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I am a woman but I think that when girls ask for expensive engagement rings is just stupid, I have a friend who made her future to be hubby pay 17 thousand for her ring, what is with the selfishness and shallowness?!
Ladies why would you ask for something that exceeds few hundred bucks? and dudes what do you think about this issue?

Engagement rings can get quite expensive and many people focus more on buying one that will impress people rather than remembering that it is supposed to be a symbol of commitment and love between a man and woman.

When I got engaged, I told my wife I had enough money for a down payment on a house or for an engagement ring, but not both. She quickly told me to buy the house and I did. She went without an engagement ring until our 20th anniversary, when I surprized her with one that cost 25k, which I could now afford to buy.

Everything is relative to what a person wants, values, etc. If an expensive ring makes someone happy and there’s enough money to buy it – why not do so? It’s only when other agendas are present (trying to impress people, etc) that things can get a bit out of hand.

Hope this helps!

Generally women are more crazy for diamonds as compared to men. Diamond rings are considered to be the symbol of love. They are more popularly used as engagement rings. Married people consider it to be their most possessed asset. When it comes to its shopping, one may get confused with the large variety available in the market starting from engagement ring to wedding rings. So a genuine choice should be made before picking any of the rings from the store. If you possess a 2-carat diamond ring and you place it down on the counter and if the ring disappears, under normal circumstances, the cost of replacing it will not be recovered. If it is anticipated, it may be dropped to the bottom of the lake and the ring can be still recovered. Such is the paramountcy of diamond jewellery. Rings come in gold, platinum, titanium and diamond forms. The latest trend is of a platinum band with a diamond ring imbibed on it. The engagement rings are usually more expensive than the wedding rings. Along with rings, diamond earrings are also in much demand. Diamonds may be of princess cut, marquise, or rounded shaped. While choosing a diamond, one should keep in mind about its carat, shape and its clarity. Many people even opt for shopping the ring and the diamond separately in order to have a desired and unique choice. No doubt, diamond rings increase an individual’s personality along with multiplying one’s status. Its a life time achievement, so one should be very particular and choosy while buying it. Diamonds are known to be the hardest material with a very high refractive index thus making them unique in comparison to other gems. Because of their refractions, one gets easily fascinated and lured towards this gem. Many diamond companies come up with various offers on the purchase of the diamond jewellery. The offers are mainly during wedding seasons as the demand is more during this season. We should always buy the stuff from a reputed retailer, where the quality would always worth our money. The budget regarding the purchase should always be pre-planned in order to maintain the balance with other economic expenses. One should not end up being a fool at the end of the day by emptying up one’s wallet only on purchasing a ring. Diamonds speak one’s power and the liberty one owns. These are the most prized possessions of a person. So, a wise and careful choice would leave us proudly cherishing them for rest of our lives.

Raisa Raima
http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/diamonds-rings-their-paramountcy-overturns-a-natural-beauty-752491.html

I am currently semi-engaged (ie I am planning on marrying my girlfriend, she plans on marrying me, but the question has not "officially" been asked, as I haven’t found a romantic enough moment yet).

I am, however, not sure as to the ring situation. Should both the male and the female have an engagement ring and a wedding ring? Is engagement ring worn between proposal and wedding; are both worn after the wedding?

An engagement ring is usually worn by the woman only and signifies intent to marry. Wedding rings are usually worn by both partners and are given and received during the wedding ceremony.

Women usually wear both the wedding and engagement rings after they are married with the wedding ring first and the engagement ring on top – ie nearer the finger end

A woman’s eternal desire to feel special, gives rise to her desire for diamond rings. It is indeed strange, isn’t it? How women throughout the globe, irrespective of their nationalities, religions, traditions, family and educational backgrounds, occupations and temperaments, crave for diamond rings? And, how strangely similar their smiles and expressions become when they have a diamond ring slid around their finger!

