| ttle girls grow up dreaming of the moment that | | | | most common and accepted piece of its type |
| their knight in shining armor gets down on one | | | | due to its permanence, beauty, and expense. It is |
| knee and proposes. It is a romantic gesture that | | | | a reflection of the love felt between two people. |
| is topped off with the perfect accessory, the | | | | That is probably why it is expected that a man |
| engagement ring. Most little girls dream of that | | | | plunk down tons of money for an engagement |
| perfect diamond atop their ring finger, gleaming | | | | ring. The cost of the ring is ultimately up to the |
| and bright. The engagement ring has a very old | | | | individual, and how much he wants (or can afford) |
| and interesting history that began thousands of | | | | to spend. Some guidelines assert that 2-3 months |
| years ago. The traditional diamond engagement | | | | salary should be shelled out for the ring. That |
| ring that we know of today is actually a fairly | | | | amount of money can purchase quite a diamond |
| recent custom. | | | | engagement ring! |
| In most traditions in the Western world, an | | | | Diamond engagement rings most commonly come |
| engagement ring is worn by a woman on the | | | | with solitaire settings, and come in a variety of |
| third (ring) finger of her left hand, signifying that | | | | diamond shapes, such as pear, round, princess, |
| she is engaged to be married. The ring is usually | | | | heart, marquis, and square. Each shape showcases |
| presented by a man upon a proposal of marriage, | | | | the brilliance of a diamond in a different way, and |
| and worn by the woman after she accepts his | | | | adds to the individuality of the piece. More often, |
| proposal. It signifies the agreement to marry, and | | | | you will find that diamond engagement rings are |
| is usually worn along with the wedding band (on | | | | set with more than one stone, and even side |
| the same finger) for the duration of the woman's | | | | stones. This can mean more smaller diamonds, or |
| life or the marriage, whichever ends first. | | | | more large diamonds, depending on the whim (and |
| The tradition of the engagement ring can be | | | | the credit line) of the man doing the buying! |
| traced back as far as Ancient Egypt, Greece, and | | | | It is however, becoming more and more common |
| Rome. The Ancient Romans held the belief that | | | | to see engagement rings that either contain |
| the Vena Amoris (Latin for "vein of love") was | | | | another type of gemstone besides a diamond, or |
| located in the ring finger of the left hand. It was | | | | contain other colored gemstones with a diamond. |
| believed that this vein ran directly from the finger | | | | You often see solitaire set emeralds, rubies, or |
| to the heart. The circle of the engagement ring | | | | sapphires, or any of these stones set with smaller |
| was also believed to represent the eternal bond | | | | surrounding diamonds. This represents the taste |
| of love, a romantic notion that is still largely | | | | and individuality of the woman who wears the |
| believed even today. | | | | ring, and often makes for a quite unique and |
| The design and material of the engagement ring | | | | beautiful ring to wear. |
| has changed quite a bit through the years. While in | | | | The diamond engagement ring (or an engagement |
| ancient times an engagement band was fashioned | | | | ring containing other precious gems) is a |
| out of hemp, rope, or even lead (in Ancient | | | | representation of a promise of eternal love and |
| Rome) and usually did not contain gemstones, | | | | devotion. The possibilities in rings are endless, and |
| today we traditionally see engagement rings | | | | should be chosen with care to reflect the |
| fashioned out of precious metals such as platinum | | | | woman's taste, style, and personality. After all, |
| or gold, holding a single set stone, which is most | | | | she will be wearing the ring for a very long time |
| commonly a diamond. | | | | to come. |
| The diamond engagement ring seems to be the | | | | |