Sunday, October 24, 2010

Engagement Rings : A Short Guide

By Mark Walters

Becoming engaged can be a very exciting time in your life, but it also marks the beginning of several important decisions to follow. Where will we get married? Who do we invite? And what type of food will we serve? These are all questions that will need to be answered in the coming months. Another important decision, and perhaps the most lasting, is the style of engagement ring you will wear. With so many styles and settings available it can be difficult to choose. Here we will discuss some of the more popular styles of engagement rings to help make this decision a little easier.

The engagement ring is a lasting symbol of love, honor, fidelity and commitment-something you will both give and wear proudly (hopefully) for the rest of your life. The problem with making a decision on the perfect ring, however, is that there are so many styles to choose from. To help thin out the number of choices, your best bet is to closely look at your partner's style for clues. Men who typically wear little or no jewelry, for example, will usually prefer a simple gold band. Women with elaborate tastes, on the other hand, may only be impressed by something that truly sparkles. If you're not sure of your partner's unique tastes in jewelry, you may want to ask around by checking with their friends and family first.

Antique engagement rings are very popular these days. Whether the ring is a family heirloom handed down from generation to generation, one you purchase from an antique dealer, or a newer ring made by a jeweler to simulate the rings of old, an antique engagement ring is the perfect symbol of undying love and longevity.

Without question, the most popular gemstone for engagement rings is the diamond, but simply knowing this does not always make choosing the right ring any easier. That's because there are so many styles of diamond engagement rings to choose from. Solitaire diamond rings, for example, feature a single diamond stone, cut in a variety of ways to suit your tastes. A trinity diamond ring features 3 diamond stones, usually of equally size, in a horizontal row. And an offset diamond ring can generally be identified by the larger diamond stone in the center of the ring and smaller diamonds on each side.

Whatever style engagement ring you decide on, you may want to make it a joint decision to ensure both parties are pleased. While this approach may take some of the surprise and allure out of the moment of engagement, it will definitely serve you well in all the moments to follow.

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