Selecting Engagement Rings: A Complex Choice

There are so many small choices to make when selecting the perfect ring, and they can make such large differences in durability, beauty and price. The whole buying process can be quite difficult. The first option to consider is which metal you want. Platinum, which looks like silver, is an incredibly durable metal that keeps a beautiful shine without getting tarnished. It is the rarest and strongest which also makes it the most expensive, but it will hold up for generations without prongs breaking off or scratches appearing. Gold, which comes in many different hues of “gold” as well as white gold and the lovely rose gold, is probably the most classic and popular choice. Gold is very durable as well, especially when properly cared for, and can have so many beautiful appearances. Silver is hardly ever chosen because it tarnishes and scratches much more easily. Engagement rings are meant to last a lifetime, hopefully more, so spending a little extra on the metal used is well worth the cost. Selecting an attractive design is equally important. You want to pick something your bride-to-be will like enough to wear every day for the rest of her life. Many stores offer custom-designed rings, or have numerous bands you can choose from that have yet to be mounted with a stone.

Diamond and Sapphire Engagement Ring

There are also many antique and vintage rings on the market. Always popular is the traditional solitaire ring which has one large stone at the center. Also the three stone ring, generally with a larger stone set in the center is also popular, representing the past, present and future of your love. Traditionally, the stones used in engagement rings have been diamonds; however consumers have been turning to colored stones in recent years as well. Many now opt for a sapphire (which can come in many colors other than the most well-known blue), ruby or emerald. Really any stone can be used as long as it has the toughness and durability to withstand the test of constant wear over a long time. If you are considering traditional diamond engagement rings there are many factors to consider: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. When dealing with the most expensive diamonds little differences make a big difference in cost. Generally the SI clarity range is fine. If you need a microscope to see the speck, it doesn’t really matter as long as the stone is beautiful. With color you do not need the clearest possible stone (D grade), especially not if you are setting the stone in gold which will hide any slight yellow tint in the stone. As for cut, the round brilliant is the most common because it maximizes the fire and brilliance of a diamond, although there are many other shapes available on the market. Carat weight can save you a lot. A .99 carat diamond would be much cheaper than a 1.0 carat diamond of the same caliber. Whatever you select be sure to look around and keep your lady’s tastes in mind.