Rings have been worn throughout history on hands both famous and not, from Cleopatra to Jlo, by our mother and yours, my wife and your aunt. As visible body adornments, they are a token of affection, a symbol of enduring commitment. Rings are the perfect expression of “forever” as they have no beginning or end and signify union and oneness. With all of this implied, rings have been used throughout history to confer authority, seal pacts, unite people, heal sickness, prevent ill luck, foretell the future and announce status. But as expressions of one’s affection for another, rings are truly special.
Rings have a unique value and hold a special place in our hearts, carrying with them a hint of their ancient symbolism and powerful emotion. The circle of the ring represents wholeness, life, love and eternity all at the same time. Engagement rings and wedding bands are the ultimate symbol of unbroken promise, endless love and lasting commitment. With such a heavy responsibility laid upon them, to convey this precise message and to do it in a style to evoke the deepest feeling, an engagement ring, wedding or anniversary band must reflect both the giver and the wearer….but how to choose that perfect expression?
Choices, more Choices….Good Grief, Help!!
We have been in the diamond and diamond ring business for about 40 years so we have a bit of experience with these things. Besides this, all of our top staff people are married so we also have some personal experience in the ring buying business. So, based on all of this when you ask us “Which ring will be perfect for me?” we can say with absolute certainty, ”We don’t know. There is no single and simple answer that will automatically zero you in on the right choice.” Because picking the perfect ring is like picking the perfect life-mate…it is a personal preference based on many things that cannot be measured, displayed or even described. Perfect for me might be ho-hum for you so what to do?
First and foremost, we must recognize there are as many styles and types of engagement and wedding ring as there are women who will wear them. Just a quick review of the many offered in our departments should be evidence of the problem this poses. The starting point then is maybe the most valuable tool you possess in this task….you know the woman who will wear it better than anyone else. You know her likes, dislikes, her personality and style, the type of clothes she likes and wears, the colors she prefers, and the intensity of the love she holds for you. Keep all of this in mind as we navigate some other helpful tips.
What's the Occasion?
Ring styles and designs generally fall into specific categories that have become accepted in our society as the norm, or “typical”, for certain events or occasions. For example, a classic solitaire diamond is generally considered a classic engagement ring, possibly because Hollywood showed it that way 60 years ago in the many war bride movies of that time, or because big diamond companies began advertising it that way. But the trend today is individuality and virtually any style or design that pleases the wearer is now being chosen and worn as a personal choice engagement ring. And the trend for personal taste expressions in a multitude of styles has influenced the choices for every category of rings including wedding bands and anniversary bands. With this in mind, here is a general outline of the most common occasion-based ring styles.
Engagement Ring
A ring usually set with a gemstone (commonly a diamond) that is traditionally given by a man and worn by a woman to signify their mutual intention to be married. The style might include side stones of either diamond or gemstone, can range from art deco to simple band design, and can utilize any of a dozen setting types for the center stone.
Wedding Ring or Band
Traditional wedding rings are 14k, 18k or 24k gold bands, with the wife’s band wider than the husband’s. More modern versions are made of white gold, platinum or even titanium or tungsten. They may be simple polished bands, diamond inlaid styles, engraved or carved with intricate designs, or even Celtic or Claddagh motif. For this occasion it is less about the style than the wearing that matters.
Bridal Sets
Basically this is a matching set of an engagement ring and a wedding band. They are designed to be complimentary and worn together. A very popular style for those who look and plan a bit ahead.
Anniversary Ring or Band
This is a ring given by a man to his wife on the anniversary of their wedding day as a symbol of enduring love. Traditionally, each year of marriage is associated with a specific gem or precious metal but the trend today is to pick any style and stone that is pleasing to both him and her.
Eternity Band
This is a specific style of anniversary ring that features small
gemstones (usually diamonds) set in and around an entire band to
symbolize the eternity of the marriage or commitment. Today either or both married persons wear it.
Three Stone Ring
This is considered an occasion ring only because it is usually given when one wishes to tell the other “I loved you, I love you, and I will always love you.” It is usually set with three diamonds or other precious gemstones that signify past, present and future.
OK, I know "why" but "what?"
Well, for starters, we know the reason you wish to buy or give the ring so that helps narrow down the basic categories of style that might work for you. Sadly, there is nobody we know who can hold up one ring and honestly say, “This is the perfect choice for you.” And they shouldn’t. Would you ask someone else to find you somebody to marry or pick a name for your child? These are very personal choices with much emotion involved. So let’s go back to what you do know best….the woman who will wear the ring.
- What kind of clothing does she wear? Is she flashy or modest in styles, does she wear bright colors or prefer black and deep hues?
- What kind of jewelry does she own and wear? Is it simple elegance or fashion statement? Is it white or yellow gold, platinum or silver, or heavy metal fashion?
