The early Roman era is credited with the initial custom of giving rings for wedding purposes. After families reached a marriage agreement for their children, an engagement would be celebrated with an established rite. Engagement rings would be exchanged during this ceremony. The engagement ring would be placed on the left ring-finger in accordance to an Egyptian belief that that a very fine vein ran directly to the heart from the left finger. The Romans used an ancient clasped hand design for betrothal rings. This "fede" or "trust" ring remained popular for centuries and is still used in jewelry.
Typically antique wedding rings from the 19 th century and the 20 th century were plain gold bands. Many of these gold bands were engraved with expressions of affection or important dates. Gemstones in antique jewelry were expensive luxuries as trade with the Middle East and Asia had not yet allowed for the flow of imported stones. Not all wedding rings were plain gold during the 19 th century. Some antique wedding rings were made with a delicate designs using turquoise, which symbolized the forget-me-not flower. It was not uncommon to find 19 th century wedding rings using pearls or small diamonds.
During the early 1900s, wedding jewelry was designed to be delicate and feminine. Edwardian wedding rings were set in platinum or a mix of yellow gold topped with platinum or silver to allow diamonds to shine. Diamonds were the most common gemstone in 1910 wedding rings. Edwardian engagement rings would often have old-mine cut diamonds or old-European-cut diamonds. Old-mine cut and European-cut diamonds have high crowns that enhance luster under candlelight. 1910 antique filigree rings were crafted with delicate gold or platinum. Antique platinum diamond rings have maintained much of their beauty because of the durability of platinum.
The 1920s wedding rings used more geometric designs and colored stones. Art Deco engagement rings were constructed with old-mine cut, European-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds and set primarily in platinum or white gold. New diamond cutting techniques allowed for new diamond cuts which would add an enhanced geometric flair. Synthetic sapphires or rubies were used to accent art deco engagement rings. 1920s engagement ring shapes featured a center diamond in square, octagonal or hexagonal pronged settings. Art Deco wedding ring settings may have been domed or even stair stepped. 1920's and 1930s engagement rings would be embellished with engraved designs on the shoulders and shanks of rings. The 1930s wedding rings would be made of 18kt and 14kt white gold filigree designs. Ring shanks would continue to be thin by today's standards.
During the 1940s, platinum was required for war efforts and was prohibited for other purposes in the U.S. Silver would often be used instead of platinum and jewelry hoarding occurred.
1960s and 1970s wedding rings would bring a change by using yellow gold mixed with diamonds instead of platinum, silver or white gold.
When shopping for antique and estate wedding rings it is important to confirm that the ring is symmetrical. It is also important to verify that all gemstones in estate engagement rings are tight and in good condition. Antique diamonds should be closely examined for chips or internal fractures. Antique platinum rings should be checked closely to see if the engraved design is still visible and that all parts of the filigree are intact. Antique Pearl or Turquoise wedding rings need to be checked for discoloration and scratches. If an estate wedding ring needs to be resized, make certain that all hallmarks and inscriptions are retained.
Ten Two Three's Antique Filigree Engagement Wedding Rings
K. Greene
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Greene
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1788837List Price: $5,399.00
Price: $2,499.00
Sale: $1,799.00
You Save: $3,600.00 (67%)
Special Offers Available
الأحد، 22 يناير 2012
Wedding Jewelry - Selecting Engagement Rings and Wedding Rings on a Budget
The engagement rings and wedding rings you select will serve as a lasting memory of your wedding day. As such, it's important to shop around for your ideal long-lasting symbol of love, while also ensuring the jewelry selected falls within your wedding budget.
Following are tips to consider when shopping for your wedding jewelry:
Establish a budget.
Throw out the rule about spending at least two months salary if you're on a budget. Who invented that rule anyway? Probably the jewelry retailers.
Select a style.
Find a design you will be comfortable wearing every day for the rest of your life. Choose a ring that expresses your style and personality.
Determine the metal.
