Whether one proposes in the middle of the street or in a posh dining place, the event is only truly complete after the woman says “Yes” and accepts the engagement ring. For centuries, the engagement ring has served as a symbol of the readiness of couples to enter a lifelong commitment through marriage. A marriage proposal does not mean that the couple will never experience problems or need to seek marriage counseling advice, but it does mean that the two people are committed to making their relationship work for them.

    The Basics of Ring Styles – Metal, Setting and Stone

    The most popular ring metals are white gold, yellow gold and platinum. Yellow gold has 14 karat and 18 karat versions. The higher the karat, the more expensive the ring would be, because karat refers to the gold content. The pricier white gold is made from gold and nickel or palladium alloys. Platinum is the most costly ring metal but when price is not an issue, it is the most preferable because it does not tarnish and does not cause allergies.

    How a stone or gem is “set” refers to the way it is attached to the metal band. The solitaire refers to the placement of a single diamond on the ring with prongs. The channel setting, as the term connotes, refers to the way that a series of stones are placed according to the horizontal axis of the metal band. The bezel involves the stone being fully or partially surrounded by the metal band whereas the pave has several stones leveled with the ring’s surface.

    Diamonds are still the most popular stones but complementary sapphires or rubies could add vibrancy to the ring. The 4 Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat are important in choosing diamonds.

    • Cut means the quality and quantity of facets. The number, shape and positioning determines how the brilliant the diamond will be.
    • Diamonds are generally are white in color but there are also blue and pink diamonds.
    • Clarity refers to the absence of blemishes, scratches and chips. A diamond is more highly-valued when it has greater clarity.
    • Carat pertains to the weight of the stone. The standard diamond carat is 200 milligrams. This means that a 5-carat diamond weighs about 1 gram. The greater the carat, the more expensive the ring would be.

    How and Where to Choose the Perfect Rings

    When one’s family passes on engagement rings as heirlooms, choosing is not a problem. For most people however, engagement ring styles have to be chosen according to the budget and to the preferences of the couple. The couple also has to determine whether they would consider the rings as investments since jewelry usually appreciate in value.

    The first step in choosing is to determine what price range can be handled by the giver’s or the couple’s budget. The second step is to decide where to buy. A local jewelry store may be more accessible and may deliver personal service but more options are available in the internet. Some online jewelry stores allow their customers to personalize their engagement and wedding rings by providing multilevel options. This way, the couple can decide what metal, setting and stone to buy.

    Finally, while many ladies like beautiful and large diamond rings, they give more value to a ring chosen with care and love, and alternative choices such as jewel-less rings and ring tattoos are becoming more popular. No one can go wrong with choosing  engagement rings that are customized to the needs and wants of the couple or of the fiancee.