5 Tips for Buying an Engagement Ring

The quest for finding the perfect engagement ring can be a very stressful time. There is never more pressure to succeed or more chances for failure at buying jewelry than there is with the engagement ring purchase. It has to be perfect because this is the piece of jewelry that will show her how much she means to you.
Rather than becoming overwhelmed with the task of finding the perfect ring, you should accept it as a challenge and look forward to the experience. The perfect ring is out there, and you will find it if you follow these five tips for buying an engagement ring:
Never buy a ring unseen. Purchasing jewelry online or at auction sites can be a gamble. Always purchase jewelry that you can hold in your hand and inspect rather than rely on pictures that might be staged or brushed up.
Do not be afraid to take your intended with you. This will give you an opportunity to see what she likes and what she doesn't like. Remember, not all women love to wear a huge rock their hand, and styles of rings vary greatly. Having her input may save you from buying a ring that she hates.
Always make sure that the ring is sized correctly. While this may be a challenge if the ring is to be a surprise, purchasing a ring that fits perfectly will show your intended how much thought you put into the purchase of the ring.
Do not get stuck in the traditional diamond rut. There are many kinds of precious stones that make beautiful engagement rings, and if you want to buy a ring that is truly unique, buying a rare stone might be the way to go.
Make sure that the ring that you purchase is boxed and wrapped beautifully. Remember, the presentation of the ring makes as much of an impression as the ring itself.
When buying an engagement ring, also be sure to purchase the ring from a jeweler that you trust. It is extremely frustrating to receive a flawed piece of jewelry when you were expecting perfection. Having to return a flawed or incorrectly sized ring may also result in having to postpone your plans to ask the big question.
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How Much To Spend For A Diamond Engagement ring

Purchasing a diamond engagement ring should be approached with a sense of reason just like any other major purchase.
How much you spend for an engagement ring should depend on many factors, including your current employment status, your general credit standing, and your current financial status and how much discretionary income you possess.
The ring itself is a symbol of your relationship, not the size of the diamond it contains. If the lady you are planning on spending your future years with thinks otherwise, then maybe the relationship needs some rethinking.
Diamond facts-know what you are shopping for:
Before shopping for a diamond, know something about them and what you should be looking for in a diamond so you do the best for the money expended.
Diamond weight is measured in carats or points. A carat is equal to 200 milligrams and a point is 1/100th of a carat. In other words 25 points would be 1/4th of a carat.
Good color in a diamond is colorless. Most diamond engagement rings contain colorless diamonds. There are also colored diamonds called fancy diamonds, but they are usually in other types of jewelry pieces.
Clarity refers to the transparency and the lack of flaws. Many flaws are not visible unless seen under magnification. Flaws are often overlooked by consumers as long as they are not a hazard to the structure of the diamond, and are unseen by the naked eye.
Cut is another factor to consider and should not be confused with shape. The cut of a diamond, if good, will reflect more light and brilliance in a diamond.
There are a number of shapes to choose from. Currently the round brilliant is the most popular and is a good choice because it nicely displays the fire and brilliance of a diamond. But there are other shapes that are also popular. Round, princess, oval and pear are some of the popular diamond shapes. Shape is just a matter of personal preference.
Diamond money saving tips:
If you are watching your budget when purchasing a diamond engagement ring then perhaps buying a ring with three smaller stones is an option you might choose. Often you can get more by buying multiple smaller stones with a combined weight that is equal to the weight of only one stone, and for less money.
Another thing to look at is points. If are shopping for a ring with a single stone and one carat is what you want, consider purchasing a ring on points. If a stone is close to a carat, but not quite close enough to qualify as being labeled as a carat it could cost considerably less, and yet have the appearance to the naked eye of one carat.
Another budgeting option is the setting. Choosing white gold rather than platinum can also stretch your dollars when shopping for a diamond engagement ring.
Consider some of these tips, make an informed buying decision, and don't overburden yourself when making the purchase. Save some of your financial resources and enjoy your life together.
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The History of Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands

