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How to buy an Engagement Ring @ Jewel Info 4 U
By: Reuben Robert
So you've decided to pop the
question and the next thing in order
is an Engagement Ring, to
commemorate your eternal commitment
to the one you love. Of course, the
debate still rages: Why do we need
to buy a ring? Is the expense worth
all the hype? Does it mean anything
at all? When did all this begin,
anyway?! Well, the following trivia
may help:
* Egyptians believed that the "love
vein" (vena amoris) ran straight
from the fourth finger to the heart.
* Judeo-Christian ethos considers
the ring's significance as its
symbol of everlasting continuity.
* Most agree the tradition of buying
a diamond engagement ring began in
1477, when Archduke Maximillian of
Austria bought his future wife Mary
of Burgundy a large diamond.
* Still more believe it's a vast
conspiracy on the part of the
jewelry industry to rake in all our
money! Just remember, in matters of
the heart, one needs little
justification for any act, senseless
or otherwise. Follow your heart, and
let it decide what you want.
1. YOUR BUDGET - FOLLOW YOUR HEAD,
NOT YOUR HEART!
 I know I've just contradicted
myself, but hey, this is an
important point. It's all very well
that you've decided to go in for the
ring, however here's the guideline:
Jewelry is expensive. Good jewelry
is even more expensive. Great
jewelry is... But you get the point.
Solicit ideas may be a good idea.
Speak to men who've already done the
deed. A family member could have
some advice. Your local jeweler will
simply be bursting with ideas too.
However, ensure that the final
decision is yours. Nothing else will
do. Here are some tips to help you
along. It doesn't always need to be
a diamond. It's true. Many feel the
modern tradition of diamonds is
over-sold. Remember that the value
of the engagement ring will mean
different things to different women.
Most women believe more in the
symbolic value of the ring,
especially if the proposal is
sincere. There are many imitation
diamonds in the market, but remember
that while it may fool some, it will
never fool her. My advice, don't
even try. But do take heart; there
are many alternatives to diamonds
that are affordable, romantic and of
symbolic value too.
A Ruby or a Red Garnet symbolizes
the passion and zest for life, and
everything the heart stands for.
Other marginally more expensive
alternatives are the Red Tourmaline
or Red Spinel. Choices in green
include the Green Garnet and Green
Tourmaline, and the enchanting
Emerald, all of which stand for the
everlasting symbols of faithfulness
and continuity. The Blue Spinel,
Iolite, Blue Tourmaline and Sapphire
stand for purity and spirituality.
The Pearl has long been associated
with love and weddings, far before
any other gemstone. Try and find a
natural pearl in an heirloom or
antique piece. A good idea would be
to combine the stone of your choice
with a small diamond on either side
to complete the symbolism with the
aura of indestructibility and
infinity that the diamond stands
for. An important thing is to decide
whether she prefers her birthstone
itself. It will make it more
personal, closer to her heart.
So no matter what your budget, and
no matter what you want to say,
these beautiful, rare and precious
choices are well within reach. It
simply has to incorporate the
correct symbolism for the two of
you, while showing thoughtfulness
and caring. However, society
sometimes fuels unrealistic
expectations for the perfect
engagement ring, and you may decide
to go in for a diamond ring after
all. Or maybe, you can actually
afford one quite easily. Whatever
the reason, remember to separate
yourself from the benchmarks that
others set, and make this decision
based on your own preference. Most
financiers and jewelers agree that
an ideal budget would be in the
range of approximately 2 or 3
months' salary. Some choose to spend
more because they have another
disposable income, and many find a
good ring spending less than the
prescribed budget. Just remember,
matters of the heart are generally
directly disproportionate to your
bank balance! Use your head, that's
all.
2. WHAT DOES THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE
ACTUALLY LIKE?
You will now have to begin doing
things that most men find very
difficult. Start Paying Attention!
* What is the metal color she
prefers? Unlike men, most women will
have a definite preference. Your
choices will vary between White
gold, Yellow gold, Rose gold or
Platinum.
