Engagement rings have been used for centuries as a sign of being betrothed. These rings signify love, commitment, loyalty and a future relationship. The engagement ring symbolizes a man’s commitment and desire toward his bride-to-be. The use of diamonds indicates the strength of the man’s love as it is natures’ hardest stone.
Did you Know…
One of the most common theories is that the first engagement ring was given as a down payment of sorts. This gift was the groom’s way of showing his commitment to financially take care of his future wife. Prior to the nineteenth century, women could not own property and it was common for them to collect pieces of jewelry as an investment for the future. If need be, a woman could sell her jewelry in bad times.
There are 4 Things to consider when choosing the engagement ring…
Cut, Color, Carat and Clarity. The Four C’s are the traditional guidelines used to assess the quality of a stone.
Cut: A diamond’s cut determines its brilliance; more facets, or surfaces, mean more sparkle.
Color: Color is determined on a scale from D – the highest – to Z – the lowest. The whiter the stone, the closer it is to a D rating.
Carat: A carat is approximately one fifth of a gram.
Clarity: The size and location of inclusion – flaws – in a diamond determines its clarity rating. The amount of clarity ranges from flawless (the most desirable) to imperfect. The fewer the inclusions, the greater the quality and the value.
The setting of the ring, along with the choice of the stone will impact how the ring will look on the bride’s hand. Since the ring has a lot of emotion and memories attached to it, thought should be given not only to setting, diamond and lifestyle of the bride to be, but also how you present this gift symbolizing your love.
