Proposing to the love of your life - this can be the most exciting experience of your life, but it can also be the most nerve-wracking! There are a lot of things to get right - the place, the time, the speech There is a lot of planning that goes into proposing, especially for those who wish to make a beautiful romantic gesture. It is true that many women dream of their engagement and wedding for a good portion of their lives. It is then up to the man to make sure that the experience lives up to her dreams!

Choosing the engagement ring can be one of the hardest aspects of proposing to a lady. There are a massive variety of options out there, however the most traditional and popular is the diamond ring. This is a timeless and classic piece of jewellery that will be treasured for years to come and passed down through the family. The giving of diamond rings dates back to the Middle Ages. During this time it became fashionable for the very rich to give an expensive diamond ring to signify an engagement. In modern times diamond rings can be much more affordable, with a style and price to suit almost everybody.

However, what do you do if you want to give your partner something truly special and unique to mark your engagement? It is possible to create your own engagement ring design, using loose diamonds. This emerging trend will leave you with a beautiful and unique ring for the woman in your life. The trend started to grow in popularity after it was revealed that actor Brad Pitt designed the rings for his highly publicised wedding to Jennifer Aniston.

Since then men from all walks of life have sought to make the special occasion even more special with a diamond ring of their own design. You can achieve this yourself with a bit of careful planning. The ring you come up with will be something that reflects your partner's tastes perfectly - and this will show that you have an intimate knowledge of her personality and what she likes.

How do I go about designing my own diamond ring?

There are several ways you can approach designing your diamond ring. Firstly, you should decide what sort of diamond you would like in the ring and arrange to purchase it as a loose diamond. For those who already have design experience, you can do your own sketches of the ring containing the loose diamonds. If don't have any design experience it is usually best to take your idea to a professional jewellery designer and work with them on creating the perfect diamond ring out of your loose diamonds.

Working with a professional designer will help you to create something that is a true reflection of your partner. Once you have finalised a design and you are happy with the result, you can take your design to a jeweller and have them set the loose diamonds in your design. You should thoroughly research the jewellers in your area to ensure that you take your design to the right person for the job. Different jewellers specialise in different areas, so you should confirm that the person you hire has a lot of experience with setting the type of loose diamond that you have and the type of diamond ring that you have designed.

Imagine how much more special your proposal will be if you design your own diamond ring using loose diamonds. Proposing to your partner with a unique ring that you have put a lot of thought and hard work into is sure to make the experience a lot more magical.

When you are looking for an asset to invest in, diamonds can be a fantastic option. These beautiful stones have never been more popular - however it is important that you are careful in your decision of what to buy. Ensuring that the diamond ring, diamond necklace, or any other diamond jewellery that you are looking at, only contains certified diamonds is the first step to making a wise investment.

There are many types of jewellers and diamond dealers out there. Your first stop should always be a dealer who offers legitimate certified diamonds. Sure, others may be lower in price - however if you use a certified dealer then you can be assured that what you get is a quality product and not just a cheap imitation. The biggest mistake that buyers make when purchasing their diamond jewellery is getting blinded by the look of the jewellery instead of finding out the facts about the diamond itself.

Of course it is important that you look for diamond jewellery that is pleasing to your tastes and that will be a timeless addition to a jewellery collection - but it is still imperative that you know that that piece you have fallen for is everything that you want it to be. To your untrained eye the diamond you have selected might look dazzling and perfect, yet there are many flaws that can be found in diamonds that are only visible to trained gemologists under close scrutinisation. Any flaw in the diamond can severely affect its current value and it's future appreciation. This is very important to note, as when you purchase a piece of diamond jewellery it is generally considered that you are acquiring an asset that will go up in value over the years.

It is very important to note that when you purchase a piece of diamond jewellery it is generally considered that you are acquiring an asset that will go up in value over the years. So it is helpful to know that any flaw in the diamond can severely affect it's current value and it's future appreciation.