Although not necessary, some couples choose matching metals for their wedding bands and engagement ring. Consider which metals you wear regularly. Perhaps the bride wears more gold and the groom wears more silver, etc. The primary ring metal choices are yellow gold, white gold and platinum.
Choose a traditional versus non-traditional gem.
Some brides consider gems other than diamonds for their wedding rings. While softer stones can be beautiful, they aren't always the best choice for an engagement or a wedding ring. Consider your daily activity. For instance, are you a person who does a lot of activity with your hands? If so, you may want to consider gems that are more resistant to abrasion. Following are a list of common stones and their hardness level:
Diamonds: 10
Rubies: 9
Sapphire: 9
Emerald: 8
Topaz: 8
Aquamarine: 7.5 to 8
Amethyst: 7
Garnet: 6.5 to 7.5
Opal: 6
As a rule of thumb, remember that the darker the color the more expensive the stone.
Consider alternatives.
Some adventurous couples are opting for wedding rings that will never be lost, being the tattooed wedding ring. This may be the choice for those with occupations where they use their hands a lot, such as doctors or mechanics. Tattooed wedding rings are generally less expensive although they will require an occasional touch-up.
When shopping for wedding rings or an engagement ring, be sure to select rings that express your style and personality, however, it's most important to find rings that meet your budgetary requirements. Remember, rings can always be upgraded down the road, such as on special anniversaries.
Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com
Find wedding planning tips and resources at http://weddings.myguidesusa.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hilary_Basile
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/677622
Following are tips to consider when shopping for your wedding jewelry:
Establish a budget.
Throw out the rule about spending at least two months salary if you're on a budget. Who invented that rule anyway? Probably the jewelry retailers.
Select a style.
Find a design you will be comfortable wearing every day for the rest of your life. Choose a ring that expresses your style and personality.
Determine the metal.
Although not necessary, some couples choose matching metals for their wedding bands and engagement ring. Consider which metals you wear regularly. Perhaps the bride wears more gold and the groom wears more silver, etc. The primary ring metal choices are yellow gold, white gold and platinum.
Choose a traditional versus non-traditional gem.
Some brides consider gems other than diamonds for their wedding rings. While softer stones can be beautiful, they aren't always the best choice for an engagement or a wedding ring. Consider your daily activity. For instance, are you a person who does a lot of activity with your hands? If so, you may want to consider gems that are more resistant to abrasion. Following are a list of common stones and their hardness level:
Diamonds: 10
Rubies: 9
Sapphire: 9
Emerald: 8
Topaz: 8
Aquamarine: 7.5 to 8
Amethyst: 7
Garnet: 6.5 to 7.5
Opal: 6
As a rule of thumb, remember that the darker the color the more expensive the stone.
Consider alternatives.
Some adventurous couples are opting for wedding rings that will never be lost, being the tattooed wedding ring. This may be the choice for those with occupations where they use their hands a lot, such as doctors or mechanics. Tattooed wedding rings are generally less expensive although they will require an occasional touch-up.
When shopping for wedding rings or an engagement ring, be sure to select rings that express your style and personality, however, it's most important to find rings that meet your budgetary requirements. Remember, rings can always be upgraded down the road, such as on special anniversaries.
Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com
Find wedding planning tips and resources at http://weddings.myguidesusa.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hilary_Basile
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/677622
Engraving Your Diamond Wedding and Engagement Ring
A diamond ring is forever. It is perhaps the most romantic symbol of love for most couples and has actually become an essential in engagements and weddings. Nothing can be more romantic... except of course a diamond ring with an engraving inside.
Engraving your diamond wedding rings is one of the ways that would make your rings special and personalized. Putting messages for your spouse in the ring will ensure that your message of love will always be with him or her.
Most jewelers offer this additional service of engraving wedding and engagement rings. Often this service is only offered with plain wedding bands with no stone but some jewelry shops can engrave diamond engagement and wedding rings.
Here are some of the ways that jewelers do this.