It is an age-old belief and pattern of thinking firmly entrenched in a woman’s mind that a diamond ring is special. Since childhood she has seen a diamond ring around her mother’s finger. She had loved to play with it. She has grown up listening to the story of how her father proposed to her mother and what that diamond ring meant. Thus are sown the first seeds of desire in the sub-conscious mind of a woman. Then she gradually sees the other engagements and weddings that happen around her as she grows up. Though she understands that an engagement ring need not necessarily be a diamond ring, and engagement only requires true love and commitment, she also notices the high value that the world tends to put on a man who gives a diamond ring to her fiancée. The man’s love for his lady seems to get proclaimed loudly with the glitter of the diamond. And, thus, like a woman’s eternal wish of making the world jealous with her choice of a fiancée or husband, increases her secret desire for a diamond ring.

This is strongly reinforced by romantic novels, movies, albums, greeting cards, posters etc., where a diamond ring is projected as the only emblem of intense love and adoration. The television commercials and other forms of advertisements created by the different diamond companies also attempt consciously to contribute to this belief and desire.

History tells that diamond rings started holding a special value back in the Roman Age. During those times, a man was required to barter for his bride. The idea was to offer the engagement as a security for his commitment to marry. If, later, the man failed on his betrothal, the engagement ring was kept by, the bride, as her financial security. Thus rose the need of offering diamond engagement rings as they had high financial value and their sale would provide good financial security to the scorned bride. Thus the concept, that diamond rings are the most special of all rings, originated from a cause that was only financial and far from anything emotional or romantic.

In the medieval age though, diamond rings began to have a romantic connotation, when the Italians associated diamonds with the flames of love.

The most modern reason happens to be that diamond is the hardest gemstone. This property and the fact that it can have the most versatile setting increases the worth of a diamond ring in the minds of today’s women. The traditional value of it, for being recognized as a symbol of pure and true emotions, also refuses to go from their minds.

If women started to free themselves from their weaknesses towards things like diamond rings, flowers, soft toys and chocolates, women will not be women any more. So, it is better to leave them as they are and pamper them as and when the hour comes.

Melanie Stone
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/what-makes-women-want-diamond-rings-709958.html

I’m sure a proposal is a long way off, if ever coming, but whatever! I want to browse rings. I know bluenile.com. I’m 30 and literally have no idea what I’d want in an engagement ring.

Becca,

I suggest http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/ or http://design.jared-diamonds.com/engagement-rings/?Nic=0. Both sites have a great selection and let you design your own engagement ring.

Good Luck!

Guys, this message is for you. If you are about to “pop the question” by proposing marriage to your honey, then you need to do a little research first before going out and buying that engagement ring. Assuming that you want to do this without her help or knowledge, then you’ve got your work cut out for you. Shopping for an engagement ring isn’t an impossible task, but it is much easier to do if you know what you’re doing.

She Wants Diamonds, Yes!

A diamond is a girl’s best friend and, yes, the engagement ring you select must have at least one diamond in it. The ring is your statement that you will be committed to her until death do you part and it should reflect your personal relationship with her as well as her one-of-a-kind personality.

Some women are died-in-the-wool traditionalists and will desire an engagement ring much like the ones her mother and grandmother wore. Nothing but a lovely diamond solitaire for her, set on a simple, but elegant setting. Other women are carefree and want a modern look, a ring that looks much more like a fashion statement than an engagement gift. That’s all right, jewelry designers have been keeping up with the trends and have designed a ring just right for her.

What’s “In” Is What She Wants

Fashion trends come and go and the same can be said with jewelry trends. However, when it comes to engagement rings, what she wants is what she’ll get, but let’s examine some of the popular trends of today:

Vintage Styles – That engagement ring handed down by your grandmother could be the exact style that she wants. Ornate, romantic, and timeless, antique rings are very much in vogue, something many young women desire. One option: present the ring to her “as is” and have it resized or remounted later. She may prefer the diamond and not the band, or her heart could be set on the band so in that case you’ll be doing some diamond shopping after you propose marriage. No ring handed down? No worries – you’ll find plenty of antique-looking styles when you shop for an engagement ring.

