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How to Buy A Diamond
Engagement Ring | Fine Engagement Ring
Settings |
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Fine Jewelry
| Antique Vintage Diamond Engagement Ring | Estate Platinum Promise
Ring | Solitaires | 14k White Yellow Gold Diamond Rings | Filigree
Engraved Rings | Platinum Sapphire Ruby Emerald Three Stone Rings |
Anniversary Bands | Wedding Bands | Ideal Cut Diamonds.
Engagement
Jewelry Education: Read about ideal cut diamonds and look for
discounted GIA certified loose diamonds to be set in rare vintage
antique estate diamond engagement settings in platinum and white
yellow gold. Read about different types of ring settings like
channel, prong, bezel, pave and flush. Find your correct ring size,
select the polish like satin or regular polish, view your options
about engraving inside. Always make sure there is a option for
matching wedding bands and diamond rings. Make sure rings are
manufactured crafted as promised and look for platinum gold stamping
to ensure correct metal is used. |
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Choosing
The Right Metal: What platinum or 14k white or yellow gold
diamond engagement ring setting style is best for your stone? To
answer this question, you will need to know what styles there are to
choose from and what advantages each has to offer. Here, the choices
are as varied as ring designers. |
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Once you
recognize these differences, you'll be prepared to analyze each ring
at a glance and make a choice based on those elements that best
please your taste. |
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Choosing
The Right Setting: Learn about different styles of settings. |
Prong
Setting Fine Diamond Vintage Engagement Ring: This is the most
common type of setting, especially for ladies' solitaire diamond
rings. Prong setting is the one most often used to hold a solitaire.
Prong setting puts the emphasis on the stones and not the metal. It
involves fitting the diamond in a metal head or basket and securing
it with a minimum of three prongs or metal claws. The purpose of any
setting is to hold the diamonds securely in the mounting and at the
same time allow light to enter the diamonds for maximum brilliance.
The shape of the prongs can vary. They may be rounded, elongated or
pointed. There are many decorative variations of this setting style. |
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The more metal
used to hold the diamonds, the more secure they are; the less metal
used, the greater the chance for the diamond to reflect light. For
this reason, platinum is often the metal of choice for diamond solitaires. |
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Because
platinum is both dense and strong, very thin wires of it are
sufficient to hold the diamond securely in place. The diamond may be
raised high up above the shank to give it a larger appearance. In
such a setting, the prongs are attached to the central setting of a
ring, known as the head or basket. Each prong extends upward and
outward from the head, arching over the diamond to form a secure grip. |
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The ideal
prong tapers to a rounded point. It should be smoothly finished,
diminishing any chance of the prong snagging the threads of your
clothes. The prongs should also be placed at the key points of the
stone, typically at four corners or at four, five or six points
evenly spaced around the stone, to offer security without interfering
with the stone's brilliance. |
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Prong
Set Diamond Engagement Solitaires Advantages?: It allows
more of the stone to be in view than most other styles. It's quicker
and, therefore, less expensive to set than most other styles. It can
hold large diamonds securely. Settings with six prongs are more
secure than those with four prong. This setting allows diamonds to be
more easily cleaned than the other styles. It can be used to set any
type of gemstone, no matter how fragile it is. |
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Prong
Set Vintage Estate Diamond Engagement Jewelry Disadvantages:
May not provide as smooth of a ring surface as some of the other
styles. It doesnot protect diamonds as well as other styles since it
leaves most of the girdle are exposed. |
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Channel
Setting Diamond Engagement Ring: This style is often used for
wedding bands, but it may also be used to accent center stones. The
diamonds are suspended in a channel of vertical walls with nometal
separating the stones. |
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Channel
setting is also used when there is no center stone at all. The
placement of baguettes around an entire band is a beautiful choice
for a wedding band, one that goes well with a matching ring set with
a diamond solitaire. Channel setting offers a sleek, elegant
appearance, though the end result is a very different look. |
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Channel
Set Platinum Diamond Engagement Settings Advantages:
Channel setting protects the girdle are of diamonds as well as
provide a smooth ring surface. None of the edges are exposed, and so
they are not subject to hard knocks or general wear and tear. |
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Channel
Set 14K White Gold Engagement Settings Disadvantages:
Usually more time consuming and costly than prong setting, when
properly done. It should not be used for fragile gems. |
