1. Cut

2. Color

3. Clarity

4. Carat Weight

Best Engagement Ring Designers:

With current fashion standards being what they are, it is more common for people to know who actually designed their ring rather than what store the ring was bought from. Some of the best engagement ring designers currently working are:

•           Eddie LeVian: Known best for his Chocolate Diamond collection

•           Dian Malouf: known for her quality, eccentric, and personalized work

•           Gregg Ruth: Currently designing almost exclusively for Windsor Fine Jewelers, this engagement ring designer is known for his elaborate settings

•          Tacori: Although not just one specific designer but a team, Tacori is an independent design company who markets their designs to different

jewelers

Best Engagement Ring Stores:

There are dozens of commercials every year around Christmas and Valentines Day designed to entice men into popping the big question. Retail jewelry stores such as Kay Jewelers and Jared Galleria of Jewelry sell astronomical amounts of jewelry and are deemed some of the best engagement ring stores hands down. Despite their mainstream influence, several other jewelry stores have made their place in the extremely competitive world of engagement ring sales. Some of the less publicized but probably the best engagement ring stores are:

•          Solomon Brothers Jewelry: Established in 1982 in Atlanta, Georgia

•           Asprey: Originally established in the late 1700’s in Great Britain, Asprey is known as one of the finest jewelers across the globe

•          Cartier: Although known best for their watches, Cartier carries some of the most exquisite engagement rings available and is purported to have

designed Katie and Tom Cruise’s wedding bands

•           Windsor Fine Jewelers:  Not to be confused with Windsor Jewelers (note the missing fine), this store carries thousands of rings designed by some

of the industries most elite designers

A typical princess cut has more or less 50 facets cut into it – less than a round cut, but more than an emerald cut. It has a flat top with ridges on the edges created by step cuts, while brilliant cuts create the extra facets needed to bring out the diamond’s fire.

The cost of a princess cut engagement ring starts at $400, but can go over $4,000 or more depending on several factors such as the famous C’s of any diamond: cut, clarity, color, and carat. Having side stones add to the total carat weight of the ring which adds to the overall price.

Remember that when choosing your diamond, it is better to have quality over size. A big carat with inferior cut, clarity, and color is just a total waste of money. These kind of diamonds (and yes they do exist) are meant to fool you into thinking that the bigger the better. Also, a big diamond is not ideal for everyday wear since it can be quite heavy on your darling’s petite hands. They do certainly attract attention – both positive and negative attention. You won’t want to have that kind of stress on your future wife, right?

The only problem with the princess cut is that its edges are susceptible to chipping, but no worries, this is easily fixed by the setting. Such diamonds are often set with prongs at the corners then they are mounted at a certain angle to present them in a diamond shape. Another setting is the usage of channels so that a set of stones can be used to band itself without any spaces in between them – creating a line of shimmering diamonds. The most popular style for this setting is setting the diamond in the middle with 2 other smaller – sized stones on both sides, 1 each side. The smaller stones are trillium – cut: a creative and symmetrical accent to their square, center, big stone sister.

The princess cut engagement ring is an extraordinary gift. This is one of those gifts you can give to your partner that you can be sure the two of you will treasure forever.

Did you know that the cost of the engagement ring should be equal to the three months wages of the man who proposes marriage? It was a standard started by the De beers company. For the men, that is a lot of money. So the girl you will be giving it to should be worth it. The ring you get should be one that is unique. It is like saying you are one in a million to the girl of your love.

To get a unique ring for a unique girl, it is a good idea to have it custom made. An example would be one of the cushion cut engagement rings with halo. Choose your own stone, setting, and shank. They say diamonds are girls’ best friend but engagement rings don’t always have to be diamonds. They could be other gem stones to make it more unique. There are pearls, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and other gemstones that could replace a diamond.

Aside from the gemstone, another thing that makes a ring unique is how the setting or head is designed. It is the part where the stone is contained. There could be various designs for this. There is the solitaire setting, the three stone setting, multi stone setting, and other types of setting to choose from.

Another part of the ring that could be altered to make it more interesting is the shank. It is that part of the ring where the finger goes into. As we know we could use different precious metals for it. There is gold, silver, platinum, titanium and others. Yellow gold used to be the trend but yellow gold is the thing of the past, the more recent engagement rings uses white gold or platinum for a more modern look. Others try to use two toned shanks or even three. Combinations could also work to make a unique ring. You could also browse through some ring designer’s catalogue. I’m sure you will be able to find interesting styles that can give you ideas.

