An Engagement ring and wedding band always go together. The engagement ring is presented upon the promise of a marriage while the wedding band is the symbol of the promise to love, to hold, and to cherish till death and even more. These two are the most lasting and important pieces of jewelry in any man or woman’s life. They are the jewelry that holds meaning and memory more than anything else.

It is always nice to have an engagement ring and a wedding band that matches or complements each piece. You wouldn’t want your rings to look tacky will you? When the engagement ring and wedding band don’t match, it will often end up looking out of place, so you should choose something that will look or have high quality and be timeless.

Choosing Style

There is no rule of thumb when it comes to the engagement ring and wedding band style of your choice. You simply have to like the design, may it be intricate or simple, and another thing is to pick something that you will be comfortable in wearing on a day to day basis. Something a little too fru fru might not be comfortable or will take too much time to maintain.

The Engagement Ring and Wedding Band Metal

Usually there are three choices for the kind of metal setting you want for your engagement ring and wedding band, but there are other choices as well. There’s gold, platinum, white gold, titanium, and rose gold. Again, it really depends on your taste, but bear in mind to make the rings complement some of your other regular jewelries. You can also combine different kinds of metals for a more unique look.

The Gems

An engagement ring and wedding band will be worn for the rest of your life; it may even be passed on for generations to come. The choice of gems to be inserted on your engagement ring and wedding band depends again on your style but your budget as well. Never relegate the kind of gem to the amount of love because they are not comparable. Love cannot be measured by how expensive or rare the diamond or precious gem that is in your engagement and wedding band.

A Suggestion

If you’ve heard about an engagement ring and wedding band set, then you heard correctly. There is a wide array of engagement ring wedding band set that you can choose from. As a matter of fact, you may even save some money if you buy a set, not only that you will be assured that the engagement ring and wedding band will complement each other.

Once you have made a commitment to another about your love for that person and you are sure that you are going to spend the rest of your life with that person in happy wedded bliss, you would then certainly want some surefire way of displaying your love and commitment to your partner, and perhaps the first thing that you will want to gift would be an engagement ring. In fact, deciding to purchase an engagement ring for your partner will rank among the most important decisions in your life and thus you must spare no effort in finding the perfect such ring.

Have a Budget in Mind

Obviously, your love will know no bounds, but your confounded wallet may put a few constrains on the type of engagement ring that you will be able to afford. So, before you do anything else, you must have sufficient funds available to purchase the ring and then you may want to browse the internet to view what is on offer and what the costs are. Thus, with a budget in mind, you should not have much problem in selecting a suitable engagement ring which of course, must also have the proper kind of gemstone or precious stone.

Diamond engagement rings are an obvious choice and though women cannot resist them, it is still wise to look around at other options including opals and gold. However, if you do decide on buying diamonds for your love, and then you need to keep in mind the four C’s which are cut, color, clarity and carat.

Another important consideration with regard to buying an engagement ring is the type of setting used in the ring and in this regard you will need to check out the metals, styles as also different designs. Some people even go to the extent of choosing their own designs for the engagement ring while others are happy going along with what a jeweler or jewelry designer suggests.

However, it would be best if you had an idea about what your partner would like and then decide accordingly. In addition, if you are buying an engagement ring for your lady love you would want to know whether she prefers a huge diamond or would a few small numbers of diamonds take her fancy. You also need to decide on whether to go for yellow setting or white and also the cut of the diamond as well as its color.

Once you are sure about what your partner would prefer in the engagement ring, you only need to find one that matches these needs. You should also choose one which also suits your budget and which should also be of the right size for the partner’s engagement finger.

You have the flowers, you have the speech all ready, you have the perfect location, and the most beautiful ring. You’re all set to propose right? Wrong. If you have taken the time to plan how you are going to propose so carefully then you cannot leave out a single detail, including picking out engagement ring boxes.

You might think that the box is irrelevant since what is inside the box is important, but don’t forget that the box is the first thing your wife to be will see. Picking the right engagement ring boxes are just as important as picking the right ring when proposing.

Matching the Mood

If you have purchased your ring from a high-end jeweler then you will probably provided with a box that will create a good impression. If on the other hand you have found an antique ring or are giving a family heirloom then you need to make sure that you find the right engagement ring boxes.

Antique engagement ring boxes that are made from wood are beautiful keepsakes in themselves and match an antique ring perfectly. Another option is to look at engagement ring boxes that are lined with satin or velvet to create a luxurious feel to match that family heirloom.

The point is that when you are proposing you need to create the right impression and part of that comes from the right presentation. Think about your fiancé and what she likes, what is her favorite animal or flower. Have the box personalized so that it fits her personality and her favorite things.

