| It has long been tradition for the sparkling-eyed | | | | the same shape on either side. These rings are |
| boyfriend to "surprise" his girlfriend with a wedding | | | | known as three-stone rings. Traditionally, these |
| proposal and an engagement ring. The whole | | | | were given on anniversaries but are now very |
| scenario is indeed romantic and is what dreams | | | | much in style as engagement rings among |
| and movies are made of, but if you're a girl that | | | | traditional brides. |
| is serious about your fashion, you may prefer to | | | | Even conventional jewelers continue to update |
| be involved in picking your engagement and | | | | their selections with fresh shapes of gemstone |
| wedding rings to suit your taste. Why leave such | | | | cuts based on the classic styles. Tiffany's, one of |
| a crucial part of your style for a guy to do alone? | | | | our most traditional jewelers, recently introduced |
| Think about it, you will be wearing these rings for | | | | the Lucida cut, a square-shaped stone set |
| a lifetime! With this in mind, you may want to | | | | available in a wide gold or platinum band. Another |
| "window shop" together online once the | | | | example is the Asscher family who has introduced |
| relationship gets serious in order to let him know | | | | a new twist on its' signature style, an octagonal |
| exactly what you like. | | | | step-cut from 1902. This new version is called the |
| The ever classic solitaires are the most popular | | | | Royal Asscher and is more sparkling than the old |
| style of engagement rings, but for many couples | | | | one. |
| today, they are a bit too common. The | | | | An heirloom ring from the bride or groom's family |
| engagement ring symbolizes the special love you | | | | could be a treasure to share for a lifetime. What |
| share with each other so you may want to | | | | if you don't have a heirloom ring in your family? |
| throw tradition out the window a get a ring that is | | | | Vintage rings such as Georgian, Edwardian, |
| unique such as a vintage design, an uncommon | | | | Victorian, or Deco can now be easily found online |
| diamond cut, a sapphire or emerald setting, or | | | | at such places as this site. You can also find |
| maybe even a colored diamond (with yellow | | | | exquisite reproductions of these styles here. Many |
| diamonds being the most common while blue and | | | | women who want their engagement and wedding |
| pink are rare and fetch a much higher price). Once | | | | rings to look more like unique pieces of jewelry |
| engaged, couples will then be looking for wedding | | | | are snatching up these rings. Older cuts that were |
| bands. To begin the quest for the perfect | | | | precursors of the modern brilliants and emerald |
| wedding rings, consider all the options in various | | | | cuts have a subtler shine than the newer ones, |
| stones, gemstone cuts, ring designs and layouts, | | | | and offer a delicate, romantic look. These cuts |
| different precious metals, and, most importantly, | | | | include the old mine-cuts, rose-cuts, cushion-cuts, |
| the kind of statement you want to make to the | | | | and the original Asschers. |
| world. | | | | Dead set against getting a traditional ring? Don't |
| More than likely, when you think about an | | | | fret! There are many modern designs that double |
| engagement ring, you imagine a huge, sparkling, | | | | as engagement rings for couples with moderate |
| round solitaire. These traditional prong-setting rings | | | | or exotic aesthetics. One very popular |
| have been around since the 1800's and are | | | | contemporary design is a bezel-set ring where a |
| always the bestsellers at virtually every jewelry | | | | diamond is surrounded by metal rather than being |
| store across the country. These rings are used | | | | elevated up in a prong setting. Another popular |
| for all the classic stone shapes such as round cut, | | | | design is the two-tone platinum and yellow gold |
| princess cut, emeralds, heart-shaped, and | | | | rings with a sprinkle of diamonds. |
| pear-shaped. Most women start the process of | | | | The traditional wedding band is usually either a |
| wedding ring shopping with the desire for | | | | plain platinum or gold ring or one with intricate |
| something different but usually end up with a | | | | diamond accents that matches the engagement |
| traditional solitaire in a prong setting with a gold | | | | ring without detracting from it. This tradition is |
| band. Even if you decide to settle for the | | | | now changing as women are wearing everything |
| traditional style, you can add some variation with | | | | from the plainest of bands to luxuriant diamond |
| side stones. Typically these are diamonds, but you | | | | and gemstone studded rings that are equivalent |
| can also get colored gems like emeralds, rubies, | | | | or even larger than their engagement rings. Many |
| and sapphires. As the name states, side stones | | | | women wear their engagement rings only on |
| lay to either side of the main, center stone and | | | | special occasions and have a diamond set band |
| are usually much smaller and come in assorted | | | | for everyday wear. Others get very thin wedding |
| shapes, like half-moons, slim baguettes, shields, | | | | bands and wear them stacked. If a religious |
| and trapezoids. | | | | affiliation dictates a solid metal ring, many women |
| For another variation, large center stones can also | | | | will often buy one band for the ceremony itself, |
| be accentuated by just slightly smaller stones of | | | | and get another fancier one to wear thereafter. |