When choosing a ring it is also a great idea to consult with your girl’s friends or sister. They know what your girlfriend would want in a ring. Or perhaps, the two of you can go and pick out the ring yourselves. There is a new developing tradition now that both parties present each other rings as a symbol of their commitment for each other.

Now you know what ring to get, go and plan your unique proposal.

An engagement ring can be called “antique” when it is over 50 years old, and charmingly the most unique and charming rings are those from before the 1950’s. The following tackles the different styles famous in use for antique engagement rings:

• Victorian Antique (1835 – 1900) – set in yellow or rose gold, these range from having simple elegant designs to intricate ones. Victorian settings have rows of diamonds with an extra facet on the bottom. Most also include pearls, though these are not recommended for everyday wear.
• Edwardian (1900 – 1920) – platinum was the trend for these rings, and the craftsmen created lacy shapes and filigree detailing. Rose – cut diamonds and sapphires were the most popular gems used in this era.
• Art Deco (1920 – 1930) – Art Deco engagement rings have a streamlined, geometric look paired with colorful gemstones.

Most rings have diamonds set in them, but be wary of rings with stones such as emeralds, pearls, and opals. These gems are softer, an easier tendency for them to have internal cranks or be damaged. Still, if your future wife would love a non – traditional color for her engagement ring, and she is very graceful, a colored gem would be a very lovely choice. Do avoid replicated rings since these have poorer quality to authentic rings yet may cost more.

When out buying an engagement ring, examine carefully the description. Have a copy in writing the age, size, condition, color, clarity, carat, and cut. A gemologist should ideally be the one to report these details. If the diamonds looks perfect for you, in the sense that it is too perfect and almost flawless, know that chances are it is a fake. Such diamonds are very very rare and are only sold in high end stores in ridiculous prices.

Ask about the return policy, in case you end up unhappy with your choice.

Always go to a reputable seller, especially if you are a novice buyer when it comes to these things. They can guide you into making an informed purchase. Antique engagement tings are also available in pawnshops, estate sales, antique  jewelers, and in online shops.

Giving of engagement rings is a well known tradition. It is in fact a practice that has been going on since the 14^th century. The value of the ring helps the woman determine the stature of a man in society and if that man is worth the woman’s love. Today however, it does not really matter how much the ring is but it still says something about the man.

If the man buys cheap stuff, it could really be a turn off. Today, media people scrutinize celebrities who get engaged. Examining their rings and making controversies over how expensive or how cheap the engagement ring is. For male celebrities this would really be a concern but for average people you don’t have to buy super expensive rings you just have to know how to look for ones that look expensive.

A man has to know the different engagement ring styles to be able to know what to get for his girl. One has to know that rings are just like clothing. You wouldn’t believe this but there are many ring designers. And each designer has a mark of originality when it comes to the rings.

To name the most popular ring designers, there’s Harry Winston, Neil Lane, Barry Verragio, Haig Tacori, Jeff Cooper, Michael B., Scott Kay, Vulgari and many more. The names themselves are considered as brands. If you don’t have a clue to what their rings look like you can browse over the internet for images of their designs. If designer engagement rings are too pricey for you then you could go to your local store and buy unbranded ones.

To help you with knowing different styles you have to be knowledgeable about gemstones, and the parts of the ring. The ring parts include the head, the setting, the stone, and the shank. You may search the internet for further descriptions of these parts. Different styles will give you different looks of each part.

Perhaps the most common engagement ring style is a princess cut diamond set in a platinum or gold band. The price of the ring would depend on how big you would like the diamond to be.

Another popular style is the six prong diamond engagement ring. This is a round diamond held by six prongs highlighting the diamond. The diamond size may also be variable and as well as the shank.

If you are feeling a little generous, you may want to choose the multi-diamond engagement ring style. It is a ring consisted of several diamonds. The diamonds may be uniform in size of it could have one big diamond surrounding by several small diamonds. The diamonds can be set to take different shapes like hearts or whatever you desire.

Now that you know the different engagement ring styles, you may choose one for your wife to be.

However, in the later 18^th century, the opal was considered to be an object of bad luck to its possessor. Spanish King Alfonso XII gave an opal ring to his wife who shortly died after. It was passed on to family members, with each person dying mysteriously. The king wore it, and he too, died unexpectedly. Historians later on credit this to the cholera epidemic, but many have blamed it on the opal.