- Is she shy and demure, bold and in-your-face, quiet and confident? Does she prefer to stay around home or make every scene?
- What occupation does she pursue? Is it more mental and office type or hands-on get it done type?
Long experience and a lot of research can help you figure out what it all means.
Here are some helpful tips to consider.
Style of ring
If the wearer is the quiet type, maybe a bit shy around others, wears comfortable but modest clothing, has attachment to tradition and family, then look at rings that convey that same image and feel. Classic solitaire or engraved engagement rings, conservative looking possibly matching wedding bands or a complete bridal set, channel set anniversary bands and unembellished three stone rings are logical choices. And round shape diamonds or gemstones should be favored as these are always the choice of women who are home and family centered, dependable, gentle, easy to get along with and somewhat security conscious.
If our woman is disciplined, organized, a bit conservative in taste, efficient in most tasks, pretty honest and open about who she is and how she feels about things, you would do well to pick a classic solitaire style engagement ring possibly with engraved setting, a similar style wedding band or bridal set, an engraved or embellished anniversary band and similar three stone ring. And above all, no matter which setting you pick, you can be pretty sure your on the right track if it is set with princess cut diamonds, possibly even on a pedestal or other prominent setting.
If our girl has a bit of a flair in her personality, enjoys being out and about, is comfortable or even up-tempo around other people and maybe the type willing to take chances, you might consider a designer or sleek Eurostyle setting either with or without accent stones, and set with an opulent oval or pear shape diamond.
And a final hint that may hit home for you, if the woman who will wear it is flat-out living life and loving it, has real pizzazz and is willing to show it, then look at more bold designs that have the same flash and flair…and for sure, think about engagement settings that demand exotic trilliant or exquisite marquise cut shape diamonds in showy sizes, and smaller but brilliant displays of princess or radiant cuts in wedding and anniversary bands.
Now, having put all of womanhood into these arbitrary categories and risking the wrath of every woman, let us say here that most women we know are a little of one, more of another and still a mix of other wonderful traits and elements we cannot begin to describe. And bridal jewelry makers have tried to answer this complexity of the wearer with a range and mix of styles never available before.
Wedding rings and bridal jewelry can be found in antique and vintage styles to suit any taste with designs that hark from Art Noveau, Art Deco, Victorian and even Retro eras. They are classic and always favorites.
And then you have Celtic and Claddagh bands and jewelry in every type metal featuring ancient designs and symbols, beautifully made with intricate knotworks looping around the entire band and suggestive of intertwined hearts and love.
And on and on and on….but all of this should help begin to focus our thinking and give us a bit of a mental picture of that woman we want the ring to please. Hopefully, with this in mind, as we look at ring styles we will more easily know the ones that are definitely wrong and start to see some that just might be right for our selection.
A Word About Metals
Today you can find fine quality rings made of 14K and 18K gold, in white, yellow and rose hues or even dual tones, stunning platinum, and even alternate metals such as titanium and tungsten. Silver is not a good choice as it is soft and not very durable for a fine ring of the type we are discussing here.
Once again, if you think about the person who will wear it you will get some clue as to which metal and color might be right. For example, if she wears mostly one metal type in her present jewelry, chances are that is her preference. If she favors bright colors and clothing with a flair, yellow gold is a good choice. If she leans more toward subtle or pastel colors or black in clothing, think white gold or even platinum. And don't be misguided if she loves jeans or even flannel shirts. Today it is quite fashionable to showcase some very elegant jewelry while decked out in some clothing styles that 20 years ago might have been in burn bags.
And what about space-age metals that not long ago were found only in airplanes and space shuttles? Some gorgeous rings are today being fashioned in titanium and tungsten for those who dare to be really different even while observing some centuries old traditions. Don’t overlook these possibilities if it provides the right answer for the right woman.
The Full Book About the Diamonds
While there is a growing popularity for natural rubies, sapphires, emeralds and even pearls in bridal jewelry, diamonds are the traditional and still most popular choice of gemstone for jewelry that is given to last a lifetime. So what can we tell you that will most help you in selecting and giving a ring with the best quality and value diamonds?
First and foremost for your comfort let me tell you that at BridalDiamond.com we offer and sell ONLY diamonds of a quality that will absolutely meet your specification and will positively please you. Every diamond ring is shipped to you with a certificate attesting to the quality of the diamonds set in your jewelry and we back it with our 30 day no questions asked policy for return if you are not satisfied for any reason.
In the gemstone industry, diamond is the gemstone by which all others are compared. Diamonds are graded according to what is commonly known as the "Four Cs." which are:
- Cut , which affects a gemstone’s brilliance, since brilliance relies on light optics and the ideal angles to produce the maximum effect. A deeply cut stone will affect the way light reflects in the mass of the stone. A very shallow cut stone will seem dark because the light exits the back of the stone and the angles do not reflect the light back up through the top of the stone to your eye.