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Pave
Setting Unique Diamond Engagement Ring: In this type of setting,
diamonds are fit into tapered holes and set almost level with the
surface of the ring. Then some of the surrounding metal is raised to
form beads which hold the diamonds in place. Sometimes the metal
around the bead-set stones is raised or engraved to form decorative patterns. |
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When there are
three or more rows of diamonds in this way without partitions between
the stones, it is calle pave, which, in French means paved like a
cobblestone road. In order to give the impression of a continous
diamond surface, it is customary to use white gold or platinum to
support pave-set diamonds even if the rest of the ring is in yellow gold. |
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Pave
Set Platinum Engagement Estate Vintage Jewelry Advantages?:
Usually protects diamonds better than a prong setting. Allows
uniterrupted designs of varying width. Pave set rings appear larger
eventhough the stones are smaller. Each tiny diamond, weighing just a
few points, is fully cut with 58 facets. Though small in size, each
stone contributes to the overall, shimmering look of the design.
After it is positioned in its hole, tiny bits of metal from the
surface of the shank are pushed over the edge of the diamond, forming
tiny beads to hold the stone in place. |
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Pave
Set Filigree Unique Engagement Jewelry Disadvantages: Is
a risky setting method in terms of possible stone damage. It does
not provide as smooth of ring surface as bezel, channel and flush setting. |
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Bar Setting
Rare Unique Diamond Engagement Ring: This is a form of channel
setting, except the diamonds are set in channels acress a ring, and
stones on each end of the channel are exposed at the edges of the
mounting instead of being secured in metal. |
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Invisible
Setting Gemstone Engagement Ring: Invisible-set diamonds are
placed tightly next to each other with the metal of the setting
concealed underneath the diamonds, allowing them to form a continous surface. |
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Invisible
Set Platinum Gold Engagement Settings Advantages:
It enhances brilliance because there's no metal on top of the stone
to impede the entry of light. |
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Channel
Set Ruby Emerald Sapphire Promise Settings Disadvantages: If
not properly set, small square stones may fall out with hard wear.
It is usually more time consuming and expensive than prong and bead
setting. It is risky setting method, in terms of damage to the
stones, so it should not be used for fragile gems. |
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Flush Setting 14k
Yellow Gold Gemstone
Engagement
Ring is a popular style for people who use their hands a lot in
their professions; it offers good protection for their diamonds.
Diamonds are sunk into the mounting until they are nearly level or
flush with the surface. Only the table of the diamond and a bit of
the upper pavilion facets show. |
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This technique
seems to go against everything we know about diamonds in relation to
light, but it's become quite a popular setting. It's a very subtle
look, and one that appeals to the woman who likes the idea of tiny,
glittering bits of light twinkling like stars in the sky. |
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Flush
Set Engagement Settings Advantages:
It protects the girdle area of the diamonds. Provides a smooth,
tailored look. The flush setting is also used for larger stones,
offering great protection and a modern look. |
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Flush
Set Engagement Settings Disadvantages:
It is usually more time consuming and expensive than prong and bead
setting. It is risky setting method, in terms of damage to the
stones, so it should not be used for fragile gems. |
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Platinum or
Gold Bezel
Setting Promise
Antique Jewelry:
A bezel is a band of metal that surrounds the diamond and holds it in
place. They have become popular now as attractive settings for
diamonds. The bezel may either fully or partially encircle the
diamond. A bezel is a collar of precious metal that wraps around the diamond. |
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The bezel is
attached to the top of the ring and stands up above it, adding height
and another dimension to the setting. Although solid bezels have a
very traditional look, the bezel may be 'split' into two sections,
arcing around just part of the diamond. |
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Bezel
Set Estate Filigree Engagement Jewelry Advantages: It
provides good protection for girdle and pavilion areas of the
diamond. It can be used to set almost all gemstones without causing
damage to them. It accentuates the circumference of the stone, making
it appear larger than in prong setting. It provides a smooth ring surface. |
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Bezel
Set Vintage Antique Diamond Engagement Settings Disadvantages: It
is usually more time consuming and expensive than prong and bead setting. |
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Buying an
Engagement Ring -
The Element of Surprise: So youre ready to finally pop the
question, but you have no idea where to start with engagement ring shopping.
