Diamonds are a woman's best friend, and for good reason. They're beautiful, classic, and make for a stunning engagement ring. But with so many different cuts, carats and styles to choose from it can be hard to find just the right one. This guide will walk you through everything from finding the perfect diamond to choosing the perfect setting for your ring (or ring pair). We'll also cover essential questions about budgeting for an engagement ring and which metals are most popular these days.
Diamonds are forever. They are a girl’s best friend, and they’re also a symbol of love.
In the world of jewelry, diamonds hold an important place in history: because they’re rare and expensive, many people use them as a symbol of wealth and status. During the Renaissance era (14th-17th centuries), diamonds were worn as ornaments by royals; however, today they are much more accessible thanks to innovations in diamond mining technology that have made them more affordable for everyone!
But what makes diamonds so special? What makes people pay so much money for them? Read on to find out!
The history of engagement rings is a little bit more foggy. Some say they started in ancient Egypt, where men would give wives-to-be gold bands to show their affection and commitment. Others say they began with the Romans, who gave each other finger rings as symbols of their partnership—or even China, where it's believed that couples first exchanged diamond engagement rings during their betrothal ceremony centuries ago.
Whatever their origin, we know for sure that the earliest documented reference to engagement rings doesn't appear until 1477: In that year's book "A Treatise on Diamonds," author Jacobus Demarteau wrote about how he had given his fiancée an ornate ring made out of gold and set with diamonds as part of an elaborate proposal ceremony involving friends and family members.
In the late 19th century, diamond engagement rings became popular in America among affluent families. According to one legend, this was due to an advertisement placed in The New York Times by a prominent jeweler named Jacob Fyodorovitch. In 1882, he wrote that he had received a shipment of rare Russian diamonds with "a new and wonderful brilliance," which he then sold as engagement rings for $10 each.
As the story goes, Fyodorovitch's advertisement was seen by a young socialite named Emily Post. She went to his store and purchased one of the rings for her own use, which then inspired other women in New York City to do the same. The trend quickly caught on with other young ladies from elite families across America—and diamond engagement rings have been popular ever since!
The decision to propose and the subsequent selection of a diamond engagement ring is an emotional one. It's an important symbol, and diamonds are associated with love and commitment. However, it's important to remember that diamonds are just stones; if you're going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on one stone, it should be one that not only matches your style but also reflects your lifestyle.
The most effective way to select a gorgeous engagement ring is by first determining which diamond cuts are best suited for different lifestyles. Your ideal cut will depend on whether you're planning on wearing your ring every day or just for special occasions, or if there's another person in your life who will be seeing it almost as much as you do (such as during everyday interactions). There are many factors that go into this decision:
Ring styles are a matter of taste, but the most common options for engagement rings include:
Solitaire. This is the traditional style with one diamond solitaire and no other stones.
Three stone. In this style, there are three diamonds set into the ring, one larger center stone flanked by two smaller side stones.
Halo. The halo encircles or frames the center diamond and gives it added sparkle and light reflection.
Cluster/prong setting. A prong setting holds many tiny diamonds together in a row or cluster of varying sizes depending on how many you choose to have placed on your ring at once (one large center stone surrounded by several smaller ones). Prongs hold each individual diamond into place using small metal points that secure them into place without affecting their natural sparkle or shine too much--a great way to add some extra bling without going over budget just yet!
Engagement rings are available in a number of different metals. If you're looking for something that's more traditional, gold might be a good choice. Gold engagement rings are versatile, so they can be worn with any outfit or style. They also match beautifully with diamond jewelry and other precious gemstones.
Platinum engagement rings offer the same sparkling elegance as their yellow counterparts but at a higher cost per carat weight (the unit used to measure the size of diamonds). Because platinum costs more than other metals, it's often used by people who want an especially luxurious ring or who want to show off their wealth!
Silver engagement rings have long been popular due to the low cost and wide variety of styles available from many different designers around the world; however, silver engagement rings tend not have quite as much sparkle as gold ones do because silver doesn't reflect light well compared with white metals like palladium or platinum which both reflect light beautifully when polished properly - making them ideal candidates for those seeking maximum reflection!
The first step in choosing a diamond engagement ring is selecting the right size. Most jewelers will provide you with a sizing kit that includes plastic rings of various sizes; you can use these to determine which would be most comfortable for you and your intended.
The ring should fit comfortably on your finger without causing any pain or discomfort, but not so loose that it slides around or falls off when handled. It's important that both of your ring sizes match, as this ensures the stone will rest in the center each time it’s worn--and no one wants an off-center stone!
Of course, budget is one of the biggest factors in determining what kind of diamond you should be looking for. If you're buying an engagement ring, chances are it's going to be one of the most expensive purchases you make (if not the most expensive). While there's no denying that a large diamond ring will cost significantly more than a small one, there are plenty of options for every budget level.
If your budget is lower than average but still high enough that you'd like something impressive-looking on your finger, consider choosing a smaller diamond with fewer carats. You can also choose a setting without as much bling—for example, instead of having hundreds of little diamonds around the band or surrounding the center stone(s) like some settings do, go with something simpler such as just two small stones on either side.
Think about the last time you looked at a diamond. Perhaps it was a ring, or maybe it was a wall of diamonds in some fancy jewelry store. You probably noticed that they were all so similar that they appeared to blend together.
In fact, this visual similarity is one of the reasons why diamonds are so popular—they are easy to identify and distinguish from other stones and gems. Even if you don't know anything about gemstones or jewelry, anyone can tell an engagement ring from any other kind of piece simply by looking for the glittery stone center surrounded by metal prongs.
Diamonds are also an excellent choice for many brides because they have been beautiful for thousands of years and will likely continue being beautiful for several more centuries (and perhaps even longer). They're timeless with their classic elegance while still being eye-catching enough to make people notice them across a crowded room.
In addition to their aesthetic advantages, diamonds also make good investments if you choose wisely; many couples choose engagement rings made out of rare colored diamonds instead of white ones because these gems cost significantly more than plain ol' cubic zirconium or synthetic glass imitations—this means that when you sell your engagement ring later on down the road after having children/moving away/getting divorced/etc., its value may increase due how much demand there currently is among collectors who want them too!
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