Engagement Rings!

Thinking of getting engaged? It's a truly exciting and wonderful time. You'll probably get lots of advice from family and friends you've talked to about it, but here are some things to consider as you plan the next steps, finding the engagement ring and making the proposal.


Engagement Rings

Unless someone in the family has an engagement ring to pass down to you, the next step is shopping for the right ring! You might want the ring to be a complete surprise, or you might want to look together to get ideas as to what you both like, then let the particular ring chosen be a surprise until the proposal. Here's what you need to know before you buy:


THE SETTING

The ring's setting is how the stones are held in place, and it gives the ring its unique and beautiful style. Here are the basic setting styles:


Solitaire - A single diamond, the solitaire is a very elegant and traditional look.


Settings with Side Stones - usually have a single, larger stone in the center, with smaller stones along the sides of the ring.


Three Stone Rings - Represent the past, present, and future


Pave and Micro-Pave - In these settings, the ring's band is literally paved with diamonds. This is a really popular trend in engagement rings, and you can see pictures and further description here.


Matching Bridal Sets - include both the engagement ring with the matching wedding band.

To learn more about settings and specific setting techniques, most jewlery stores include this information online. For example, Helzberg Diamonds has a very clear, comprehensive page dedicated to ring settings and techniques here.



METALS
Gold and Platinum remain the most popular metals used in creating engagement rings.


Silver-This metal is not as strong as other metals and isn't recommended for engagement rings, or other jewlery worn every day.


Yellow, White, or Rose Gold- The color of the gold depends on how much alloy of other metals (e.g., copper, silver, zinc, nickel) is added to the gold to strengthen it. For an engagement ring, 18 Karat gold is a good choice because of its durability and lustrous color.


Platinum- A very durable metal that has a similar look to white gold. This metal may scratch, but will not chip or splinter. The ring can be buffed yearly to reduce scratches and maintain its brightness. Platinum is an expensive metal, but it has become a very popular choice for engagement rings.


Titanium- a very light and strong metal, 1/3 the weight of gold. This metal is gaining popularity in jewlery, and is good for people who work with their hands or who are bothered by the weight of jewlery. One consideration with buying titanium is that it cannot be resized later, and the prong setting styles seen with other metals cannot be made using titanium.


For a comprehensive review of metals, Gillett's Jewlers has a great page here.



THE DIAMOND

When selecting a diamond, you should know the four C's: Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat. Most jewlery stores will provide a brochure with this information about diamonds, and you can read more about it here, among other websites. These factors influence the price of the diamond. I would suggest a good quality diamond in terms of color and clarity over a larger diamond of lesser quality, but these are factors to weigh.


Color - the amount of color in the diamond. This can range from colorless (diamonds with a rating of D, E, F, G, H, I) to light yellow (a rating of S through G). Some diamonds even have tinges of grey or brown. A good diamond is colorless or near colorless.


Cut- the proportions, finish, symmetry, and polish of the diamond. These factors are what determines the fire and brilliance of the diamond. Names of cuts you'll come across include: round, emerald, princess, oval, pear, heart, marquise, trilliant, and radiant. For pictures and more information, this site on about.com has a very informative and useful discussion of diamond cuts.


Clarity - How clear or pure the diamond is. This has to do with the number, nature, and locations of imperfections in the diamond, including inclusions (internal) and blemishes (external). This ranges from Flawless, to Very Slightly Included (a good diamond) to Included (which have imperfections visible to the unaided eye).


Carat- The weight of the diamond.


DESIGNING YOUR OWN


If you want to customize an engagement ring to create something unique and personal, many local jewlers and online stores offer this option. This allows you to choose from among loose diamonds and create the setting, select the metal, and choose the style you want.


TOP JEWLERS

Tiffany
Tacori
Cartier
Bulgari
David Yurman
Verragio


RING MAINTENENCE, CLEANING AND INSPECTION


When investing money in purchasing an engagement ring and wedding bands, it is a very good idea to purchase the maintenence package offered, which usually will include regular inspections for free, replacement of any missing gems, as well as free resizing at least once a year. For peace of mind, the ring should be added to your home insurance policy.


Getting your rings cleaned once a month is a good idea. Most jewelry stores will do this as a courtesy, even if you did not buy the ring at that particular store. So, if you do not purchase your engagement ring and wedding bands in the same place, you could both have your rings cleaned all at once at either place.


Regular inspection every six months is usually recommended. During the inspection, the prongs are checked to make certain that they are in good condition and are not loose. The inspector will also check the gems to ensure all are present and that they are secure.


Buffing can be done yearly to clean off scratches, smoothing and polishing the metal.