It is your right as a buyer to request to see the written certification. When you have made a decision on the piece that you want, you should ask to see the diamond certification immediately. The certificate should very clearly list any flaws with the diamond so that you know exactly what you are buying. If for any reason the dealer tries to dissuade or distract you from seeing it, this is a very clear indication that your pick may not be what it seems. The dealer that you are shopping with should be happy to show you the certification for the diamond jewellery that you are considering. Remember, you are making a serious investment for your future, so you should be able to trust that the dealer will be very upfront with you about the diamond you are looking at. If you encounter any behaviour that is less-than-honest you should walk away, straight away.

When you are shopping for a diamond, be sure that you check that it is a certified diamond. This certificate is your assurance that the diamond jewellery you are investing in is worth your hard earned money.

People propose marriage in many unique ways. It can be done at a candlelit dinner, a picnic on the beach, a sporting event or any other way you can think of. Each proposal is different, but, almost always, there's a diamond ring involved.

Understanding diamond rings and their symbolism and meanings is important, before you get one, though. After all, without understanding where diamond rings come from, how they are made and what they symbolize, you can't fully appreciate them.

First of all, let's examine the round shape of the band itself. The circular shape is said to be a symbol of a love that is unending. Some see it as a love with no beginning and no end, a constant state. By accepting an engagement ring, the wearer accepts the unending cycle of love that is being offered with it.

Diamond rings are given out all over the world. It's an incredibly common gift idea. That's probably because diamonds are so beautiful, bright and clear. They are also one of the hardest and strongest things on the planet. So, they are a great, long-lasting gift.

Many people say that a beautiful diamond symbolizes a strong bond that can't be broken by anything. That's why diamonds are commonly used for wedding engagement rings. They are a symbol of love, trust and strength, which are all qualities of a good marriage.

There are two major things to consider about how diamond rings are made. Those are the diamond itself, of course, and also the metal used for the band. There are many different options to choose from. Let's examine a few, starting with what metal to use.

Gold is, of course, the traditional choice for an engagement ring. It is bright, shiny and expensive. It seems to symbolize that the person giving the ring is willing to invest the time and money for a quality ring and, therefore, they will do the same for a quality relationship.

Gold is far from the only choice you have, when selecting a band for a diamond ring, though. You might choose titanium, silver, platinum or other metals. A lot depends on the taste of the person you're planning to give it to. Not everyone has a traditional point of view. You may need to get a bit more creative.

The major choice, though, is what diamond to use. There are four C's you should keep in mind during your selection process. Consider the color of the diamond. Then think about the carat (size) that you want. After that, you have to choose a cut and make sure you get the right clarity.

Using this guide, hopefully, the diamond selection process will be a bit easier for you. Which diamond ring to buy can be a tough decision, if you don't have the right information, after all.

Creative people always want to put their own unique touches on what they wear and jewelry is no exception. If you enjoy working with small pieces and want to create your own belly rings, there is no limit to what you can do. You can buy plain piercings online or at your local body piercing shop. Gold, silver, or titanium is the types of metals you should be looking for. You can adorn them with whatever you would like. From feathers to costume jewelry, it is up to you.

Other design options include dangling pieces, stones, wire, and metallic pieces, as well as plastic pieces can be molded very easily. Visit local hobby shops to get even more ideas for your belly rings. Creating something yourself is a proud moment that you will want to share with everyone.

Once you have made your belly ring, you may be asked by others to make some for them. Turning your hobby into a business is very easy thanks to the internet. Setting up a web site, photographing your belly rings, and creating an order form will not take long at all. You will be able to experiment with different types of jewelry and you will be able to make a profit as well.

Jewelry designing is a hobby with many people. Your indulgence does not have to stop at belly rings. You can move on to other types of piercing. The only requisite is imagination, passion and a creative mindset.

In case you do not wish to start a business out of your hobby, you can keep on using it to derive happiness. You can gift your rings to people, or donate them for charitable causes. There is almost no limit to where you can take your hobby to.

I look at my rambling old home, our two wonderful children, and realize that March will signify our twelfth marriage anniversary! When we were just betrothed, we were rather young and foolish. Today, we are all grown up and mature. Not even knowing looking into the future or knowing what it would bring for us, we had come this far successfully! And we have no idea about how time went by so fast!

