The time has come! You are ready to ask for her hand in marriage. The only thing left to consider is the ring. This gift signifies the love you feel for your bride-to-be, and lets the world know that she is soon to be married. One of the most important parts of this decision is making sure that it is the right ring for her. Armed with a basic knowledge of engagement ring designs, and what you know about your loved one, this decision can be made quite easily.
There are as many types of engagement rings as there are women who wear them, but there are several factors that contribute to what is known as the typical engagement ring. Most engagement rings are set with a precious gem, most often a diamond. While other gemstones can be used, the diamond is the most commonly used stone today. Many, if not most Diamond Engagement Ring designs will fit into one of three categories; Solitaire Diamond Engagement Rings, Three-Stone Diamond Engagement Rings, or Side-Stone Diamond Engagement Rings.
The Solitaire Diamond Engagement Ring is the most classic style ring, consisting of a plain band of gold or platinum, and mounted with a single diamond. This look is simple and beautiful, and yet there are many ways to personalize this design, with your choice of diamond shape and size.
A Three-Stone Diamond Engagement Ring is another style that is very common. This design typically has a center stone of a slightly larger size and one smaller stone on each side. The shapes and sizes of the stones can vary greatly, creating a myriad of different styles and designs.
Side-Stone Diamond Engagement Rings are another category of rings that encompass a huge number of designs. This type of ring generally has a larger center stone, with several small stones on each side that are set directly into the band of the ring. The shape, number and size of diamonds in a ring of this sort can vary greatly, allowing for thousands of different designs.
The ring you choose should reflect the style and personality of the woman who will wear it. With a given budget, and an idea of what would be best for her, it can be easy and fun to choose the ring that is sure to make her say “Yes”!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Diamond Anniversary Rings
Anniversaries are important to every couple. They mark not only the years you have spent together, but the time you have invested in creating a life together. There are major milestones like the silver, gold, and diamond anniversaries, but you don’t have to have been married for half a century to give the woman who has loved and supported you an amazing gift. Diamond Anniversary Rings are a wonderful tribute to the love you have shared and the time you have devoted to one another.
Jewelry designers today are finding new and exciting ways to make these beautiful rings using high-quality diamonds set in a precious metal such as gold or platinum. With so many artistic elements to choose from you can easily find the perfect ring that will reflect her taste and personality, while adding an element of decided elegance, showcasing the beauty of the woman who wears it.
Diamond Anniversary Rings are a terrific way to commemorate the most important day of your lives together, with a gift that is both ornate and sophisticated. While engagement ring s and wedding bands are often designed for everyday wear, diamond anniversary rings tend to give the impression that they are for special occasions only. These gorgeous creations often incorporate many types of diamond shapes and settings that other diamond rings typically do not include. From the ostentatious to the subtle and understated, these rings vary greatly in their designs and aesthetic.
These lavish designs show the world how much this incredible woman has meant to you in creating a life together, and sharing it for years and even decades. Let her know that she is still the love of your life with a beautiful Diamond Anniversary Ring, the perfect gift for your perfect woman.
Jewelry designers today are finding new and exciting ways to make these beautiful rings using high-quality diamonds set in a precious metal such as gold or platinum. With so many artistic elements to choose from you can easily find the perfect ring that will reflect her taste and personality, while adding an element of decided elegance, showcasing the beauty of the woman who wears it.
Diamond Anniversary Rings are a terrific way to commemorate the most important day of your lives together, with a gift that is both ornate and sophisticated. While engagement ring s and wedding bands are often designed for everyday wear, diamond anniversary rings tend to give the impression that they are for special occasions only. These gorgeous creations often incorporate many types of diamond shapes and settings that other diamond rings typically do not include. From the ostentatious to the subtle and understated, these rings vary greatly in their designs and aesthetic.
These lavish designs show the world how much this incredible woman has meant to you in creating a life together, and sharing it for years and even decades. Let her know that she is still the love of your life with a beautiful Diamond Anniversary Ring, the perfect gift for your perfect woman.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Choosing a Metal for Your Wedding Band
When it comes to buying a wedding ring, the first choice you have to make is to consider what kind of metal is best for you. Most wedding rings today are made from either gold or platinum, and come in a myriad of colors and designs.
Gold is the most common type of metal used in wedding bands. Gold comes in different karat levels that are based on the purity of the gold. Pure gold is 24 karat gold; however this is too soft to work with for most types of jewelry, so various alloys are added to the gold to make it stronger and more durable. More common for use in wedding bands, 18 karat gold is 75% pure gold and 25% alloy, whereas 14 karat gold contains 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% alloy.
The color of gold depends upon its content. The higher the gold content, the richer the color will be. Depending on the type of alloy used, gold can be turned into different colors as well. White gold is perhaps the most popular of colorized gold, but by adding certain alloys to the gold it can be colored rose or even green.