These days, many people take wedding bands and engagement rings for granted, and although they give these beautiful items of jewellery with integrity and love, they are often given with no real knowledge of the meaning behind them.
Both wedding bands and engagement rings are very special items of jewellery; in fact, they are more than just jewellery - they are the symbols of many emotions and promises such as:
Love
Commitment
Fidelity
Eternity
Honour
But where - and why - did these popular and sentimental pieces of jewellery stem from?
The History Of Wedding Bands
These items of jewellery have a history that spans many centuries and passes through many countries from all around the planet. Below, you will find a brief history of the wedding and engagement ring, as reported from country to country.
EGYPTIANS
The now-famous wedding band is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt, where it is said that plant sections were fashioned in to circles to signify never-ending and immortal love. It was thought that the fourth finger (which we now know as the ring finger) contained a special vein that was connected directly to the heart, and therefore this became the official finger for the wedding band.
ROMANS
The Romans also agreed with the Egyptians with regards to the wedding ring finger and its meaning, but rather than offering wedding bands as a symbol of love, they awarded them as a symbol of ownership. Roman men would "claim" their woman with the giving of a ring.
ASIANS / ARABS
Puzzle rings were a complex type of jewellery that were once popular in Asia, and these jewels had the charming knack of being able to fall apart and put back together again - if you knew how to do this, of course. Wealthy Middle Eastern men then began to use these rings as wedding bands for their wives, who were often forced to wear a puzzle ring when their husband was away. The husband would know upon his return whether any of his wives had been disloyal by removing the ring whilst he was away, because the ring was designed to collapse upon removal and could only be put together again if you had the skill and knowledge required.
EUROPEANS
Several centuries ago, the Europeans became rather taken with what we would class as an engagement ring, but was then called a Poesy Ring. This ring was given to a loved one as a form of promise, and signified fidelity and love. The Poesy Ring was offered as a pledge of eternal togetherness, much as today's engagement rings are offered as a promise of eternal marriage.
AMERICANS
During Colonial times, all items of jewellery in America were prohibited due to their apparent moral worthlessness. Instead, a more practical thimble was given as a token of love and as a pledge of eternal togetherness. However, after they were married, the women tended to remove the bottom of their "engagement thimble" to form a type of ring.
History Of Engagement Rings
The engagement ring of today also has its own varied and interesting history, some of which is explored below. Engagement rings have been known by many different names, have symbolised a variety of different things and have not always been made of precious metals and stunning gems!
GREEKS
The ancient Greeks are thought to have been the forerunners in the rising of the traditional engagement ring. Given as a token of care and affection, the rings used by the Greeks were known as betrothal rings and were given before marriage. However, the giving of these rings was not always a pre-requisite to marriage and was often given in the same way as a friendship ring might be given today.
ROMANS
As seen by their use of the wedding ring, ancient Romans weren't the most sentimental of people, and the early version of their "engagement ring" were thought to have carved keys on them. It has been debated that this could have been to symbolise the woman's right to access and own half of everything following marriage. However, the more sentimental like to think that the key may have been a key to her husband's heart.
ROYALTY AND THE AFFLUENT
Engagement rings as we know them today - stunning gems encased in precious metals - became popular in around the fourteenth or fifteenth century, when the affluent and the royals began to exchange and wear these jewels. However, these items were so expensive that nobody other than the royals and the rich could afford to exchange them. It was to be many centuries before these engagement rings would become more popular or traditional.
Why a ring?
The purpose of engagement rings and wedding bands is to convey deep emotions of eternal love, eternal happiness, eternal commitment, and eternal togetherness. In fact, these rings signify eternity - between the giver and the recipient. A ring, of course, is a complete circle with no break and no end or beginning, which means that it just goes on and on - it is eternal.
And, since folklore has it that the fourth finger of the left hand has a vein leading directly to the heart, it is only natural that both engagement and wedding rings would be worn on this particular finger, which was once reputed to be a direct route to the heart.
Summary
In short, it is clear that the giving of a ring in honour of a union, betrothal, and marriage has been going on since ancient times, and although it may not always have been as glamorous and romantic as it is today, it was still a way of exchanging a contract of betrothal or marriage.
Thankfully, today's wedding bands and engagement rings are not made of hair, grass, plants or twine as they may have been in ancient times, but of beautiful metals set with stunning gems, such as platinum, titanium, white gold, gold, sapphires, diamonds, rubies and emeralds. These incredible items of jewellery are likely to remain as popular as ever as the centuries go by, and even as the rest of the world advances in to a futuristic and technological age, it's hard to imagine a day where a beautiful diamond engagement ring doesn't melt the heart of its recipient.
About The Author:Reno Charlton is an award-winning author and freelance writer from the West Midlands, England. She has written many articles providing consumer information on such topics as jewelry boxes, and promise rings.
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