In jewelry, opals have some of the most exotic and exciting colors. No 2 opals are the same, the colors appear as flashes trapped within the silica gemstone. Rest assured that opals nowadays have lost the bad luck associated with them. Though there are still superstitious folk who still believe that buying an opal for yourself is bad luck, but receiving one is good luck.

Opals are used by couples as engagement rings as a beautiful alternative to traditional diamond rings. They are relatively soft stones that require special setting to protect them and to properly display their inner fire. The 3 most popular and commonly used settings by jewelers are the bezel setting, pronged setting, and the in laid setting, with the bezel as the most popular setting for an opal engagement ring.

The best of white opals and black opals have the most spectacular display of colors. The significant fire inside of them can be truly greatly appreciated as well as they hold enough play of colors that can compete with diamonds when set side to side. Due to their softer characteristics as compared to diamonds, great care must be done so that the gemstone will not be chipped nor scratched. They should be cleaned gently in plain water only.

Opals make great jewelry pieces. If you are looking for a beautiful and very unique engagement ring with a mystique, antique feel that is sure to stand out, an opal ring could be the perfect ring for you or your bride – to – be.

Form the fiery white opal to the Australian black opal rings and other range of accessories, if you are set out to find the perfect opal ring for you, you will surely be able to find it.

The first step is to have a budget. Decide if you can stretch it up a bit or you have to stick to it firmly. Building your own engagement ring is  often more expensive than pre – designed ones in the jeweler’s store. You can splurge on the diamond, and save on the metal band and setting options. Those minute details will certainly have an impact on the final bill of your ring.

Set the time. You won’t want to have your ring rushed up last minute, it might be far from perfect, and you might not cherish the look on your bride’s face once she sees it. The engagement ring should carry the couple’s heart and soul in them.

Go online and compare prices with various websites with your local jewelry stores. After having a price quote from the website(s) of your choice, use this as a starting point to finalize your ring budget and as a comparison point between online and jewelry store purchases. You can save from 40% to 60% when you build and purchase your ring online, just be sure it’s real. Take note of the website’s return policy if you don’t like what you received when the package arrives.

Observe your bride for the things that she wants – she might like a sparkly stone on her hand or she might not. If you can’t decipher it, you can ask her, tactfully, if you have to keep the ring – building project a secret.

The metal band comes next. You have the following options: platinum, titanium, white gold, or yellow gold. Platinum is the most expensive option, but with reasons. Titanium on the other hand, is the most NOT flexible as the other metals as well as it doesn’t allow the creation of intricate patterns on it.

Be knowledgeable about diamonds if you are planning to buy one. A large stone has high carat weight but its flaws could blur the stone and affect its overall brilliance. Not a worthy buy. Loose stones are available both in local stores and online. Be sure to have that the source is to be trusted and has GIA grading reports to ensure real, quality stones. Also have a noteworthy jeweler examine your stone, whether you have built it online or in person.

Cushion cut engagement rings are very much similar with round cuts as they also have 57 facets. This cut though has a better shine and sparkle as the rectangular shape of the gemstone is much similar to the natural shape of the gemstone. Cushion cut also shows well even with bigger gemstones. The addition of a halo would be great not only to amplify the beauty of the centerpiece but it also provides additional support structure for the ring.

There are also a variety of designs for a cushion cut ring. Centerpiece gemstones are not limited to rectangular cuts but can also set a round cut stone. When using diamonds for centerpiece, the four Cs should be considered (cut, clarity, color, and carat). Facetting patterns will play a huge role in giving your ring that distinct shine.

Although cushion cut engagement ring settings doesn’t fall into the traditional ring settings, it is fast gaining popularity because of its beauty. Halos are added to bring attention to the center gemstone and they also emphasize the size of the gemstone. This is a clever way to increase the sparkle of the stone making it shinier and brighter. Halo refers to the little diamond cuts (often called stars) that are encrusted on the ring and on the side of the center gemstone.

Most of the centerpiece for cushion cut rings are diamonds but other gemstones, like ruby, sapphire, and topaz, can also be used. Depending on the centerpiece, cushion cut engagement ring prices vary. For the halo alone, rings can cost from $600 to 800. A decent ring would cost about $1,500. Ornate cushion cut rings will go over $20,000 because of the size of the diamonds and the center stone.

