not find anything at all!

You can also vary your chosen keywords slightly to catch auctions that may have misspelled words or different phrasing. This is a great way to find engagement rings you would have missed otherwise!

Step 3: Check the Seller’s Reputation

Online auctions can be tricky, especially when there are people out there who only care about making a quick buck. To avoid potential problems or scams, check the seller’s reputation very carefully.

Read their existing feedback and seller rating, and if you can, try contacting previous buyers to get their impressions of their purchases.

The auction page should list the seller’s policies, including shipping costs, detailed information about the engagement ring, as well as a return policy and payment methods. They should also be willing to answer any questions you might have.

Bottom line: If your instincts tell you something seems off, it probably is.

Step 4: Investigate the Ring

Because you have to depend on photographs and descriptions to determine if the engagement ring you’re viewing at an online auction is the perfect choice for you, it can be tricky to determine if the ring is what it says it is.

Carefully read the item description and make sure all relevant information is included. If it’s not, ask! Also check prices on similar rings to make sure you are actually getting a deal and not overbidding.

You’ll also want to make sure there are several photographs of the ring included. Do not bid on an engagement ring listing without pictures! Pictures should be taken from every angle of the ring, and there should be a few close up shots to show detailing.

If you are worried about the authenticity of the ring, ask to see a certificate of sale or the original documents. If these aren’t available, ask if the seller will have it appraised and send the results to you. If you still can’t get anywhere, you just need to trust the seller’s feedback and reputation and hope you are getting the ring that is advertised.

While finding an engagement ring at an online auction might seem like a recipe for disaster, with the proper planning and research you can score a great deal on a unique ring that your bride-to-be will treasure for years to come.

To find my advice on how to find the perfect engagement rings, visit EngagementRings.org.

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Antique Engagement Rings Offer Romance and Beauty

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Vintage and antique engagement rings have become very popular in recent years and there are many reasons that men and women alike choose to buy an engagement ring that honors designs from the past. Whether it is because of the unique beauty of these rings, because of the added sparkle, or because these rings remind people of nostalgic times of the past, antique engagement rings are very popular today.

When a man plans to propose to his girlfriend, he wants the moment to be truly special. By presenting her with a vintage or antique engagement ring he is showing her that he truly has a romantic side. Many engagement rings that were created in the past have a more feminine and thus romantic feel because these rings possess intricate and delicate design details. Inspired by designs from the Edwardian or Art Deco era, these vintage rings are often crafted from platinum or white gold, and usually showcase engraved openwork or milgrain designs in the setting.

In addition to the beautiful engraved openwork and milgrain patterns, many antique engagement rings sparkle more than a modern engagement ring because rather than have just one large center diamond, these rings have many small diamonds. This allows you to wear a ring that has a heavy carat weight but at a lesser cost. Also, the many small diamonds in a vintage or antique engagement ring work together to create a ring with an amazing sparkle.

Micro pave engagement rings are very common vintage or antique engagement ring styles. Pave is taken from the French word pavement, or to cover. These rings that have may small diamonds that cover the setting. With all of these brilliant stones working together, you can imagine the kind radiant sparkle that a vintage micro pave engagement ring offers!

Brides also like to wear vintage or antique engagement rings because they are nostalgic and remind them of the romantic past. They reflect bygone eras are sometimes more magical, and becoming engaged and planning a wedding is one of the most magical times in a woman’s life. She may want one of these rings because it better suits her mood during these moments. Some prefer an actual engagement ring that was handed down through generations, or many modern brides purchase a vintage inspired engagement ring that they are the first to own, and that they can pass down to their children.

To view a fine selection of vintage and antique engagement ring, visit EngagementRings.org.

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Engagement Rings with Cushion Cut Diamonds

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

A cushion cut diamond adds a vintage appeal to an engagement ring, and many couples favor these unique cuts because of their association with antique engagement rings. However, a cushion cut works just as well with contemporary engagement ring designs, but adds a vintage, romantic appeal for a stunning ring your bride-to-be will love.

 

What are Cushion Cuts?

Cushion cuts are aptly named and are characterized by rounded corners and a square or rectangular shape with a “puffy” appearance, kind of like an overstuffed chair cushion.

 

This type of diamond cut is quite popular, especially as an alternative to more traditional cuts such as princess, emerald or oval shapes. In fact, cushion cuts take inspiration from all three of those shapes for a unique and distinctive stone perfect for any bride-to-be’s engagement ring.

 

They are especially popular cuts for vintage rings, as cushion cuts became very widespread during the late 1800′s and early 1900′s. In fact, even though contemporary cushion cuts are available, it will be difficult to find this type of cut outside of a vintage or antique ring.

