In love? Thinking of asking that special someone to marry you any time soon? Then you have probably been searching for a wedding engagement ring, the most important part of a wedding proposal. What’s the best way to go about finding the perfect ring? Here are some pointers for you or anyone you know who needs the lowdown on how to select a wedding engagement ring. If only popping the question was this easy.
Diamond shape and cut.
There are seven general cuts, or shapes, to diamonds. Round, marquise (more like the literal “diamond” shape), oval, emerald (a long rectangle), princess (square on top and coming to a point where it is connected to the band, kind of like an upside-down pyramid), pear, and heart. Two other shapes are varieties on these cuts and are also common: trillion (triangular) and baguette (a horizontal rectangle) cuts.
There are three cutting styles: step cut, brilliant cut, and mixed cut. They are differentiated by the number of facets, or edges that are cut into a diamond. So, for instance, a 50-facet diamond means the stone has 50 edges or planes cut and polished on it. Step cut has rows of facets that are similar to steps on a staircase. They are usually four sided and elongated, and are used for shapes like emerald or baguette. Brilliant cuts are usually for round stones because they heighten sparkle and dimension of the diamond. As for mixed cut, it has both step and brilliant cuts. Mixed cuts have become very popular because many people choose to have step cutting on the crown of the stone (on the bottom) and brilliant cut on the pavilion, or head of the stone.
Bands. (Not the musical kind.)
The most common metals for the wedding engagement ring are yellow gold, white gold, and platinum. Besides the obvious difference in appearance between the metals, there is usually a price difference between the types. Platinum is the most expensive, while white and yellow gold are usually about the same in cost.
Once you know what you want the band made out of, you must choose the setting. The prong setting is the most popular because it cradles the diamond in four to six claws, allowing light to hit it from more angles to make it appear larger and more brilliant while holding it securely. Another setting is the channel setting, which embeds each stone next to each other in the actual band. Bar, bezel, gypsy, tension, illusion, flat-top, and the cluster setting are all other options you can choose from. Your local jeweler can provide more information on each one.
Design your own.
Maybe you and your future spouse are too creative or too particular to choose the perfect wedding engagement ring in the store. Lucky you, because with the marvels of modern technology now you have the option of designing your own ring! You can browse different styles and create your own online or at some specialty jewelry stores. Only you and your spouse know what you want in a ring. You may be very specific in the hue of gold or silver, in the shape of your diamond, and in how much you want your ring to cost.
By Lyndsey Payzant