Fresh Colors, Different Gems – Pink engagement rings are prized for their unusual color as well as for their value. Extremely rare, they are also very expensive and given only by the bridegroom who has very deep pockets. Less expensive then pink diamonds, but still unusual are yellow diamonds. Three diamond rings with a center yellow diamond and white diamond side stones has a special look some brides favor.

Various Shapes, Stylish Bands – Round cut stones are still the most popular, but cushion, radiant, square and heart-shaped cuts have a following too. As far as the band itself, your espoused may be open to an attractive white gold twist tension band or a designer band such as a Danhov MicroPave.

Seeking Help from Friends and Family Members

Of course, narrowing down the styles can be difficult if you aren’t already familiar with her tastes. Dropping hints or asking her friends or a family member to help out can be useful, provided that they are people who won’t spill the beans.

Ultimately, your engagement ring selection will reflect your desire to please her and prove that you patiently took the time to find a ring you believe she will prize forevermore. She already loves you and the ring you present to her will be your outward demonstration of your love for her.

Brayan Peter
http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/engagement-ring-trends-from-traditional-to-ubermodern-721313.html

I would appreciate any photos of bluenile engagement rings. I have been to the website but I want to see what the finished rings look like.

Thank you
Thanks for your response but i’m in the UK so american sites aren’t any use. Thanks for your help though.

Blue Nile’s database is good, but they don’t provide you with photos or analysis reports (ASET, Isee2, B-scope, etc) of the diamond. I wouldn’t go with them for that reason.

I got my wife’s ring at Diamond Brokers of Florida:

http://www.dbof.com/

Or you could check out these other online sources:

www.WhiteFlash.com

www.GoodOldGold.com

www.ExcelDiamonds.com

and of course, www.BlueNile.com

Happy hunting.

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In 1477 the Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring. He married her the following day. Little did he know his diamond ring tradition would be wildly popular around the globe centuries later.

Maximilian’s gesture may be the first recorded diamond given for betrothal, but the exchange of wedding rings dates back much further. The ancient Romans gave each other iron bands to signify marriage. Iron changed to gold in the second century AD. Couples in the Roman Empire were the first to place betrothal, or ‘truth’ rings on the fourth finger of the left hand; believing that a vein in that finger, the ‘vena amoris’, runs directly to the heart.

In the Middle Ages, a man would keep a betrothal ring suspended from the band of his hat, ready to give to a chosen maid. Wedding rings started to be set with colored gemstones. ‘Posy Rings,’ inscribed inside with poems or love messages, were a Middle Age invention and continued to be popular through Victorian times. Inscriptions inside wedding bands endure to this day.

The choice of the diamond to symbolize eternal devotion was engendered by affluent people like Archduke Maximilian during the Renaissance, but the only known diamonds came from India, and the common man didn’t have access to such wealth. Metal rings continued to be popular and evolve. The gimmel, made of interlocking rings joined by a pivot to slide together into one, was often exchanged between lovers about to separate for long periods of time. The fede, or faith ring, was a gimmel with the hoops ending in clasped hands. This style is still seen in modern claddegh rings. Jewish wedding ceremonies of the period featured rings of elaborate detail, often with bezels worked in the shape of a synagogue or Solomon’s Temple.

Detailed engraving and the use of motifs such as hearts occurred during the Romantic era of the 17th and 18th centuries. Crosses, stars, leaves and branches were all in style and wealthy Europeans showed a taste for diamonds and rubies, symbolizing eternity and love. The discovery of diamonds in Brazil increased the supply in Europe and as they became more available rings grew more elaborate, set in fleur-de-lys, rosettes, bows and stylized letters. Diamonds were even set in natural, rough form. In 1761 King George III presented a second diamond band as a ‘guard’ to Queen Charlotte. This was the predecessor of our modern day wedding anniversary band.