Platinum is also very commonly used for wedding bands. It is an extremely strong metal, much stronger than gold. Rather than scratching or becoming nicked, platinum condenses upon itself, becoming stronger and denser than before. Platinum is an extremely dense metal, and will feel heavier on the finger than a gold band would feel. Because platinum is so strong and dense, it is much more expensive than gold. While platinum is commonly used for making wedding bands or engagement rings, it is not often used in other types of jewelry, because it is so high priced.
Platinum is an excellent choice for a wedding ring because it is extremely durable, and less likely to show signs of wear and tear than other metals would. It is also naturally white in color, making it easier to care for than a white gold band, which will have to be plated with rhodium from time to time in order to maintain the silvery white appearance that a platinum wedding band naturally has.
Ultimately the decision comes down to an individual’s taste, preferences and budget restrictions when making a choice of this magnitude. But no matter the style or design of the rings, you should be sure that you are choosing the best product for you.
Gold is the most common type of metal used in wedding bands. Gold comes in different karat levels that are based on the purity of the gold. Pure gold is 24 karat gold; however this is too soft to work with for most types of jewelry, so various alloys are added to the gold to make it stronger and more durable. More common for use in wedding bands, 18 karat gold is 75% pure gold and 25% alloy, whereas 14 karat gold contains 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% alloy.
The color of gold depends upon its content. The higher the gold content, the richer the color will be. Depending on the type of alloy used, gold can be turned into different colors as well. White gold is perhaps the most popular of colorized gold, but by adding certain alloys to the gold it can be colored rose or even green.
Platinum is also very commonly used for wedding bands. It is an extremely strong metal, much stronger than gold. Rather than scratching or becoming nicked, platinum condenses upon itself, becoming stronger and denser than before. Platinum is an extremely dense metal, and will feel heavier on the finger than a gold band would feel. Because platinum is so strong and dense, it is much more expensive than gold. While platinum is commonly used for making wedding bands or engagement rings, it is not often used in other types of jewelry, because it is so high priced.
Platinum is an excellent choice for a wedding ring because it is extremely durable, and less likely to show signs of wear and tear than other metals would. It is also naturally white in color, making it easier to care for than a white gold band, which will have to be plated with rhodium from time to time in order to maintain the silvery white appearance that a platinum wedding band naturally has.
Ultimately the decision comes down to an individual’s taste, preferences and budget restrictions when making a choice of this magnitude. But no matter the style or design of the rings, you should be sure that you are choosing the best product for you.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Handmade Wedding Bands
The wedding band is the physical and visual symbol of your marriage. This special piece of jewelry is one that you intend never to take off, so it is important that the ring chosen truly represents the person that wears it. For a uniquely personal ring, one should consider a handmade wedding band.
Handmade wedding bands are exactly what their title implies; a wedding band that is made by the hands of a master goldsmith. This technique allows for much more extravagant and intricate designs including various braiding options, floral patterns, milgrain detailing and so much more. Making rings by hand also allows for the use of different gold colors within the same design. For instance, a braid of white, yellow and rose gold could never be done by a machine with the beauty and precision that is performed by a skilled designer.
With the aid of other techniques such as diamond cutting and the application of different finishes to a particular ring, jewelry craftsmen have taken their designs to the next level, creating visible patterns that one would certainly not expect to see in a wedding band. For example, jewelry designers, using various forms of technology and equipment, can make a leaf-shaped wedding band, or create the cushion-like look of a quilt, or can even make a ring look as though it is made of corrugated steel.
The beauty of a handmade band is that each ring is as unique as the person who wears it. Handmade wedding bands are especially easy to customize, as a human being is more likely to grasp the idea of what you are really looking for in a wedding ring, as opposed to a machine, which does the same recurring process day after day, with little or no change in its programming. With a handmade band, brides and grooms are able to find a ring that best suits their personality, and that they will enjoy wearing for decades to come.
Handmade wedding bands are exactly what their title implies; a wedding band that is made by the hands of a master goldsmith. This technique allows for much more extravagant and intricate designs including various braiding options, floral patterns, milgrain detailing and so much more. Making rings by hand also allows for the use of different gold colors within the same design. For instance, a braid of white, yellow and rose gold could never be done by a machine with the beauty and precision that is performed by a skilled designer.
With the aid of other techniques such as diamond cutting and the application of different finishes to a particular ring, jewelry craftsmen have taken their designs to the next level, creating visible patterns that one would certainly not expect to see in a wedding band. For example, jewelry designers, using various forms of technology and equipment, can make a leaf-shaped wedding band, or create the cushion-like look of a quilt, or can even make a ring look as though it is made of corrugated steel.
