Posts Tagged ‘engagement rings’

Diamond jewelry is a symbol of wealth.  It should be expensive.  So whilst it is perfectly possible to find affordable bargain diamond jewelry from reputable online stores such as this one, you should never be tempted by cheap diamond engagement rings and other jewelry. 

To make sure you do not get scammed, it is a good idea to calculate exactly when something is too cheap.  For example, if you are tempted by flashing signs claiming genuine diamond rings at only $100, beware!  Once the mark-up has been taken off, you may be looking at a $20-$30 ring! 

For this price, there will be every possible weight saving trick employed to cut down on the precious metal content.  The shank will be hollowed out, the gold quality will be 10k at best and the diamonds will amount to only a couple of points in total.  And look for optical tricks which will reflect the diamonds to make them look larger and more substantial, such as tiny diamonds claw set into a much wider silvered channel.

Always make sure you determine the nature and purity (platinum, 22k, 14k, 10k gold, 925 silver etc) and weight of the precious metal included in each piece.  Next compare the size and quality (clarity, color, cut) of the diamonds.  Be aware that a single 1ct diamond will cost very much more than a selection of small diamonds totalling 1ct.  This is because it is much harder to find larger carat weights of diamonds and they are correspondingly expensive.  However some jewelry outlets continue to focus on the overall total carat weight (ctw) of the diamonds in the piece.  This can be very misleading, especially if the actual carat weight of the main stone is not detailed separately. 

Diamond rings are not cheap!  Buy only from reputable jewelers and never be tempted by cheap rings!  Click here for affordable engagement rings, or if you would like to design your own ring.

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.