One of the ways is by hand engraving where an expert will use a hand tool to engrave the words in the metal. Because this is done by hand, the process is not perfect and the letters are not as precise as one would like. Still, because it is handmade, the effect is more natural and far more unique than when done by machines. In choosing this process, make sure that the expert, often called the artisan, is skilled and experienced in doing the craft.
Another process is of course through the use of the engraving machine. Unlike the hand-made engraving process, this is much faster and more precise. Mistakes are minimized and the letters appear crisp. One disadvantage of using the engraving machine is the fact that one can only put up to 20 characters only. Although this is more than enough for the space provided by the ring, some prefer to put longer verses in smaller fonts.
One of the most modern processes is the use of the laser technology in engraving. The discovery and later use of laser has opened a whole lot of possibilities for jewelry engraving. Unlike the old engraving machine, couples can now put up to 225 characters in the metal. This is quite long and will be more than enough for one ring to take.
What is more, the engraver can be customized. One can choose the size of the font, the slant and sometimes even the kind of font that is used. That is why this process is not only used in engraving wedding and engagement rings but also bracelets and necklaces. Some are even able to put vows and verses from the bible with this kind of machine.
Low Jeremy has been a hobbyist writer for the past 3 years. During this free time, he contributes informative articles on various topics like health, electronics and gadget reviews for websites. Visit his latest contribution over at http://www.creditcardimprinter.org where he reviewed different types of credit card imprinter and other accompanying accessories.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Low_Jeremy
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/320979
Engraving your diamond wedding rings is one of the ways that would make your rings special and personalized. Putting messages for your spouse in the ring will ensure that your message of love will always be with him or her.
Most jewelers offer this additional service of engraving wedding and engagement rings. Often this service is only offered with plain wedding bands with no stone but some jewelry shops can engrave diamond engagement and wedding rings.
Here are some of the ways that jewelers do this.
One of the ways is by hand engraving where an expert will use a hand tool to engrave the words in the metal. Because this is done by hand, the process is not perfect and the letters are not as precise as one would like. Still, because it is handmade, the effect is more natural and far more unique than when done by machines. In choosing this process, make sure that the expert, often called the artisan, is skilled and experienced in doing the craft.
Another process is of course through the use of the engraving machine. Unlike the hand-made engraving process, this is much faster and more precise. Mistakes are minimized and the letters appear crisp. One disadvantage of using the engraving machine is the fact that one can only put up to 20 characters only. Although this is more than enough for the space provided by the ring, some prefer to put longer verses in smaller fonts.
One of the most modern processes is the use of the laser technology in engraving. The discovery and later use of laser has opened a whole lot of possibilities for jewelry engraving. Unlike the old engraving machine, couples can now put up to 225 characters in the metal. This is quite long and will be more than enough for one ring to take.
What is more, the engraver can be customized. One can choose the size of the font, the slant and sometimes even the kind of font that is used. That is why this process is not only used in engraving wedding and engagement rings but also bracelets and necklaces. Some are even able to put vows and verses from the bible with this kind of machine.
Low Jeremy has been a hobbyist writer for the past 3 years. During this free time, he contributes informative articles on various topics like health, electronics and gadget reviews for websites. Visit his latest contribution over at http://www.creditcardimprinter.org where he reviewed different types of credit card imprinter and other accompanying accessories.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Low_Jeremy
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/320979
Reduce Your Environmental Impact With Your Wedding and Engagement Rings By Lawrence Reaves
The materials that go into making a fine engagement or wedding ring almost invariably come from the earth and require serious mining efforts to extract them, diamonds and other gemstones, the metals for the rings and settings including gold, platinum, silver and palladium.
Mining is a seriously invasive process which not only can irretrievably damage the immediate environment rendering the land unfit for humans and animals to live on or nearby, but the byproducts of mining and refining can be extremely toxic and persistent. Acids and highly corrosive agents are used to separate out the precious metals from the rest of the excavated materials.
Now without putting anyone off the idea of buying a wedding or engagement ring, or any form of jewelry for that matter, now is the time to consider what you can in fact do to reduce the environmental impact in the planet.