The beauty of a handmade band is that each ring is as unique as the person who wears it. Handmade wedding bands are especially easy to customize, as a human being is more likely to grasp the idea of what you are really looking for in a wedding ring, as opposed to a machine, which does the same recurring process day after day, with little or no change in its programming. With a handmade band, brides and grooms are able to find a ring that best suits their personality, and that they will enjoy wearing for decades to come.
Friday, April 24, 2009
New Ways to Celebrate Your Irish Heritage
In a country of immigrants, many Americans are looking for ways to celebrate their heritage. For many Irish-Americans this means wearing green, or covering themselves with shamrocks. But there is another option, more subtle and classy, and less cliché. Celtic knots are some of the most instantly recognizable forms of Irish artwork. And now they are commonly being used in wedding band designs.
Celtic knots date back to the 5th century. Originally seen as carvings in stone and on cave walls, Celtic knots are traced back to an ancient pagan religion. Today, it is often thought that the creators of the knots were prohibited from creating realistic representations of living creatures, much like the Islamic religion, thus creating the fantastic knots we know today. While there are many kinds of knot designs, each with their own meaning, the belief is that all knot designs are made to show the interconnectedness of all things in nature. Because there are so few written records remaining from that time period it is unclear what the exact meanings of the designs are, but historians have reached a consensus on the meanings of some of the most popular knot formations.
The Celtic Trinity Ring has many ascribed meanings, each relating to the three-pronged shape of the knot design. Some of the most common include; Mind, Body, and Spirit; Mother, Father, and Child; Past, Present, and Future; The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit; and Power, Intellect and Love, although there are many more as well. The Circular Knot Wedding Band, also known as The Lover’s knot is said to represent unity. The endless quality of these designs makes some think that they symbolize time without end; eternity of life nature, and love. There is also the Square or Shield Knot Wedding Band, which is said to protect those who wear it from evil spirits. This design is most often seen in battle artwork, on shields, for instance, as well as in the presence of the ill, or elderly.
There are as many symbolic meanings for the Celtic knot designs as there are ways to represent your continued allegiance to the Irish culture. You can even incorporate them into your wedding. With these stylish new ways of celebrating your heritage, it doesn’t have to be St. Patrick’s Day to let the world know that you are proud of your lineage; you can celebrate the fact that you are Irish all year round.
xwpq98sg6r
Celtic knots date back to the 5th century. Originally seen as carvings in stone and on cave walls, Celtic knots are traced back to an ancient pagan religion. Today, it is often thought that the creators of the knots were prohibited from creating realistic representations of living creatures, much like the Islamic religion, thus creating the fantastic knots we know today. While there are many kinds of knot designs, each with their own meaning, the belief is that all knot designs are made to show the interconnectedness of all things in nature. Because there are so few written records remaining from that time period it is unclear what the exact meanings of the designs are, but historians have reached a consensus on the meanings of some of the most popular knot formations.
The Celtic Trinity Ring has many ascribed meanings, each relating to the three-pronged shape of the knot design. Some of the most common include; Mind, Body, and Spirit; Mother, Father, and Child; Past, Present, and Future; The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit; and Power, Intellect and Love, although there are many more as well. The Circular Knot Wedding Band, also known as The Lover’s knot is said to represent unity. The endless quality of these designs makes some think that they symbolize time without end; eternity of life nature, and love. There is also the Square or Shield Knot Wedding Band, which is said to protect those who wear it from evil spirits. This design is most often seen in battle artwork, on shields, for instance, as well as in the presence of the ill, or elderly.
There are as many symbolic meanings for the Celtic knot designs as there are ways to represent your continued allegiance to the Irish culture. You can even incorporate them into your wedding. With these stylish new ways of celebrating your heritage, it doesn’t have to be St. Patrick’s Day to let the world know that you are proud of your lineage; you can celebrate the fact that you are Irish all year round.
xwpq98sg6r
Friday, January 16, 2009
Buying a Diamond Engagemant Ring
For decades, buying a classic 1ct. solitaire diamond engagement ring has been a tradition, amongst men who are getting ready to propose. A 1ct. diamond is a beautiful and a great way for impressing the other half and getting her to say yes!
Is this an impressive enough ring, you ask?
Well, the answer is yes!, it is. Time has taught us, that without a doubt, a 1 ct. Diamond Ring is a great way to impress the woman that you are proposing to. After all, there will be plenty of occasions in your future together for upgrading, such as anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, etc...
Side Stones or No Side Stones?
If you were to ask women who are on the edge and just waiting for their spouse to propose, what would be your ideal ring for proposal? Would you like a ring with additional stones on it or prefer a 1 stone ring. A vast majority of these women would say they prefer a classy and traditional type of ring, such as the solitaire ring, and not so much side stone ring.
At the end of the day this is evidently a matter of personal choice, which, given the statistics, I think we already know what the preferred choice would be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)