Ruby Diamonds

Don't be intimidated by the thought of shopping for an engagement ring! Of course, it signifies one of the biggest steps you can take in the maturing of your relationship toward marriage, but that should be met with enthusiasm and excitement for the lifetime ahead of you with your future spouse. Lots of different aspects of diamond ring settings will have an effect on your final decision, but, ultimately, you will probably find this process much easier than expected. Remember, most important of all is your relationship, and your love for each other! Demonstrating your love with a one-of-a-kind diamond setting and an elaborate proposal will be meaningful and significant, and all the "details" of jewelry selection pale in comparison to that.

Some diamond settings are easily identifiable as representing the artistic culture of a particular era - for example: early-20th-century art deco, the 1980's, or antique engagement rings. But, most popular today are rings that are designed with timeless, classic elegance in mind. A bride desires for her jewelry to be long-lasting, and never to go out of style.

With the opposite appearance of a solitaire, other settings rely on more than just a single center stone to show off their style. Three stone engagement rings are a great example of how this design can be effective. Five-stone rings also exist, and these varieties are commonly seen in anniversary rings and bands. Traditionally, you'll find that diamonds of the same cut are combined together for a consistent appearance. But, there are exceptions which combine a larger traditional center stone (round or princess) with more unusual sidestones, like trillions or baguette diamonds, to create a more elongated geometric style with beautiful lines and contours.

Very recently, jewelry artisans have begun including both white gold and yellow gold in the same engagement ring design. Recent innovations in the jewelry industry include the production of gold in additional colors, such as rose and peach, and these have offered designers an even greater palette of options. Combining different shades of gold in these two tone rings create an appearance that is quite unlike any other setting design. Because of the elaborate metal design of the setting, they tend to be paired with solitaire or other simple diamond displays. This helps streamline the appearance of the setting to keep it from becoming too visually "busy".

After you've browsed through a variety of rings and have a good understanding of the styles available, you're in a position to make a final decision on which setting is right for you. During the purchase process, you should bear in mind the following points: First, double-check to verify that your diamond measurements are being communicated correctly so that your engagement setting is produced with the correct space for your diamond's height, width, and depth. Instead of buying the stone at the same time as your ring, you might have an existing diamond available or an heirloom diamond that you plan to set in the ring. In that case, have it measured by a professional jeweler.

The author is proud of the beautiful cushion cut engagement ring he chose for his girlfriend, now his wife of many years.

This guide is designed to assist you as you learn the different kinds of diamond cuts that can be found for setting in engagement rings.

I share my thoughts based on experience with this area, having worked closely with diamond cutters and retailers for years.

The cushion's particular diamond cut is similar to the visual style of antique engagement rings, shaped in a square or slightly oblong shape with very rounded corners. Aesthetically beautiful and the frequent choice of stylish women, cushion cut engagement rings are known for being highly sparkly and packed with fire.

The more contemporary radiant diamond cut is designed to reveal 70 facets in total, and radiant cut engagement rings are exceptional in their light return and timeless appearance.

Keep in mind that a diamond's cut is not the only property to consider. Other characteristics include its color (ranging from D to Z, where the later letters of the alphabet represent a yellower stone), clarity, and cttw. A diamond's clarity refers to what kind of inclusions, or visible specks, may be present in the it, and the degree to which they are visible. When purchasing a ring setting, it will need to be sized precisely for the measurements of the center diamond stone.

Emma Parker and Co. offers tens of thousands of traditional loose diamonds in various shapes and cuts.