The maxim used by environmentalists is Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
You can now buy an engagement or wedding ring which has been made from reclaimed materials; old jewelry is constantly being sold and traded (just take a look at some of the TV commercials asking if you want to sell your owl unwanted jewelry) and consider what is happening with all that metal!
Old gold items are melted down and refined to produce new gold of a desired purity and ready for working into new jewelry pieces.
The impact on the environment of these refining operations is minuscule in comparison to the effort required from a full scale mining operation to get the metal extracted from the tons of earth and ore within which it naturally occurs.
Another increasing popular method is to use old heirlooms having special significance to be melted down and used as the raw material for a new set of rings for the happy couple. Indeed, some couples actually stick with the heirloom intact but this does not convey the fresh start which an engagement and marriage demonstrate and in fact are.
The quality of the materials used in these reclamations is extremely high, and given the reduced costs compared to extracting new materials there are cost savings involved which are passed on to the consumer. In effect, you can have a purer quality metal band and setting together with a better used diamond indistinguishable from a brand new cut and polished on for less money.
With green issues becoming more important as the realization sets in that we have a planet with finite resources and more people are adopting ecologically sound practices in their lives, it makes a great deal of sense to ensure you can not only demonstrate the provenance of your diamond with a grading certificate, but also the environmental credentials.
Ensure you are able to obtain certification as to the materials used in the manufacture of your rings which along with a diamond certificate will show you really care about the environment and the people who live in the places where diamonds, gold and other materials are produced.
By Lawrence Reaves - This article is provided by DanforthDiamond.com your online store source for wedding bands, diamond engagement rings and other fine diamond jewelry. Danforth Diamond gives honest advice to help you select the right engagement ring at the best price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RING
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Reaves
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2396671
Mining is a seriously invasive process which not only can irretrievably damage the immediate environment rendering the land unfit for humans and animals to live on or nearby, but the byproducts of mining and refining can be extremely toxic and persistent. Acids and highly corrosive agents are used to separate out the precious metals from the rest of the excavated materials.
Now without putting anyone off the idea of buying a wedding or engagement ring, or any form of jewelry for that matter, now is the time to consider what you can in fact do to reduce the environmental impact in the planet.
The maxim used by environmentalists is Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
You can now buy an engagement or wedding ring which has been made from reclaimed materials; old jewelry is constantly being sold and traded (just take a look at some of the TV commercials asking if you want to sell your owl unwanted jewelry) and consider what is happening with all that metal!
Old gold items are melted down and refined to produce new gold of a desired purity and ready for working into new jewelry pieces.
The impact on the environment of these refining operations is minuscule in comparison to the effort required from a full scale mining operation to get the metal extracted from the tons of earth and ore within which it naturally occurs.
Another increasing popular method is to use old heirlooms having special significance to be melted down and used as the raw material for a new set of rings for the happy couple. Indeed, some couples actually stick with the heirloom intact but this does not convey the fresh start which an engagement and marriage demonstrate and in fact are.
The quality of the materials used in these reclamations is extremely high, and given the reduced costs compared to extracting new materials there are cost savings involved which are passed on to the consumer. In effect, you can have a purer quality metal band and setting together with a better used diamond indistinguishable from a brand new cut and polished on for less money.
With green issues becoming more important as the realization sets in that we have a planet with finite resources and more people are adopting ecologically sound practices in their lives, it makes a great deal of sense to ensure you can not only demonstrate the provenance of your diamond with a grading certificate, but also the environmental credentials.
Ensure you are able to obtain certification as to the materials used in the manufacture of your rings which along with a diamond certificate will show you really care about the environment and the people who live in the places where diamonds, gold and other materials are produced.
