Buyers guide for Aquamarine engagement ring @ Jewel Info 4 U
By: Madhubanti_RudraThe grand celebration
of tying the knot begins right with
the engagement ceremony. The
unwritten social contract between
the families of the bride and groom
that is the essence of engagement
ceremony is surfaced through the
exchange of rings between the
couple. Engagement ring which is
probably the most emotional piece of
jewellery in one's possession is a
symbolic representation of eternity.
Life long commitment towards one's
spouse finds its expression through
this oldest ornament of the mankind.
As such the choice for an
engagement ring is the most
unforgettable, of the same time, the
most confusing moment in one's life.
On the one hand, it should be
classical in its elegance, on the
other hand it should accentuate
one's style statement by rightly
complementing any attire at any
given point of time. Keeping these
parameters in view the choice of
aquamarine as a stone for engagement
ring has become a rage among the
young and stylish new generation
couples who would choose a piece of
jewellery which is comfortable to
wear and at the same time speaks of
individualistic style. There are
many reasons why one should be
tempted to buy an aquamarine
engagement ring.
Aquamarine Engagement Ring Facts
A Beryl family gem, the
aquamarine which is an ancient
symbol of everlasting youth, has
been beloved for centuries for its
breathtaking hue of clear oceanic
blue. This "new classic" eye
soothing stone is believed to drive
away the negative spirits replacing
them with mental peace and
enhancement in self expression.
Astrologically it is associated with
the signs of Taurus, Pisces, Gemini
and Aries. It is also regarded as a
fengshui enhancer. The abundance of
azure is supposed to act as a
harbinger of long and peaceful
married life. It also reawakens love
in the lives of long married
couples. This gem stone has a
typical universal appeal. It
beautifully complements both the
Western as well as the traditional
Indian outfits.
Then the aquamarines are quite
affordable. There are many varieties
of aquamarine available in the
market suitable for every budget.
When choosing an aquamarine ring one
should follow the rules of 4 C's
same as diamond - carat, clarity,
colour and cut.
Carat - denotes the weight
of the stone which is the primary
price determining factor.
Clarity - indicates the
clearness of the stone.
The colour factor distinguishes
the high quality aquamarine and the
low quality aquamarine and the
traces of any colour other than blue
will diminish the value of the
stone.
Cut - Cut is very
important for setting the value of
any gem stone. Round, emerald and
oval cuttings are most popular in
aquamarine rings and octagonal
cutting slightly unusual. Then the
faceting (the angles at which light
is reflected) is also very important
for the look of the stone. Apart
from these 4 c's while buying an
aquamarine ring one should keep in
mind the following factors: first of
all, aquamarine is found in a range
of blue shades from almost colorless
pale blue to bright sea blue. The
more intense the colour the higher
is the value. The highest quality
aquamarine is transparent. Secondly,
in its finest colour aquamarine can
rival a medium blue sapphire which
is rare and expensive but topazes
which are much cheaper are often
mistaken as aquamarines. However
aqua can be distinguished from blue
topaz by hardness, R.I, and S.G.
Blue topaz has decidedly higher
R.I(1,62). However it is wrong to
assume that a darker aquamarine is
of a better quality.
If any gem is too dark it seems
to be lifeless. A gem with a clear
medium tone, intense saturated
primary colour is the best. Thirdly
the inclusions like the presence of
air bubble, rock particle, black
spot etc ensure that the gem is
natural. Fourthly there should not
be any wavy lines, lines in the gems
should be either straight or at any
definite angles. Fifthly too much
glassy finish indicates the gem may
have been treated. The price is
fixed on a per carat basis,
according to colour clarity and size
of the stone. Extra fine aquamarine
of 1 CT sold for roughly $250 per
carat in 1997. Stones with flaws are
naturally much cheaper. Aquamarine
engagement rings can be crafted on
gold, silver as well as platinum.
While white gold rings look
elegant, yellow gold rings provides
it a graceful radiance. A male's
engagement ring with a combination
of platinum and aquamarine can
create a stunning impact. As the
ring featuring the stone requires
the stronger base, it is therefore
usually made up of 18K gold. If the
rings are made to order then one can
buy the stone separately choosing
from wide range of varieties and get
the designs according to ones own
taste and budget. In fact it is
wiser to purchase blue stones and
then get them set on the rings
because settings subdue colours. For
the ladies ring, the stone should
not be very big in size and it
usually varies between 3/4 CT to 1
CT. Princess cut for ladies rings
and a round cut for a gents ring are
the most popular choice for the
aquamarine engagement rings.
For a more gorgeous look one can
try the aquamarine filigree rings.
In spite of the emergence of branded
jewellery companies, the Indian
jewellery market is still fragmented
and unorganized. Although the big
houses like Tanishq and DeBeers do
sell the gems like aquamarine with a
facility of grading system,
presently the buyers have to rely on
the most part on the unbranded
retailers only. In that case one
should buy only from certified
gemologists who provide the
certificate for the gems sold. The
certificate should mention the date,
size, shape and weight of the stone.
However the certificate is meant for
the stone and not for the jewellery.
Although the choice of aquamarine
engagement rings still
unconventional in India, following
the international trends, it is fast
picking up here. In fact through the
imaginations of trendy young
designers, the aquamarine engagement
rings have made a bold fashion
statement.
Related Links ::
|
 |
Belly Button Piercing
The Egyptians, the Indians and many other cultures pierced this humble button to show the significance of the person sporting a pierced navel - Royalty, Warriors, exceptional Beauty. |
|
|
|
|
|