Our family has always been big on celebrating wedding anniversaries. As children, we would get so excited about our parents anniversary. We would spend weeks working on the perfect card, buying ingredients and baking a wondrous cake, and gathering up our coins and pennies to buy the most fantastic wedding anniversary present ever!

There was a time during our childhood days when our mother loved things made of rattan and wicker. So naturally we went hunting for something like that for her gift. And in a small shop tucked away somewhere in the town, we did find what we consider one of the nicest gifts ever presented to her! It was a small wicker basket with coasters. Each coaster had a water color painting on it--the painting was Asian in style and colored with glass. All the five coasters had wicker frames. There was no question about it--this would be our gift to our parents. My sisters and I fell in love with the basket. After paying $7.50 for the basket and its contents at the customer service desk, we were left with $3, which was enough to get gift wrapping paper and even a bow.

Like all families, ours had their fights and arguments too. During one such fight which threatened to turn violent, our mother swiped one of the coffee tables with her arm. The coasters were placed on that table and came down with a crash! It seemed like our esteem and love for our parents lay shattered near the table! The event still fills me with sadness!

Despite all the storms and battles, our parents did stay together for a lifetime. And every wedding anniversary was celebrated with gusto and nice gifts. At times, it was just cards as gifts, containing our best wishes; sometimes, expensive gifts bought by everyone pooling their finances together. Naturally, the gifts bought as adults were more expensive than the ones we had bought when we were kids. Even now, the wicker basket with its coasters is remembered with fondness because we had spent so much time tracking the gift and had presented it with such love! But the broken and scratched coaster set still sits on top of a shelf, put there by our parents to remind them of our token of love. Despite its dusty and cracked appearance, it is testimony to a marriage that has survived the stresses of time!

Both our children have picked up our love for celebrating wedding anniversaries! Just like us, they prepare special cards for us and bake a special cake on that day. Then of course, there are the gifts chosen with such care and love!

A man would gift a diamond engagement ring to the woman he proposes to marry when she accepts the proposal and this is done not just in Spain, but in many other countries of the world. Of course these are very pleasant to look at but gifting diamond watches for men and women is also a useful concept. The most sought-after pieces are created by prominent names in the industry, and different jewelers specialize in various types of this jewelry.

Tacori, for example is a designer known for its diamond jewelry meant for weddings and mixes the classical and modern styles with deftness. For some of the most colorful and exotic pieces depend on Hildago creations whereas engagement rings from the 130-year old company Christian Bauer are available from select outlets and their diamond jewelry is made only to order.

As you might imagine, not all diamonds for sale wind up being mounted in these exquisite pieces but only the best certified examples, carefully graded for clarity and color, are selected.

Diamond watches are a kind of jewelry which are liked and used by both men and women. Interestingly, the first wrist watches were nothing but diamond bracelets with a tiny time piece put on it.

The first of such a type emerged when Earl of Leicester gifted a similar kind to Queen Elizabeth I and consisted of a small round clock embellished with diamonds and was like a pendant to a wristband. Chances are that this was the first genuine diamond timepiece for ladies.

Wristwatches were treated as womanly by men who only sported pocket watches till First World War. It was actually the invention of the airplane that led to the development of the first men's wristwatch. This was the case as during the initial years of the aircraft, the pilot had to use both his hands for controlling since fuel gauges were absent. Therefore a need emerged whereby a timepiece was necessary which would allow the pilot to track his range and check the fuel load and which would not necessitate removing his hands from the control, just to reach out for his pocket watch.

It so happened that the time when diamond engagement rings became famous coincided with that of wrist watches for men. Today the three most renowned diamond watches are made by Cartier of France, Citizen from Japan and Movado from Switzerland.

The last name is synonymous to the saying 'runs like a Swiss watch'. Making watches for the past 100 years, Movado is a company who has in its catalogue nearly 200 different and distinctive designs of diamond watches to choose from.