Rising Trend: Mengagement Rings
Contemporary Men's Engagement Ring
The engagement ring is often only attributed to the lady in the relationship, the wife-to-be. But, in more recent times the equality of relationships has broken the tradition of the male asking the female, and it has become acceptable for men to enjoy celebrating their engagement with the symbol of a ring.
Whether the woman turns the tables and does the proposing herself, or she just wants her man to wear a ring marking their engagement after he has proposed to her, the men's engagement ring is a true statement of love and is growing in popularity. Jewellery retailers are all now beginning to market engagement rings exclusively for men.
Male engagement rings are worn in parts of Scandinavia and in the Basque regions of Spain, but until now they were scarce on the market in Britain, sold only by upmarket and on-demand designers.
Choosing a Diamond: Size v.s Quality
The term ‘rock’ is commonly used to describe a diamond of a significant size, and so along with this our intrigue over big stones has grown. Its a popular word when describing celebrity engagement rings, as their status goes hand in hand with the size of the diamond they present for their loved one. Its all very well drooling over the latest big diamond in the celebrity world, but in the real world, does size really matter?
Size and Quality
Most have a realistic budget that they work towards when they are looking to purchase a diamond, and so ‘rocks’ for the majority of people are not always practical. It is also important to remember, however, that the value of a diamond is based on the well-known ‘4 C’s’, which includes the specifics of the quality of the diamond and indeed the size as well. Furthermore, diamonds of a large carat size may not be practical for everybody during day-to-day wear, or they may just not suit your taste, and so in this option the quality is the main focus in your search.
Choosing the right time to propose
Engagement 101 Mag Blog offered an insightful article on ‘picking the right time to propose’ which inspired us to consider this quandary in more detail. After all, the day you decide to pop the question will be one of the most memorable in your life. They point out that when it comes to important announcements (like getting married or having a baby), let’s face it, people want their time to shine and do not want their thunder stolen. Which is why timing is incredibly crucial.
To avoid a clash of special events, someone who is planning to propose should consult their partner’s family (particularly siblings) and close friends to guarantee that their news will not stifle another’s. Not only is it considered proper proposal etiquette to be certain others are happy with your plans, but it is incredibly sensible on your part.
Many men decide to choose a special day for their proposal which will mark the occasion significantly. But which are the best days, and which ones should you avoid?
It may come as a shock to many guys that Valentine's Day is not the best day for a marriage proposal. Sure it’s romantic, but it’s also cliché. Every woman imagines her proposal to be special and unique; Valentine’s day is just too obvious and unimaginative.
10 Steps to Choosing the Perfect Engagement Ring
Deciding on the perfect engagement ring to give to your intended is extremely challenging if you don’t know where to start. Here is a 10 step simple guide to choosing the right ring for her.
Before you start looking at jewellers
- 1) DECIDE ON A BUDGET AND KNOW HER SIZE
Your personal budget must be considered when purchasing a ring and it is better to do so before you start shopping around. It is conventionally suggested that you spend at least two months worth of your salary on a diamond engagement ring. Ring prices can begin modest, but can range quite high so you’ll need to weigh out your wallet size with her preferences. You should also make sure that at this point you have a measurement for the ring size. Read here if you want tips on finding it without her knowing!
Which Diamond Shape Will Suit Her?
So you're looking into finally getting your lady that diamond engagement ring she's been lusting after for ages, but there's so much choice that it's difficult to guess what she's going to like. Well, just like any other kind of fashion, the kind of diamond a woman prefers will most likely speak for her unique sense of style. In this article we'll explain to you the 10 main diamond shapes, a bit about their history, and what shape will suit her personality best!
Round Brilliant Diamonds for the Classic lady
Most commonly known as brilliant or ‘Round Brilliant cut’ (RBC), this is the classic image of a diamond and suits a classic girl. The modern brilliant cut was born around 60 years ago - it is quite simply the best and most popular cut for diamonds. This refined shape accounts for over 75 per cent of diamonds sold today. Not all round diamonds were and are cut as Brilliants. To be a Brilliant a diamond requires 58-facets divided among its crown (top), girdle (middle-top) and pavilion (base). With a high standard cut, the consequence is a firing gem that shines with absolute brilliance.
It is easy to see why RBCs are by far the most popular diamond shape for engagement rings. Appearing clean, modern and simple it remains elegant, versatile and timeless, perfect for the classic lady who appreciates simplicity and sparkle.
How to Find Her Ring Size Without Her Knowing
Dilemma! Choosing the right engagement ring for that special lady is difficult, especially when you want to keep it a secret. Once you’ve decided on the perfect design, you’ll need to know the correct ring size to fit her finger.
The trick of slipping a piece of string round her finger while she’s asleep often fails, either because it’s inaccurate or because she wakes up! Consider the following tactics...
Does she wear other rings?
Watch her put on other rings to see how easily they go on and measure any rings which she has taken off by either:
10 Things to Know Before Buying a Diamond: Part Two
In part one of this article we covered the first five things to know before buying a diamond. Those five were the 4 C's: Carat, Cut, Colour, Clarity, as well as Certificate. In part two we cover the last five!
6. Shape
7. Fluorescence
8. Size vs. Quality
9. Polish & Symmetry
10. Girdle/Culet
6. Shape
Diamonds come in a wide range of shapes, but choosing the perfect one is simply a matter of preference. You may see the shape of a diamond referred to as its “cut”, such as princess or round cut, but this should not be confused with the term “cut” as in excellent or very good cut which relates to how well the finished diamond has been made and how well it reflects light.
10 Things To Know Before Buying a Diamond: Part One
Purchasing a diamond can seem quite daunting when confronted with all the terminology and specifications used in making a selection. However, you don’t need to be a diamond expert to make a confident and knowledgeable decision. In this article we will guide you through the 10 most important factors that you need to know in order to get the best diamond for your money. Part two will follow, here are the first five...
1. Carat Weight
Although it might seem the bigger the diamond the better, to get the best value for your money you’ll need to find a good balance between quality and size. Carat, one of the 4 C’s, is the unit of diamond weight. One carat is equal to 0.2 grams.
The carat weight will give you an idea of the size of your diamond, however twice the weight does not mean twice the size. This also works as a roundabout correlation for other diamond shapes. To get a better sense of how carat weight relates to diamond size take a look at our diamond sizing chart.