Archive for the ‘Help for Men’ Category

Diamond engagement rings have a huge amount of emotional significance tied up in them. It is important to choose something that she will like, something that will stand the test of time and something that you know works well. So when the time comes for you to choose an engagement ring for your loved one, why not steal a head start by selecting from one of these three gorgeous cut and setting combinations?

Prong Solitaire Setting and Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds
This combination is the classic engagement diamond solitaire. The round brilliant is mathematically designed to give the most sparkle and brilliance of all cuts. It is one of the most efficient cuts, because the finished carat weight is maximised from the original diamond rough, making it good value too.

Prong setting is popular because the prongs can be easily adjusted to ensure they hold the gemstone in place. Typical prong settings have four, six or eight claws where extra security is needed! The claws allow a huge amount of light to pass into the gemstone, allowing the round brilliant to flash with beauty.

Trilogy Bezel Setting with Oval Cut Gemstones
A bezel setting is one where the gemstone is completely encircled by a trace of precious metal which holds the gemstone securely by its girdle. The setting adds height and dimension. Although this can be used for any shape of gemstone, it is harder to set those with angles and steps.

Oval cuts look wonderful in this setting because of their old world appeal which seems to echo the age old yet contemporary feel of the setting. And when set threefold in a oval cut trilogy, the setting and the cut combination is stunning.

Channel Setting and Baguette Cut Gemstones
Channel setting is a technique in which a long track of precious metal holds the gemstones securely by their girdles. This setting works especially well with Baguette Cut gemstones, because their straight sides means that they can be set directly next to one another and no metal appears between the gemstones. The effect is a breathtaking as the gemstones appear to float in a continuous river of diamond between the tracks of precious metal!

Engagement rings symbolise the intention to get married and are worn on their own only for the duration of the engagement.  And although wedding rings can be worn on their own after marriage, in reality most women wear their engagement rings and wedding bands together.  It is therefore essential that the two rings compliment each other. 

The easiest way to do this is to buy the engagement ring and the wedding band together.  This is especially important if you are designing your own ring and are planning on an elaborate styling which cannot be easily replicated.  You should also get the wedding band made at the same time as a rose gold engagement ring because the colors of rose gold can vary enormously from deep copper red to near pink depending upon the gold quality and the precise alloys used.

However if you are buying the wedding band as a later purchase, there are four main areas to consider for your rings to compliment each other.

Complimentary Style
Choose to have the styles match exactly, or flatter each other.  If you have an engagement ring with intricate metal work on the shoulders, or a pattern etched onto the band, then you could choose a wedding ring with the same embellishments or else choose one which is totally plain to ensure that the engagement ring continues to draw admiring glances even after the wedding!   

Although it is a matter of personal preference, more ornate styles date quickly and are easy to tire of.  Over the years, a woman may hope to receive an eternity ring, which may then be worn as well as or in place of her engagement ring from time to time.  For future flexibility of wear, it may be the best idea to select a plainer wedding band if the engagement ring is particularly ornate.

Complimentary Size
The two rings should look proportionally well balanced when worn together.  The wedding band should not be narrower than the engagement band but it can be wider.  If you have a good sized diamond, say, of more than a carat and a half, then it would suit a wider wedding band if that was your preference. 

Some engagement ring settings look great alongside a D-shape wedding band, others suit a rounder shape, some look better with a wedding band with a bevelled edge cut and still others, a flat wedding band.  Check which style of band suits your engagement ring best.  This is simple to do.  Always wear your engagement ring when you go to choose the wedding band and try the rings on together.

Comfortable Fit
The wedding ring must sit comfortably alongside the engagement band and both must lie flat on the finger.  If your engagement ring has a particularly elaborate setting, you may need to have a small section of your wedding band cut so the rings exactly slot together.  Most reputable jewelers can do this easily for you.

Matching Metal
Even allowing for the current popularity of two tone wedding rings, the engagement and wedding rings must be made from the same metal.  Platinum and silver are both harder metals than gold.  18k gold, whether white, yellow or rose colored, is especially soft.  NEVER buy a platinum wedding band if your engagement ring is 18k gold.  Over time, the platinum band will rub away the engagement ring setting to such an extent that you will risk losing your gemstone.