 

The Quality

It is very important to judge the quality of a cushion cut diamond very carefully. Because cushion cuts have fewer facets, they will not sparkle as brilliantly as other diamond cuts. Additionally, fewer facets means that any flaws or imperfections present in the stone will be much more visible.

 

Because of this, it is critical that you examine a cushion cut diamond very carefully for any obvious flaws that will detract from the overall beauty of the stone. Even flaws that would be considered minor have a tendency to be more noticeable with a cushion cut.

 

Styles

Cushion cuts are still relatively rare in contemporary rings. Even so, they work well as solitaire engagement rings because the cut is so unique that the ring will not need any other accents or embellishments that would detract from the beauty of the diamond.

 

However, you certainly can incorporate accent stones into your engagement ring design even with a cushion cut. Many brides-to-be accent a cushion cut central diamond with smaller oval diamonds on each side for a sparkling, brilliant appearance.

 

Finding a Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

As mentioned previously, it is quite difficult to find cushion cut diamonds outside of vintage or antique rings from the 1900′s. Your best bet is to purchase a loose cushion cut stone and have it set into an appropriate mounting according to your bride-to-be’s preferences and your budget.

 

If you are happy with an antique or vintage ring, you can also search out various pawn shops, antique stores, estate sales or online retailers for a true vintage cushion cut diamond engagement ring as well.

 

Trends come and go, and cushion cut diamonds are finally starting to come back in modern engagement ring designs today. Cushion cuts are sophisticated, elegant and a lovely alternative to traditional diamond cuts and for the bride-to-be who desires vintage appeal without sacrificing beauty, a cushion cut engagement ring may be the perfect choice.

 

View our selection of modern and antique enagagement rings in EngagementRings.org.

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Must you Wear an Engagement Ring to be Engaged?

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

While most women dream of their proposal and the style of their engagement rings their entire lives, other women are not as interested in wearing a ring.  Maybe she never really planned to get married, perhaps she is very active and the thought of wearing jewelry all day – every day seems daunting, or perhaps she just wants to wear a simple wedding band because her style is more modest and refined.  If this describes you or your future wife, then perhaps you decide that there will be no engagement ring…if so, does that mean that you are not engaged?  Maybe you are planning a special trip and want to pop the question during this time, but don’t have the resources for the diamond of your choice.  Can you propose without a ring and buy one at a later date? If she does not wear a ring, then are you really engaged?

 

This is a question that many brides and grooms pose, especially in turbulent economic times.  Since engagements are sealed with a ring and a promise, perhaps without this ring they are not valid.  Marriages are also sealed with a ring and a promise, but there is then the accompanying paperwork and legal binding contracts that follow the ceremony.  Engagements do not have legally binding contracts, and courts have ruled in the past that the offer and acceptance of a diamond engagement ring does in fact legally create an agreement.  So, when there is no physical token of your proposal and acceptance to marry…are you in fact engaged?

 

Some feel that you are not, and that in order to truly be engaged you must wear some sort of ring.  If this is true, then are there stipulations to what the ring must look like?  Does the engagement ring have to be made of metal?  Must the engagement ring have diamonds?  Or, can the engagement ring cost .25 cents from the local vending machine, as opposed to $2500 from the local jeweler?  If an engagement ring is mandatory to secure a true engagement, then what are the required parameters of the engagement ring?  Would a bright yellow plastic decoder ring do just as well as a platinum engagement ring or diamond solitaire?  Must the ring be worn everyday, or can it just be worn occasionally?

 

Others feel that engagement rings are not necessary to seal the agreement to marry. A simple ask and answer is all that is needed for a couple to be engaged, and since even if a ring is exchanged either member of the couple can opt out of the wedding at any time (even after all the flowers, bridesmaids, and guest have been collected) then an engagement is not a legally binding agreement in the first place…stunning diamond ring, or not!

 

Either way, it appears that engagements are truly an arrangement between two people, and if an engagement ring is not important to you, then you do not need to wear one.  No one will prevent you from walking down the aisle because you have not been flashing a brilliant cushion cut diamond engagement ring prior to the big day, but if you do wish to have an engagement ring, try shopping for yours at EngagementRings.org!

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Engagement Ring Trends for 2010

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Engagement Season runs from around Thanksgiving, through the Christmas holidays, past New Years Eve, and all the way to the end of February encompassing Valentines Day.  This season, what many thought would be less active in response to the fledgling economy, has actually been full of diamond ring proposals, much more than expected!  Not only has the general American population been full of engagement ring love, but many celebrities have also surprised the gossip columns and have become engaged as well.  Carrie Underwood is set to marry hockey player Mike Fisher, Backstreet Boy AJ McLean proposed to his girlfriend on the eve of his thirty-second birthday, and singer Katie Perry is engaged to comedian Russell Brand after just four months of dating!

