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Engagement Rings: A Band of Forever
As far as the whole wedding process goes, the engagement ring is the very first step with the proposal often setting the tone for the wedding. Often there is a great deal of pressure felt when it comes to choosing an engagement ring, with the range available now far wider than in recent years and more pressure on choosing the ‘perfect ring’ for the woman in question. It is no surprise that many couples even do this task together so decide on a ring that will match their future wedding rings.
Yet to simplify the process, there are some simple features to look for when it comes to choosing the perfect engagement ring that will stand the test of time.
Metal Base
First things first, you need to decide which metal base to have your ring made from. Keep in mind that you will want the same metal for the wedding rings that you will both wear so you need to consider carefully. The choices for metal bases are Gold (White, Yellow, Rose), Platinum, Silver, Titanium, Stainless Steel and Tungsten Carbide although the most popular choices are usually rings made with gold or platinum.
Gems
When it comes to engagement rings, traditionally speaking it is the diamond that will be the gem of choice with the majority of rings produced to contain this gem. When it comes to choosing an engagement ring you will find that much of the expense will come from the quality and the size of the diamond so it important to understand what to look for in terms of high quality gems.
It is usually suggested that prospective engagement ring buyers apply the Diamond grading system when looking, called the Diamond 4 Cs. Basically this means the diamonds’ Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat.
Clarity – describes the number of inclusions within the stone, or non-crystallised carbon, with the lower the number improving the clarity of the diamond as a whole
Colour – while diamonds are essentially clear, they will typically contain subtle tones of other colours. This has lead to a diamond colouring grading system which ranges from D (clear) to SZ (quite coloured).
Carat – this is the weight of the diamond, which is measured as one carat being 100 points, with diamond often described as being 0.50 carats and so on. The heavier the diamond the higher the price.
Cut – this refers to the shape the diamond has been cut into with there being four main styles: Brilliant (circular), Oval, Pear and Marquise (diamond shaped).
Of course, that isn’t to say that other gems can’t be used within an engagement ring, with birthstones often beautiful adornments on an engagement ring.
Design
Finally, the design of the engagement ring, or the layout, is highly important as this is where much of the individual style will come into play and the first thing people will notice about the ring itself. Of course, this is also the part that will truly reflect the individual’s personality so careful consideration must be taken.
To assist in this though, it is important to look for three things: how the gemstones are fastened (is it secure?), is it durable and will it be a practical piece of jewellery that won’t get in the way of daily activities.
