Are engagement rings cheaper in the USA as oppose to Canada?
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.
Useful Steps for Purchasing Less Expensive Diamond Engagement Rings
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
Why are engagement rings more expensive than wedding rings?
Also, how does the binding of the rings work? Before or after the wedding ceremony?
Just wondering. Looking at the wedding rings and engagement rings strikes my curiosity.
Engagement rings usually cost more due to the fact that there is a large stone of some kind (either a gem like an emerald or sapphire or traditional like a diamond) which takes up a chunk of the cost. Wedding rings are usually cheaper due to smaller diamonds or just pure white/yellow gold.
I’d recommend getting the rings bound together after the ceremony, just in case both the rings won’t fit on your finger together, or so that your groom doesn’t have to force them on. That’s just my opinion, different people do things a different ways.
What is the difference between engagement and wedding rings?
Are they actually separate or do the engagement rings become the wedding rings? Also, guys give rings to girls, but does it go the other way too? Or does the guy get both? And do the rings have to match? Or is the guys ring different? Do wedding rings have to be like gold or diamonds?
An engagement ring (usually a diamond in the US) is given to a woman as a promise to marry. It is like collateral for the marriage. If you break up you have to return the ring. Same as if you propose to your boyfriend and give him an engagement ring (this practice is becoming more popular).
Sometimes an engagement ring if it is a band of gold with writing on it (sometimes called a posy ring) can be used as both a wedding ring and an engagement ring, especially if the person doesn’t like to wear two rings. You can find posy rings on the internet.
A wedding ring symbolizes the actual marriage itself. That is usually a band of gold, sometimes with diamonds, sometimes not. It solidifies the union itself.
Rings do not have to match. It is up to the individual couple on what they prefer.
After the marriage if you divorce, both rings are yours forever because you went through with the marriage.
Preparations to be Made Before Shopping for Engagement Rings
Before actually setting out for purchasing engagement rings, the couples must ensure that all the necessary preparations are in place. This is essential because, men are usually not familiar with the jewelry especially that is worn by women. While women buy jewelries for themselves, the ring is a particular item that men buy for their women who are bride-to-be also.
A preparation is necessary also because the rings are usually expensive. Diamonds or some costly other gemstones are very expensive. Any lack of knowledge is explored by the unscrupulous jewelers for making money by charging exorbitant prices.
Do not go for shopping without having a price range in your mind. Make a budget of spending so that you can straight forwardly ask the jewelers to display the engagement rings in the price range and not the expensive ones or the lower ones that are lower in quality too.
But how will you make the budget? A simple rule is to first compare the prices in a nearby shop or scan the sites of jewelers on internet. Generally, it is advised to spare an amount equal to your salary of two months for the rings, but do not make it a strict rule to follow as salaries vary. Once, the price range is very clear, shopping becomes much easier as you have escaped from the confusion related to the prices of engagement rings.
As a next step of preparation, find out the choice of your bride regarding the diamonds, gemstones, settings, color, design etc. To know more about her choice, if she is not willing to come along with you for shopping or not telling you directly, take a good look at her jewelry collection for the colors and designs.
Once the men are sure of the type of engagement rings their bride will like, find out the jewelers who are offering such a ring within your budget. Because of diamond and costly setting, the jewelry piece may be highly priced.
In the case of the desired ring priced way above your budget, find out the ways to cut its prices. There are mainly two ways for owning an otherwise costly ring at reduced costs. Have a sound knowledge of purchasing the diamonds at lower prices. For instance, a diamond having some flaws or inclusions and with yellowish color is still a great stone but prices will be within your buying capability. Similarly, know about the less expensive shapes of the diamonds, like square or rectangle. Custom made engagement rings may also be cheaper as you can control the spending.
Another solution to find rings within your price rang is to compare them on internet. Online jewelers are known for competitive prices. Compare the prices of the rings and you can place the order for delivery at your home.
These basics must be ensured before going to shop for engagement rings for avoiding of paying within your budget and for owing a perfect piece of your or her choice.