By Lawrence Reaves - This article is provided by DanforthDiamond.com your online store source for wedding bands, diamond engagement rings and other fine diamond jewelry. Danforth Diamond gives honest advice to help you select the right engagement ring at the best price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RING
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Reaves
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2396671
Victorian Wedding and Engagement Rings Are Unique and Beautiful
Victorian engagement rings can be some of the most stunning jewelry that you can find. A girl dreams about what her engagement ring will be from the time that she is a little girl. What will it look like? Who will give it to her? How will he ask? To accomplish the perfect proposal any gentleman will want to make it special and unique. With a Victorian engagement ring there is an air of romance that immediately accompanies the ring due to the history it has.
Victorian engagement rings come from the time that Queen Victoria reigned. During that time there was such an overwhelming sense of romance around that was culminated by the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert. For any girl who hold romance in her heart then a Victorian engagement ring could be a perfect fit.
Traditional Victorian engagement rings are centered around a diamond, but that is not always the case. Rubies and emeralds were also in vogue during the Victorian period. Traditionally during that time diamonds were only worn during the day by married women. If you were unmarried and wore a diamond during daytime hours then it was often assumed that you had been given that diamond by a lover. That was strictly looked down upon. Rings with rubies and emeralds were also popular because during the Victorian era there was not a large supply of gold or diamonds.
Jewelers of the time took the short supply of gold and diamonds in stride. Instead, jewelers began working in rose gold, repousse', filigree, and cannetille piercing techniques. Additionally, jewelers would employ the use of other stones to accent a Victorian engagement ring. It is not uncommon to see pink topaz, blue zircon, citrine, amethyst, and peridot as accent stones on a ring from the Victorian era.
There is a great deal of variety in the design of Victorian engagement rings, though you can seen an influence from ancient designs in pieces from the Victorian era. In fact some of the ancient artifacts from Troy significantly influenced the design of Victorian jewelry. In fact, Queen Victoria's engagement ring incorporated a Roman symbol of eternal love on it. Pieces of jewelry with clustered gems or rings with different stones set in them were quite popular during Victorian times.
Victorian engagement rings have such a rich history to them. With the iconic love story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert attached to them you can't help but feel a wave of romanticism sweep over you as you look at one. With the intricate designs of the time, and unique gem choices you can also be sure that a Victorian engagement ring will be unlike any traditional ring that you might find on ever other persons hand. Instead, you will have a one of a kind piece that truly brings with it a legacy of love and romance. By presenting the girl of your dreams with a Victorian engagement ring you will be showing her that you have a love that will last through the years.
The most important aspect of purchasing a Victorian engagement ring is that you find the perfect ring for you - match the design and style to your own personality and taste. There are many vintage ring options out there, take your time to find your perfect ring. Visit our website for more information about vintage engagement rings: http://www.QualityVintageEngagementRings.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sydnie_Vawdrey
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1608155
Victorian engagement rings come from the time that Queen Victoria reigned. During that time there was such an overwhelming sense of romance around that was culminated by the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert. For any girl who hold romance in her heart then a Victorian engagement ring could be a perfect fit.
Traditional Victorian engagement rings are centered around a diamond, but that is not always the case. Rubies and emeralds were also in vogue during the Victorian period. Traditionally during that time diamonds were only worn during the day by married women. If you were unmarried and wore a diamond during daytime hours then it was often assumed that you had been given that diamond by a lover. That was strictly looked down upon. Rings with rubies and emeralds were also popular because during the Victorian era there was not a large supply of gold or diamonds.
Jewelers of the time took the short supply of gold and diamonds in stride. Instead, jewelers began working in rose gold, repousse', filigree, and cannetille piercing techniques. Additionally, jewelers would employ the use of other stones to accent a Victorian engagement ring. It is not uncommon to see pink topaz, blue zircon, citrine, amethyst, and peridot as accent stones on a ring from the Victorian era.
There is a great deal of variety in the design of Victorian engagement rings, though you can seen an influence from ancient designs in pieces from the Victorian era. In fact some of the ancient artifacts from Troy significantly influenced the design of Victorian jewelry. In fact, Queen Victoria's engagement ring incorporated a Roman symbol of eternal love on it. Pieces of jewelry with clustered gems or rings with different stones set in them were quite popular during Victorian times.