Hands down,
the easiest way to shop for an engagement ring is to let her pick it
out herself. You may think this takes all the mystery, fun, romance,
and element of surprise out of the whole proposal package, but it
really is the only surefire way to get her the ring she wants.
If you let her
pick it out herself, go engagement ring shopping together, and after
youve been to a few jewelry stores, have her show you the one
she wants. You need not buy it right then and there. Put it on hold
and buy it on your own.
Another trick
for getting a good idea of what shell like yet still maintain
an element of surprise is to engagement ring shop with her and get a
feel for what kind of engagement she likessimple? big? fancy?
yellow gold or white gold? classic or trendy? square-cut,
princess-cut, or round-cut diamond?and a feel for what she
definitely doesnt like.
You can find
all this out by paying attention to what type of jewelry she wears
most often, as well as what she says about jewelry, rather than by
asking her flat out. You can even trick her by going to a
jewelry store to look for a watchlikely shell
peak at the engagement ring selection.
Other things
to take into consideration when shopping for an engagement ring,
besides metal band color and style, cut and size of the diamond (or
other gemstone) include size of the rock, what you think will look
good on her finger and hand, what size of ring she takes, and what
type of ring will suit her lifestyle. |
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Engagement
Ring Sizing |
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What is the
best way to determine my finger size? Getting the right size ring
is important. Even if the ring can be easily sized, as most can, you
will save time and maybe money by getting it right from the start.
Any local jeweler should have finger sizers for you to try on,
ideally a wide set if you are planning to buy a wide ring, and a
narrow set for a narrow ring. To learn more click
here. |
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How Much
Should I Spend |
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Buying a
diamond means investing in a piece of forever. A true miracle of
nature dating from the beginning of time, each diamond purchase is
special. Every individual buying a diamond seeks out the best they
can afford. Natures variety means that you will always find a
diamond to suit your taste, budget and occasion. If youre about
to buy a diamond engagement ring, you may want to consider the
often-quoted guideline of spending one to two months salary.
You can rest assured that the diamond you buy will be a sound
financial investment. Their rare qualities have been sought after for
thousands of years. Their desirability and value remain undiminished
today and will continue through the years to come. But, whatever you
spend, your diamond will represent one of lifes deepest
emotional investments. It may eventually be passed down for
generations, cherished not just for what it is worth, but for what it means. |
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What Size
of Diamond Should I Purchase? |
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The
truth of the matter is its the thought that counts and not the
size of the diamond. But it does help to know what your loved one has
in mind as well. Our consultants can help you pick the right loose
diamond, but you have to help us help you. The chart below should
give you a general feeling of how big your diamond will look. Another
thing to consider is hand or finger size. For instance if your
special someone has a size 5 finger a one carat diamond will look
much larger than the same size stone on a size 8 finger. |
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How Can I
Find My Partners Ring Size? |
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Ring sizes on
our website are expressed in american ring sizes. Please make sure
you have correctly determined the size of your finger before
ordering. For the most accurate sizing, we recommend you visit your
local jeweler to get your finger correctly sized. click
here. |
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Engagement
Ring Engraving |
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What should
I have engraved inside my engagement ring? This is something
worth giving a good deal of thought. To learn more click
here. |
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Engagement
Ring Special Finishes |
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Satin Finish
has a soft brushed, lustrous appearance. Also a brushed finish, but
finer grain than matte. To learn more click
here. |
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