The Victorian Era saw the continued use of intricate metalwork and a rise in colored gemstones as the choice for engagement rings. In 1870, a plentiful supply of diamonds was discovered in South Africa. This, coupled with the wealth generated by the Industrial Revolution, made the ultimate symbol accessible and affordable for the public, and diamonds quickly became the rage. In 1886 Tiffany introduced the six-prong diamond solitaire engagement ring.

Early in the 1900s the ‘princess ring,’ featuring three to five large diamonds in a row became fashionable in the US (three-stone rings are still quite popular today). The 1920s and 30s saw wedding bands engraved with orange blossoms and wreaths. The chosen metal for engagement rings in the early 1900s was platinum, because of its durability. However, during WWII platinum usage became restricted to military purposes, and there was a rise of gold used in bridal jewelry. In the past 10 years platinum alloys have made a dramatic comeback. WWII also saw the revival of an old European custom where the groom and the bride both receive wedding bands. This tradition continues today. In 1947 DeBeers introduced a marketing slogan that vaulted the diamond engagement ring into ultimate prominence. The slogan “A Diamond is forever” resulted in a diamond movement that is still growing 60 years later. Today an estimated 78% of all engagement rings sold are set with diamonds.

In recent decades engagement rings have shown incredible variety in form, shape, setting details and ornaments surrounding the diamond. Antique, classic or modern, any choice today is correct as long as it is a reflection of the wearer’s personal taste and style.

The ring has been a symbol of love and commitment between two people since ancient times. The diamond tradition, while younger, is present in many cultures and represents the durable, everlasting qualities of the bond of matrimony.

John Pollard
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/the-history-of-wedding-bands-and-engagement-rings-69215.html

I live in Canada and am just wondering whether engagement rings are cheaper in the USA. Thanks.

Maybe the sales taxes would make them less money in the US, but if you are looking at the same quality and size of a diamond, I think only the US/Canadian dollar exchange would make a difference.

If you are thinking of going over the border to buy an engagement ring, be warned: the border duty charges to bring it back over the border will be HUGE. Definitely make it more expensive to buy in the US. Also, Canadian diamonds that are conflict free will be less expensive in Canada than in the US.

The couples have to fork out a huge amount of money when purchasing a ring of their choice. This is because of the costly precious stone and various other spending to be made over the other features such as a suitable setting of the stone and metals. Besides these basic materials, engravings and elaborate carvings only add to the expenses. At the same time, it is possible to own diamond engagement rings within your budgetary limits on following some steps.

The budget itself should be carefully made in order to escape from purchasing a low quality ring or a very expensive one. The focus should be to set the budget for the rings that are of middle ranges. Search the internet for finding out the existing prices of quality rings to set the budget. Usually, a salary of equivalent to two months is considered enough. Later, when you actually go for the shopping you can cut the overall prices.

Since diamond engagement rings are costly due to the precious stone, first chop down its prices. Prefer buying a loose diamond which is cheaper than a mounted one. A highly expensive loose gem is colorless and does not have flaws or inclusion.

Since brilliance and fire of all such stones are equally great as the nature has made them so, you can safely purchase a less expensive diamond that has some flaws with invisible flaws being a little costlier than the visible ones. With yellowish color, the diamond is still adorable but prices will be much lower. Apart from color and clarity, a diamond’s prices are cheaper when it is cut to the shapes of square or rectangle than an expensive pear and heart shapes.

Carat weight should also be carefully chosen. Less costly diamond engagement rings usually are made of smaller diamonds that are less costly to purchase when compared to single stone of greater carat weight.

Besides cutting the costs on the precious stone, you should also ask the jeweler for less costly settings without many details.

Either you opt for a custom made ring or buy a ready made one, scan the sites of the online jewelers on internet. Because of the competitive online business, such jewelers are bound to make offers of affordable diamond engagement rings to the couples. However, return policy of the jewelers must be first studied before placing the order. These are the helpful tips that you can follow to locate a ring within your spending limits.

Ritu Raj Mishra
http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/useful-steps-for-purchasing-less-expensive-diamond-engagement-rings-735131.html