Victorian engagement rings have such a rich history to them. With the iconic love story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert attached to them you can't help but feel a wave of romanticism sweep over you as you look at one. With the intricate designs of the time, and unique gem choices you can also be sure that a Victorian engagement ring will be unlike any traditional ring that you might find on ever other persons hand. Instead, you will have a one of a kind piece that truly brings with it a legacy of love and romance. By presenting the girl of your dreams with a Victorian engagement ring you will be showing her that you have a love that will last through the years.
The most important aspect of purchasing a Victorian engagement ring is that you find the perfect ring for you - match the design and style to your own personality and taste. There are many vintage ring options out there, take your time to find your perfect ring. Visit our website for more information about vintage engagement rings: http://www.QualityVintageEngagementRings.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sydnie_Vawdrey
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1608155
Chic and Cheap Wedding Jewelry For the Bride and Groom
Tips and tricks for finding affordable and quality unique wedding jewelry
Right from the moment you decide you want to spend your life together until long after the big day, wedding jewelry will play a big role, both as a symbol of eternal love and as an expression of your personal style, so you'll definitely want to make sure you buy the right quality pieces that will stand the test of time. Between the engagement ring and choosing his 'n' her wedding bands, you may also want to purchase jewelry and accessories to add some sparkle to your wedding day look, so there's a lot to consider, especially if you're working with a budget. With that in mind, here are some ideas to help you shop for unique wedding jewelry without breaking the bank.
Engagement rings: Did you know?
The traditional first step towards marriage is selecting an engagement ring as the indication of your pledge to each other. Typically in American culture and in Canada and the United Kingdom, the groom-to-be picks out the ring for his intended and only the woman wears the engagement ring on the fourth finger of her left hand.
However, the diamond engagement ring is just one of many ways that people around the world use to say "I'm taken!" Here are some fun facts about the engagement ring and other engagement gifts from yesterday and today!
The diamond engagement ring only became the standard in the late 1930s and 1940s after the De Beers diamond company's famous "A Diamond Is Forever" marketing campaign, and engagement rings themselves only became popular in the late 19th century! Before that, some women received sewing thimbles as engagement gifts instead!
According the same De Beers campaign, the groom to be was supposed to spend two months' salary on a ring for his bride to be (which today would probably run around $5,000 on average!)
Why are both the engagement ring and wedding band placed on the fourth finger of the left hand? This stems from a Greek belief that a certain vein in that finger, the vena amoris, runs directly to the heart and so a ring would bind the wearer's promises to their heart.
In countries such as Denmark, Finland, Germany, Sweden and Brazil, both women and men wear engagement rings on their right hand and then move the ring to their left hand after the wedding.
Unique engagement ring styles - something old, something new?
While the solitaire diamond is still a popular option, with all the trend shifts throughout history for engagement rings and bridal gifts, there's no reason not to have a ring that reflects your personal style if you're looking for something a little more unusual AND that fits your budget.
Gemstone engagement rings can be a funky alternative to the typical diamond ring, and many of them are less expensive - sapphires, rubies, emeralds, topazes and opals are all gorgeous choices as either the primary gemstone in your ring or as a colorful accent to your diamond.
For the vintage queens out there, an antique style engagement ring is a great option. Check out the selection at My Jewelry Box, for example.
If you have a little time to perfect your engagement ring, one way to save today is to buy loose diamonds and create your own ring setting design. Start with a retailer that specializes in wedding jewelry, like Wedding Rings Depot or Sea of Diamonds, to get ideas for setting styles and to compare prices.
Tips for designing your own engagement or wedding ring
If you've decided to create a personalized setting for your beloved, here are a couple of pointers to get you started:
Romancing the stone: What sort of stone will form the centrepiece of your ring? You may want to pick a gem that has special significance for your intended, such as her birthstone. Or take her favorite color into consideration - if she's a fiery lady who loves red, she might like a ruby or garnet, or look for turquoise or aquamarine if your loved one really enjoys the ocean.