If she likes antique jewelry or vintage clothes then buy her an antique jewelry box with the ring inside. Think about ways to make engagement ring boxes special to her and to the occasion. Work some characteristic of the place you are proposing into the box. If you are by the sea then have shells decorate the box.

This must be the most memorable jewelry box that she is going to get. A plain cardboard box won’t do it at all. It will also be a total dampener on the mood. She won’t be opening that cardboard box with trepidation and excitement. Instead she will think that you have bought her a pair of earrings or a necklace. Something ordinary, on a day when you want everything to be spectacular. So remember to look at special engagement ring boxes.

Choosing an engagement ring can be really nerve wracking, there is a lot of pressure for you to pick the right ring. To avoid this you can choose the engagement ring with you partner. This way you are assured that you are buying something that your partner truly loves and will be happily showing off to everyone.

Choosing engagement ring designers together to create a unique pair of engagement rings for each of you is also another option that you should think about. Selecting the right engagement ring designers is important so that you get rings that are beautiful and that will last lifetime.

Experience and Expertise

How do you find the right engagement ring designers? The best place to start is with friends who have already been through the whole shebang. Talk to friends who have been married and had their engagement rings custom designed. They will be able to point you towards engagement ring designers who are good and who are bad. The former will be a good place to look and you can avoid the latter places.

Look online for designers and look at discussion boards and forums. The Internet is a remarkable place and a good resource for word of mouth advice. Reading about other people’s experiences outside of a designer’s website can help you find really great engagement ring designers. What’s more you may be able to find designers who are not as expensive as your local jeweler and yet still produce high quality rings.

When choosing a designer for your engagement ring, look at their body of work carefully. Do they specialize in custom designs or do they largely do vintage and traditional designs? You want a designer who is familiar and experienced with the type of ring that you want to get. Asking a designer to make something that he or she is unfamiliar with is asking for trouble.

Costs

Custom designing your engagement ring is a wonderful thing to do. It means that you will definitely have a unique ring that no one else has and you can work special things into it that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to. The downside is that you will have to pay more for this customization.

Customized engagement rings don’t always have to feature diamonds, because you are in charge of choosing the elements you can lower the cost by focusing on other details beside gem size and type. Think about these things as well when designing your engagement ring.

Proposing marriage is a big step and one that comes with certain rules. The minute you propose there is a set of etiquette that is involved. Engagement ring etiquette is something that you should be aware of as respecting the process of getting engaged means respecting your relationship.

Engagement ring etiquette should not be taken lightly as respecting an engagement also means respecting the ring, how it should be purchased and how you should wear it. The etiquette concerned is pretty straightforward and is mostly common sense but it is helpful to know about it in advance.

Who Should Wear the Ring?

Traditionally only the woman wears an engagement ring, increasingly however many men choose to wear engagement rings. Wearing engagement rings together is a great way to start your deepening commitment to each other. However there is a chance that some people will think that you have already been married. The choice is largely up to you.

Which Finger?

Most people wear their engagement rings on their left ring finger. Traditionally engagement ring etiquette required the bride to be to wear the ring on her right hand. This is another point where personal choice is the deciding factor. If both parties want to wear engagement rings then it may be a good idea to wear the rings on the right hand. If however you feel more comfortable wearing your engagement ring on your left hand then you should.

Who Pays?

The question of who pays for the engagement ring used to be simple in traditional engagement ring etiquette; it was automatic that the man paid for the ring. These days however the cost of the ring may be split. This is especially true for couple who already live together and share daily expenses. Despite the practicality of sharing the expense it is a nice gesture on the man’s part to pay for the ring.

Broken Engagements

Engagements are made with the hope of a lifelong commitment. There is still the possibility of a broken engagement or a future divorce. This issue becomes particularly thorny when heirloom engagement rings are involved.

Engagement ring etiquette requires the woman to return the ring. However, there is no legal obligation to do so and a prenuptial agreement should be drawn up where heirloom rings are involved.

Some states actually have laws dictating engagement ring etiquette with some states requiring the ring to be given back. Other states dictate that a woman is entitled to keep her engagement ring if the man broke off the engagement.

Many young lovers must be wondering exactly which finger makes for the best engagement ring finger and the choice in general usually boils down to the fourth finger on their left hand which is very convenient and thus is most often chosen to hold the engagement ring. In fact, in Western cultures the engagement ring finger will almost always be the fourth finger on a person’s left hand since it has always been a tradition for this finger to hold both the wedding and engagement ring.