* Does she now wear jewelry that is
vintage or antique? Or does her
preference lean towards modern
contemporary design, or is she
prejudiced to classic and timeless
designs that never go out of
fashion?
* Her regular jewelry is probably
the best indication of her taste,
especially because it almost surely
is made up of items she is most
comfortable with. Are You Listening?
* If she's ever mentioned an
opinion, it's a definite clue. Has
she commented on a friend's ring?
Why did she like it? Or why not?
* Does she like diamonds, or does
she prefer other gemstones? Has she
ever discussed jewelry with friends
or family?
* If you're clueless, don't worry.
It shouldn't be hard to divert her
attention towards a jewelry store
when you're out shopping. Be subtle!
Tell her you're looking for a
tie-pin or something, but be sure to
stop by the engagement ring counter.
Start Noticing Her Hands!
* Think proportional when it comes
to choosing the shape of the stone,
and the ring's thickness.
* Bold styles generally suit women
with long fingers, while delicate
jewelry will be unnoticeable on
large hands.
* The wider the band, the shorter
the appearance of the finger.
* Oval diamonds will make her
fingers look more sleek, but avoid
over-doing it.
3. CHOOSING YOUR JEWELER & JEWELRY
CERTIFICATION
Regardless of whether you choose a
gemstone or a diamond, this is an
important step. It will not only
ensure you get your money's worth,
but will also help if and when you
decide to insure your expensive
investment. In the US, the GIA
(Gemological Institute of America)
or the AGS (American Gem Society)
are the most trusted certifiers for
diamonds. Various countries have
their respective certifiers, so make
some enquiries before you purchase
that stone. Look for a jeweler you
can trust. Generally, a jeweler who
has a good reputation in the
community and who's been in business
for many years is the one you should
approach, especially if you, like
most men, are not very familiar with
jewelry.
4. The Engagement Ring's Band
Get It Right! However tempting it is
to ignore the band because the vast
majority of the cost is for the
gemstone or diamond, the way the
diamond is set in the band decides
the overall appearance of the
finished jewelry. Fortunately, this
is much easier than picking out the
gemstone. The thickness of the band
isn't the only consideration. Her
personal taste in metal color, her
hand type, her skin color, the size
of the stone, all play a part in
deciding what the band should look
like. Regardless of whether you
choose White, Yellow or Rose Gold,
18ct (Carat) Gold is the best
choice, followed by 14ct. Despite
being significantly more expensive,
many still choose Platinum for the
ring. Now you need to decide how you
want the stone set. Want it to ride
low? It won't be very showy (you're
probably wondering what the point is
then), but consider that a diamond
that juts out is liable to snag
itself on just about anything that
brushes it and will also be prone to
damage. You'd imagine there'd be an
easy answer to the illusive question
of choosing an engagement ring
design.
There is no scientific or
mathematical way to design or choose
one. It's purely a matter of one's
personal preference, hedged by some
practical reasoning: - Does it look
good? - Is it practical to wear? -
Will it withstand normal wear and
tear? - Does it hold the
all-important gemstone securely? If
you want an extremely fine design,
then choose Platinum, as it is much
stronger and will wear out gold many
times over. Also, a 6-claw
arrangement will hold the stone more
securely than a 4-claw. If her work
involves very heavy contact, then
you may consider a bezel setting
(called a rub-over). It's safer than
a claw setting. You may want to
sneak one of her rings to the
jeweler, so he can measure it.
Otherwise an outline will help. You
could impress one of her rings in a
bar of soap, or push one down as far
as it will go on one of your
fingers, then mark the spot. Simpler
still would be to trace the ring on
paper. If all else fails, try asking
her mother or friend to do the deed
for you! Which brings us to our
final point: Is this ring an
investment? Ideally, no. At least,
not for the reason you've bought it.
When you consider the non-monetary
investment you've made in the ring,
you'll find as a symbol of your love
and devotion, it stands unrivaled.
As a priceless testament of your
love, your woman will be overjoyed,
no matter what you choose.
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