Finding the perfect ring for your engagement is very important. You can browse jewelers to look for your own ring. There are also a lot of jewelers online where you can check out already crafted rings at the comfort of your home or your office. You can also commission a jeweler to make a cushion cut ring with your own design. Just make sure that it will be according to your girlfriend’s liking so that popping this ring will guarantee you a fiancé.

A brief history: this cut was perfected after a great deal of trial and error in the 18^th century. The idea of a candle powered light that didn’t do justice to reflect off a diamond’s brilliance turned off many prospective buyers. Utilizing hours and hours and hours of practice, the diamond jewelers finally figured out how to make a simple cut but still elegant and glamorous.

A quick guide in buying cushion cut engagement rings:

• Also known as antique cut – it is a faceted stone with a rounded square shape
• Have a budget for the stone before buying. Consider if you can stretch it up a bit if needed or if you want to stick to what you can afford.
• Diamonds display variety – from being to colorless to tinged with blue, brown, pink, gray, green, red, and yellow. The fancier the colors, the more expensive your ring will be. However, for white diamonds, the less color the better.
• The unit weight of a diamond is measured in carats where 1 carat is equivalent to 20 grams. The bigger and heavier the stone, the more valuable.
• Consider buying a well cut stone. Cut refers to symmetry, finish, polish, and proportion of the engagement ring. The diamond’s brilliance will be more magnificent if the stone has been well cut.
• Finally, clarity. The clearer the diamond the higher the price. It is better to buy a smaller diamond with a higher clarity than a bigger stone with a lower clarity rating.

Is it difficult nowadays to find a cushion cut engagement ring. For couples who really want this type, they have the option of finding a loose stone and have it set on an appropriate mounting; or they can seek out vintage cushion cuts through family heirlooms, estate sales, and pawn shops.

Another things to figure out is the metal to be used for the ring. Common choices are th 14 or 18 carat white or yellow gold, or platinum. Platinum is the most expensive while white and yellow gold about the same price for a given carat.

The cushion cut diamond engagement ring exudes beauty and brilliance that are a sophisticated choice to flashier designs, yet they still symbolize the beauty, romance, and intense love a man and woman has for one another.

Platinum diamond engagement rings are increasing in interest, even though this metal is in addition the costliest due to high interest in platinum against its relative restricted supply. Consequently, gold whether it is white or yellow diamond engagement rings still remain popular today.

Design your own engagement ring can be an option if the price tag is not the very first thing to consider and you wish to have something truly unique. In order to transform a regular diamond ring into one that is individualized, some people add enhancements, engravings, or other important elements on the ring. Additionally it is workable to make custom rings from the standard base, by adding the gemstone of your liking to the setting.

Designing an engagement ring from the beginning is another option as well. Having said that, asking an artist to create you a ring is going to be expensive. You should also find out about the different metals, setting choices, plus the 4 Cs of diamonds before deciding on a custom-made ring. Alternatively by deciding on vintage or an antique engagement ring you can also possess something distinct and charming.

You will find equally as many good reasons to give some thought to buying an antique engagement ring as there are reasons for getting engaged to the lady of your choice. While modern-day jewelry suppliers battle to provide customers something exclusive and fashionable, the girl in question might be a lot more ready to adore the style and untouched appeal of an antique. Yet another perfectly valid reason for investing in an antique ring is that they frequently supply prospective buyers a much better quality gemstone for less money than purchasing a brand new ring.

Antique rings can be obtained in a number of places, for instance, antique outlets, auctions, and via select suppliers on the internet or in your city that focus on the purchase and sale of antique jewelry. No matter where you acquire your engagement rings, try to remember to get a detailed description of your purchase in writing and look to suppliers who give you a written returned items policy.

If you want to get the perfect engagement ring for your girl, the first thing you have to take into consideration is her unique style. Then invest some time and narrow down the quest to rings that she will love passionately, not just like. Most styles can be found in traditional yellow gold, white gold, or platinum, whichever she favors. Gold when used for jewelry commonly has two different qualities 14 Karat and 18 Karat. 18 karat gold has more pure gold in the mixture and is therefore more supple than the less high quality quality 14 karat gold.

Therefore 14k gold wears better and won’t be damaged as quickly. This is something to take into consideration as the ring will probably be worn every single day. 18K gold is a lot more precious, since it has more gold in it, but is less hard-wearing and more intense in color. Additionally it is essential to bear in mind is that the wedding band has to be of the same quality of gold as the engagement ring as when they are different the harder one will damage the softer one.