- Clarity , which is determined by the amount and severity of inclusions and flaws visible under 10-power magnification
- Color , which means the less color a diamond shows (i.e., the whiter it appears), the better quality stone it is. The exception includes extremely valuable "fancy colored diamonds" and less expensive enhanced "irradiated" stones
- Carat , which is the traditional measuring unit of a diamond's weight (1 carat = 200 milligrams). A carat is divided into 100 "points," so the same diamond can be represented as weighing a carat and a half, 150 points or 1.50 carats.
For sure the size of the stone is a big factor, but it is the cut, clarity and color of a diamond that most affects its cost and among these, it is the cut quality that most affects its brilliance and fire. Most diamonds sold in shopping mall or chain discount stores rate lower on the scale for these three qualities in order for the store to offer them at discount prices. We wish to assure you, our customer, that every diamond sold by BridalDiamond.com is of higher quality, greater brilliance and sparkle, than any comparable stone you might find at such stores.
With that said, we are listing here for you the following links to information we have prepared to educate you about and help you properly select the diamonds you want and should set in the ring of your choice. We strongly suggest you take the time to read what you should know about this subject, as it will give you great comfort in picking the Bridal Diamond jewelry of your choice.
Learn the Secrets of a Brighter Diamond
How to Choose the Right Diamond
Four More Hints to Help
We know full well about the emotion involved in picking and buying exactly the “right” ring for a momentous occasion. With no preparation it is an exercise that is 90% emotion and 10% reason and this is dangerous. It should be a 50-50 mix of excitement and thoughtful selection. So in the hope we can load up your thoughtful side in this, we offer four more down-to-earth suggestions that if you keep them in mind, will make your selection process easier and your final choice more likely a success.
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Half-bezel set safe and easy style |
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6 prong Tiffany setting is beautiful and “catchy” |
1. Easy to wear and practical for your lifestyle
What is easy and practical depends on your lifestyle. The higher the setting of the diamond or gemstone in your ring, the more often it will catch on things, like clothing, hair (yours, the kids or the dog). If you work behind a desk all day you may be able to wear a very high set ring, a bigger stone, a designer or art deco setting. On the other hand, if you are a preschool teacher, baker, mechanic or work construction, you will have to wear a safe ring that won't get caught on all the things in your daily life, keeping your hand and your memory safe at all times.
Oh yes, and remember that rings do get dirty and dirt is a killer for brilliance and fire. For more on this dirty subject, read our advice on how to keep your diamond jewelry as superb looking as the day you first put it on. You can get all the “dirt” at this link…. Proper Care of Diamond Jewelry
2. Standing up to everyday wear
Such an important ring must withstand constant everyday wear and you should keep in mind that some daily lifestyles are more dangerous for fine jewelry than others. For example, working in or near a factory that uses abrasives is dead mans gulch for jewelry. And you may not know it but one of the worst places for jewelry is an office where your ring is constantly assaulted by paper surfaces. Paper is mildly abrasive, and constant daily contact will wear on your ring over time. In these types of situations where the ring is likely to wear, a heavier style will definitely survive better. But "heavy" doesn't necessarily have to mean bigger. It only means a sturdy, strong band should be used. If despite all this you still prefer a setting of finer or more delicate style, give some thought to using platinum as it is harder and more durable than gold.
3. Holding your diamond tight
All settings are perfect and secure the day you first wear your ring. But time and lifestyle do take their toll and sometimes a setting will work loose, no matter the care or cost you paid. As a general guide and from decades of experience, we can tell you these rules of thumb and hope they will help guide you more in your selection process. While they apply most to engagement rings, they are applicable for most types and fashions of rings.
- A 6 prong Tiffany is more secure than a 4 prong but if your lifestyle is fairly normal and easygoing, it doesn’t matter.
- A bezel (half or full) setting is more secure than a claw setting.
- Heavier is always stronger than lighter setting.
- A lower profile setting is less prone to catching and impact damage
4. Is it beautiful to you?
Fine jewelry is a bit like fine art and a lot like your own children….beauty is in the eye of the beholder and yours is (or should be) drop-dead gorgeous in your eyes. In the end, only you can pick out that one very special ring that talks to your head and sings to your heart (and his/hers). And quite frankly, when you find it and make it yours, it doesn’t much matter what I think, or Jane Doe down the street might say about it. It is special to you, has meaning no one else will ever know, and it will stay that way for the rest of your lifetime.
We wish you the very best in this special endeavor and stand ready to assist and help make your journey a success.
To see what others say about the ring and bridal experience, you might enjoy the content at www.weddingrepublic.com.
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