Love, Devotion and Surrender

The importance of the engagement ring finger lies in its ability to convey to the partner a commitment of undying love, devotion and surrender. It also means that if an outsider views another sporting a ring on the engagement ring finger, and then that person is not available for love.

In addition, the fourth finger on a person’s left finger is supposed to be one in which veins connect straight to the person’s heart and thus both tradition and etiquette require that this finger be chosen for holding the engagement ring.

However, the fourth finger is usually considered the engagement ring finger mostly in countries such as the United Kingdom and also in the United States. In other countries including France, Spain and Germany the engagement ring finger is generally one of the fingers (fourth) on the right hand. It has always been an ancient custom in these European countries where the left hand was meant to signify negativity while the right hand is associated with positivity and thus the engagement ring finger in European countries is the finger of choice on the right hand.

In fact, the particular hand chosen to hold the engagement ring is also dependent on various religions such as for Jewish couples, the custom is to wear the engagement ring on the left hand especially after the wedding has been solemnized, while in the Greek Orthodox Church, the custom is to use the right hand.

In any case, once you are sure about which finger, on which hand is to serve as the engagement ring finger, you must then find out how to find a ring of the right size for this finger. When you visit a jeweler you will find that they keep a ring size chart as well as have tools with which determine the proper size of the engagement ring. In any case, you should choose the size that is on the larger size rather than on the small size since it is possible to resize a larger ring than do anything about a small ring.

Engagement ring mountings are a crucial part of an engagement ring. Without the mounting you cannot attach a gemstone. A bad mounting will leave your gemstone vulnerable to damage and a possibility of falling off your ring. When you have gone to so much trouble to make sure you have a beautiful engagement ring you should make sure that every element in the ring is perfect.

Besides a beautiful design your engagement ring should be made of something sturdy to resist daily wear and tear. There are several things that you should think about when choosing your engagement ring mountings so that your ring remains intact for years to come.

Showcasing Your Gems

Engagement ring mountings are important to showcase the beauty of the gems that you have chosen. A bad mounting can hide the beauty of your gem, particularly diamonds, and make your ring look dull when you want the opposite effect. Usually engagement rings are shown with symmetrically placed prongs, the diamond or other gem sits snugly in these prongs. Other engagement ring mountings go around the entire gem.

The Right Materials

The right materials are important when you are looking at engagement ring mountings. Platinum is usually chosen, as it is affordable while still able to present gems nicely and offer strength. Other metals that are also strong and offer versatile grounds to showcase gems are titanium and tungsten.

Tungsten, titanium and platinum are all very strong metals and will give you the best in terms of strength. Low karat gold and silver are not good options as they are not strong and can detract from a gem’s beauty.

Importance of a Good Mounting

Never underestimate engagement ring mountings, they can make your ring look fabulous or they can make your ring look simply awful to the point a layman can discern how bad your ring is. Mountings determine how much light your gemstone will receive and how bright it will look.

A mounting that is too big can sometimes overshadow a gem. Imagine that you have bought a beautiful and expensive diamond only to have it obscured by the wrong mounting. Talk to your jeweler about what engagement ring mountings will go well with the stones you have chosen.

Things like accents and settings are add on features. You want to make sure that your gems are securely fixed to your ring and that they will stay there. Choose carefully and research the types of mountings out there.

The engagement ring setting that you choose for your ring is extremely important. The engagement ring setting that you choose will protect your gemstone and influences the way your ring looks on your finger. The wrong engagement ring setting can overwhelm your fingers look out of proportion on your hand.

Depending on your lifestyle you may also need to choose a certain type of setting. Different settings are also more suitable for different types of stones and cuttings. The best way to find the right setting is to try rings on so that you can tell what looks best on your hand.

The Prong Setting

The prong engagement ring setting is one of the oldest settings available. It was creates in the 1900’s and consists of a basket that holds your diamond with several prongs to keep the diamond in place. This is the best setting to allow light to play off your diamond and emphasize the sparkle.

This is a good setting for big diamonds and ideally there should be six prongs. If you have small children then this may not be an ideal setting as the prongs catch on clothes and hair very easily.

The Flush Setting

The flush setting is a modern engagement ring setting. With this setting a tapered hole is made in the band for the diamond to sit in and then the metal covers the sides of the diamond. This is a beautiful setting but there is a danger of diamonds coming loose or falling out if not done properly.

The Cluster Setting

This engagement ring setting is perfect for those who are on a tight budget. With the cluster setting you can take many small stones and make them look like one single large stone. Another option is to use this setting to take several semi precious gemstones and arrange them into a figural setting of a flower, butterfly or shape.

