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 the 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 appreciates 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 on 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 the fiancee.
One article about Hilltop Pawn Shop being way more than a pawn shop, it’s actually one of the largest jewelry stores in Virginia Beach. The store is seen on tv daily and is one of the largest tv advertisers in Hampton Roads. Antique and Vintage jewelry is a specialty.
Cheap Engagement Rings
When you’re ready to pop the question, it logically follows that you’ve thought about the preparations for the setting as well as the shopping for the engagement ring. Some boyfriends go all out to the point that it’ll be very hard to top off the engagement proposal and you can just imagine the wedding ceremony given all the pomp and buzz of the engagement alone. Now, not all boyfriends have that much money and can’t afford a really extravagant engagement proposal. What you can do is look around for cheap engagement rings.
The big question is, “How cheap is cheap?” You must define your limits because being cheap is relative to the person who’s holding the purse. For instance, some people can’t afford diamonds so they will settle for less expensive stones or rings. But, some people can’t even afford the lesser stones so they settle for a simple band alone. It really is up to you and how much you’re willing to compromise for the sake of your beloved.
If you’re insistent on buying a diamond engagement ring, there are ways to afford it. The most expensive diamonds are those with the least amount of visible inclusions or flaws, whose carat weight is significant and whose cut shows off the diamond’s brilliance. If you can adjust your budget according to these characteristics, you may be able to buy the diamond that you’re dreaming of. You may look for diamonds with the “I” level in Clarity. Expensive diamonds are usually in the upper echelons, like the VS and SI, respectively. The “I” level has minor inclusions but still invisible to the naked eye. So, even though it ranks several levels below the highest for clarity (in terms of inclusions), people still won’t know the difference but you won’t be spending thousands of dollars on a diamond.
If you want to stay away from diamonds as engagement rings, you can also consider looking at lesser gemstones, like emeralds, garnets, sapphires, rubies, and tourmaline, just for comparison. They’re not as expensive as diamonds but they have their own beauty and are also durable so they will still last long. There are many types of settings for these stones and all you have to do is search for them online or go to your favorite jeweler just to get an idea for a sample.
Sometimes, it also helps if you can customize your engagement rings. You can control your budget because you have control over the type of material, the type of stone and the kind of design you intend for your cheap engagement rings. Your partner will certainly appreciate your taking the time to create a one-of-a-kind piece just for her.
Vintage rings are also cheap engagement rings alternatives. You may have a family heirloom that’s been handed down in your family and you can have it re-set for your fiancee. You may even have a ring redesigned and still make use of the material to save money. Vintage rings are also available online.
Gold and Silver Pawn Shops