 

Are you considering joining the likes of Fisher, McLean, and Brand, and proposing to your girlfriend as well?  Or, are you dropping hints to your man to treat you like Carrie Underwood or Katy Perry, drop to one knee, and present you with a diamond ring?  If so, you may want to consider what some of the diamond engagement ring trends for 2010 will be.

 

Eternity Rings:

Eternity rings, or anniversary rings, are unlike a diamond solitaire engagement ring and have diamonds that run the circumference of the band.  These are typically given to a wife by her husband on an anniversary, but are also becoming popular as engagement rings and wedding bands.

 

Alternative Metals:

Gold is a hot commodity in a down economy, it has also caused quite a stir among the “Green” crowd as detrimental to the environment, and is one of the softer engagement ring metals available.  These facts have increased the popularity of alternative metals such as titanium and stainless steel.  Both of these metals are less expensive then gold, they are much stronger than gold, and many rings made from stainless steel have been comprised of recycled materials.  Today, many jewelers offer extensive selections of titanium engagement rings and stainless steel engagement rings.

 

Non-Traditional Designs:

People are thinking outside the box and straying from traditional diamond engagement ring solitaires.  Think colored gemstones such as rubies and sapphires, geometric shapes such as triangles, diamonds, and rectangles, and other non-traditional designs like those that incorporate several types of metal, inset the stone as opposed to a raised setting, and include more stones that just the diamond solitaire.  There are many modern engagement ring settings on the market…or design your own!

 

Custom Engagement Rings:

Can’t find the ring you want already designed by a jeweler?  Today’s ring buying market wants to see their funds spread as far as they can, and if they choose to part with their hard earned cash in this type of economy, they want to get the ring of their dreams.  This is leading many couples to opt for custom engagement rings with the help of online retailers as well as brick and mortar jewelers.

 

Antique Engagement Rings:

While many couples are breaking from engagement ring tradition, others are seeking a symbol of the past and selecting among the many recreated engagement rings from the Edwardian and Art Deco period.  These rings are very detailed and feminine, often made from white gold or platinum.

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Broken Engagement: Who Keeps the Ring?

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Its horrible to think that the one you love, the one you want to propose to and spend the rest of your life with, may not be the right one.  Ideally, you will offer her the ring, she will eagerly say yes, and the two of you will live happily ever after. But what if you don’t?  What if you never even make it down the aisle?

 

There has been a lot of debate over who owns the engagement ring when a couple who is planning a wedding decides to call it off, both among the public, and the courts, but several precedents have been set, and before you propose, you may want to be aware of what could happen.

 

Barry Meyer and Robyn Mitnick became engaged in August of 2001 when Barry proposed to Robyn with a $19,500 engagement ring.  A few months later, Barry presented Robyn with a prenuptial agreement, which she refused to sign.  The disagreement over the pre-nup ended their engagement, and the couple broke off their wedding.  Barry asked Robin for the engagement ring back, but she refused, prompting him to sue her in a Michigan court.

 

There are a few legal terms that apply to engagement rings that you should understand.  These terms support the precedent setting court case Meyer v. Mitnick, where Robyn, even after appeal, was ordered to return her engagement ring after the couple broke off their upcoming marriage:

 

Conditional Gift:

This is a gift that is given essentially under contract.  Meaning, when given, the receiver and the giver have entered into an agreement that validates the receiver holding the gift.  Engagement rings are considered by most courts to be conditional gifts.

 

Unconditional Gift:

This is the traditional thought behind gifts, that they are given unconditionally, and once gifted, cannot be revoked.  This term applies to most gifts other than engagement rings.

 

Fault:

Many have believed that whomever is at fault for ending the engagement revokes the rights to the engagement ring.  In other words, if the man breaks the engagement, the woman keeps the ring, but if the woman breaks the engagement, she returns the ring.

 

No-Fault:

This is the general rule set in place by the courts.  It doesn’t matter who breaks the engagement, the ring must be returned.

 

The courts declared that an engagement ring is a conditional gift, dependant upon the couple actually getting married.  If the marriage takes place, then the ring belongs to the woman, she did not break the condition of the gift.  If the couple does not marry, the condition has been broken, and the gift must be returned.  The court also believes that this does not depend on who is at fault for ending the engagement.

 

The Meyer v. Mitnick ruling reads as follows:

 

“Affirmed. A determination of who owns the engagement ring following termination of the engagement does not require a determination of which party was at fault. Marriage is an implied condition of the transfer of title to the ring, so the gift does not become absolute until the marriage occurs. The ring must be returned to its donor.”

 

You can read more blogs about and shop for engagement rings at EngagementRings.org.

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