Do Your Homework

You need to test out the engagement rings that you are thinking of buying. Besides trying on the rings you should make sure that the stones are not loose. They should sit level and there should be no gaps between stones. Research the amount of care required of each setting and decide if you can commit to that level of care.

Elaborate settings are not recommended for people who perform heavy work with their hands everyday. You should also make sure that your engagement ring setting is compatible with your wedding band.

If you are under the impression that all that there is to buying an engagement ring is selecting a ring and paying for it, and then you need to think again because there is a lot more to it. The engagement ring is not only going to hold a lot of sentimental value, but it is also going to be a purchase that must last for a lifetime and so, you just cannot afford to get it wrong. In fact, you need to even look beyond the size of stone being used and in fact, the engagement ring settings ought to be among the major concerns when choosing your ring.

Classic Look or Modern

The fact of the matter is that once you get to looking at various engagement rings, you will soon realize that there are also numerous engagement ring settings available including those that are classic as well as many that are eternal. You could even choose engagement ring settings that show modernity of thought or those that are very bold and which make an immediate impact in the minds of the beholder as well as the wearer.

However, it is hard to pinpoint any particular engagement ring settings as being the best though what is important is that you pick a setting that suits your partner the best. So, you will need to choose from among various types of engagement ring settings including the prong setting, bezel setting, channel, and pave setting.

Perhaps the most common engagement ring settings is the prong which is ideal when setting a solitaire diamond since it allows for focus to be centered on the stone instead of on the metal that holds it. In addition, the prong setting also shows off the brilliance of the stone the best though it also requires that it be set with great precision while it may also be better to opt for platinum to hold the precious stones rather than another metal which won’t be quite as strong as platinum.

The bezel setting is also another one of the more widely used engagement ring settings and its main advantage is that it provides more protection to the stone though it does not show off the brilliance of the stones quite as well as the prong setting. It is a setting that requires making a collar that sits all around a diamond and the collar of course is made from a durable and strong metal. In fact, bezel setting is quite traditional and with a little bit of mixing, it can be made to look quite modern as well.

If your engagement ring contains several stones, you should opt for the channel engagement ring settings because it allows for each stone to be set in a channel. And, it is also a type of setting most used with baguettes as well as stones cut in a round fashion.

Finally, you may want to consider the pave engagement ring settings in which small diamonds can be put together to look like a sort of street. And, when this effect is achieved properly, it helps to really highlight the brilliance of the stone.

Engagements are very special, it’s a sign of commitment. Your love so deep that you’d want to spend the rest of you life together or in some cases, at least try to.

Vein of Love

The tradition of wearing engagement rings came from the Romans. The ring is often worn on the left hand on the third finger. They say that this finger has a vein that leads to the heart hence it is called vena amoris (vein of love).

Right Ring, Right Store

Every person has their own traditions and beliefs when it comes to the symbolism of the engagement ring. The problem is that they are so wrapped up in the air of “amore” that they forget that engagement rings are also investments which should be given considerable thought before purchasing.

Most of the time a guy, or a couple will just go into any popular engagement ring store without knowing that choosing the right ring does not only entail the prettiest design. There are a lot of things to consider before going into an engagement ring store and you as the guy should be prepared.

Budget

Whether shopping alone or with you fiancée, before going into an engagement ring store make sure that you have set a budget. Sales people are sometimes sneaky. They make you think that the cost of the ring speaks for the amount of your love. Don’t be fooled! Know how much you can afford.

Do Your Homework!

Now you may think this is easy, but it’s not that simple at all. You have to pay attention and do your homework before hand. When you go into an engagement ring store, you will be barraged with a lot of precious metals as your ring’s setting. There’s a choice of gold, titanium, rose gold, platinum, and white gold or a combination of precious metals. Then there’s the design which do you think suits your beloved’s taste? Traditional, understated, modern, or intricate?

The Deal Breaker

Everyone knows that the deal breaker is always the stone. The most popular choice is the Diamond; after all it is a girl’s best friend. Unfortunately, fake diamonds are prevalent in the market so you have to be careful. When going into an engagement ring store, be armed with the knowledge that when you pick a diamond you have to know the “Four C’s” Carat weight, Clarity, Cut, and Color.

An engagement ring store will always offer you diamonds that have already been preset. Sometimes if not always you can examine a diamond better when it has not been set yet, so choose a setting and a diamond separately.

If you want to surprise your girlfriend, bring a friend and make sure the two of you have read up on the fine points of choosing the right diamond. Ask for a certification on the authenticity of the ring. Lastly, pick a good and reputable engagement ring store, they can be a little pricey but you may be assured of the quality.