Frank Luca
http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/preparations-to-be-made-before-shopping-for-engagement-rings-731373.html
Engagement Rings?
ARE MEN SUPPOSED TO BE GIVEN ENGAGEMENT RINGS OR ARE THEY FOR WOMEN ONLY?
Men don’t typically get one, but some do.
I got my fiance an engagement ring:
http://photos-926.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v194/185/107/24900926/n24900926_30993317_1894.jpg
It’s titanium with a tension-set sapphire chip. I figured it would be nice if we both had a symbol 
I wish more people would consider the roles of men and women in a relationship as equal. It bothers me how some people are very against women proposing. My fiance and I sort of pretty much decided we were going to get married, and I think we just did the formal proposal for the sake of it. Sorry for the ramble!
Three Steps to Designing of Engagement Rings
Though plenty of engagement rings with variety of designs are accessible in jewelers’ shops, yet they may not create the impression the bride is specially looking for. Your bride-to-be may ask you for a specific carving of the ring which the shops do not have in their line-up of the jewelry products. However, the jewelers also design the engagement rings as per the customers’ specifications.
You must ensure some basic steps before asking the jeweler to design the ring. First of all, go through the engagement rings pictures and see how they look. Compare the design on the top of the ring and the carvings on the metal bands. You must compare lots of rings in order to have a look at the prevailing and traditional trends. Pick up the paper and pencil and try to draw the design you have in mind. Consult your bride as she will give you hints over her liking of the ring. Keep in mind her life style and choice regarding the jewelry while deciding over the specifications of the diamond engagement ring.
When it comes to choosing a diamond, its cut, clarity, color and carat size matters the most. Cost can also be a guiding factor in picking up a diamond for the engagement ring. for instance, if a budget ring is in your mind, then a diamond with lower carat size and some inclusions in it will be suitable. Still, such a diamond gives the same impression of glitter to the onlookers. Simple cuts will also lower the prices to larger extent. For a less costly ring, you can opt for other stones such as opals, sapphires and rubies.
Settings for the engagement ring are vital to designing of engagement rings. A channel setting allows for free flow of the stones within a channel, especially to the round stones. This gives extra security to the stones, apart from a unique line of stones for special impression. Prong setting provides for a tight grip over the diamond, and becomes dominant on the ring. Bezel settings protect the stones even more as a tight collar is placed around them. These setting are capable of giving the engagement ring a special look.
Once the specifications of the engagement ring of your choice are in place, you should be shopping for the material. The metal band holds important place in whole of the design. A simple white metal band provides for a less dominant backdrop to highlight the stone on the top of the ring. A gold metal band or excessive carvings on it may somewhat diminish the stone impression and it should be kept in mind while designing the ring.
In these days of internet, designing of engagement rings has become even easier with the help of online tools. Browse a jeweler’s website and you will be guided to the easy steps for online designing of the ring. A major benefit of online shopping and designing over personally visiting of a shop is lower overall costs of the engagement ring as you can compare the diamonds and prices of varieties of designs.
Frank Luca
http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/three-steps-to-designing-of-engagement-rings-671419.html
Golden Earring – Buddy Joe
Golden Earring – Buddy Joe (1972)
George Kooymans – Guitar, Vocals
Barry Hay – Guitar
Rinus Gerritsen – Bass
Cesar Zuiderwijk – Drums
Composed by George Kooymans
Duration : 0:3:39
Swine Flu, Martial law, and RFID Bracelets. Oh my!
Convention in Oklahoma regarding federal plans to implement a bracelet tracking system and suppress travel rights during the coming flu season and the ever spooky H1N1 outbreak. This needs to be stopped! The man speaking is Greg Evensen, a former Kansas state trooper who left his position after learning of the plans for martial law being implemented through FEMA integration with state and local law enforcement agencies.
Duration : 0:4:2
Watch Me Make A Bead!
Me, Kerry, making a lampwork glass disc bead… pretty cool
Duration : 0:3:38