Get in shape: Determine the shape, size and cut of the primary stone - do you want the popular round solitaire, a square princess cut, or a romantic heart shape? And keep in mind that bigger is not always better! Try to talk to your fiancée to get an idea of whether she would like a huge, impressive stone that she can proudly show off, or if she would prefer a small, quality gem.
Battle of the bands: Do you want a gold band, or something more trendy like titanium, tungsten or platinum? And even if you choose gold, you may want to consider whether your lady would like white gold, yellow gold or rose gold, or a combination.
What about men's wedding jewelry trends?
Although the bride is usually the main focus on the big day, the groom ought to look great for his wedding too! But as it may sometimes be difficult to inject too much of your personal style into the man's formal wear since you want to avoid clashing with the bride and bridesmaids, the best and most subtle way to dress up the groom's look might be with groom's accessories.
Even the most conservative groom will probably benefit from a tasteful piece of men's wedding jewelry to add a unique touch to what is usually a fairly somber outfit.
So what are some key pieces to consider? Here are a few ideas!
Cufflinks
One of the easiest ways for the groom to accessorize is with that quintessential piece of men's jewelry, the cufflink. Because of the cufflinks' small size, they can be as bold as you like without you having to worry about being too loud, and there are plenty of classic styles as well that will add a subtle decorative touch.
First popularized during the time of Louis XIV, cufflinks are meant to keep the extra fabric of your shirt's wrists from showing too much under the hem of your blazer or suit jacket. They have since become an elegant men's accessory associated with formal wear. Besides the double-length "French" cufflinks, for shirts that have a longer cuff that's meant to be folded back on itself, and the single-length cufflinks, there are two different types of cufflinks:
"Kissing" cuffs: The most popular way to wear cufflinks, especially for formal occasions such as weddings, the "kissing" style fastens your cuffs so the flap ends just meet and are pinched together.
Barrel cuffs: Where the cuffs overlap each other.
Today, there are tons of different cufflink options to suit every style, whether you're into fashion, sports or even comic books. For a more sophisticated look, how about trying some Swarovski crystal cufflinks from Forzieri? Or if you'd like something more fun and casual, there's a wide variety of sports-themed cufflinks at SportsMemorabilia.com.
Pocket watches
This vintage timepiece style is back en vogue! Pocket watches are a classy way to keep track for the groom and his groomsmen to keep track of the schedule on the wedding day, as well as making for a terrific bridal party gift.
It's also a neat piece of wedding jewelry to add a touch of old-world charm to the groom's ensemble, as the watch fob can be quite decorative and the watch itself can be specially engraved. But don't worry about looking too old-fashioned as there as there are some cool modern updates to the pocket watch available, like with the Relic Men's Pocket Watch from Sears.com, which has a unique blue-green dial.
For more ideas and tips on what to buy for the big day, check out the eBillme wedding page!
Krystle Chow is a writer for eBillme - the safest way to pay in cash online! She loves food, fashion and beauty, film and TV, technology and shopping. A graduate of Carleton University's Journalism program, Krystle has been reporting and blogging on technology for more than three years. You'll often find her either on the lookout for hot deals and new trends, busy keeping up with the latest and hottest shows on the big and small screens, or indulging her love of Broadway musicals. You can follow Krystle @krystlechow.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Krystle_Chow
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4911368
Right from the moment you decide you want to spend your life together until long after the big day, wedding jewelry will play a big role, both as a symbol of eternal love and as an expression of your personal style, so you'll definitely want to make sure you buy the right quality pieces that will stand the test of time. Between the engagement ring and choosing his 'n' her wedding bands, you may also want to purchase jewelry and accessories to add some sparkle to your wedding day look, so there's a lot to consider, especially if you're working with a budget. With that in mind, here are some ideas to help you shop for unique wedding jewelry without breaking the bank.
Engagement rings: Did you know?
The traditional first step towards marriage is selecting an engagement ring as the indication of your pledge to each other. Typically in American culture and in Canada and the United Kingdom, the groom-to-be picks out the ring for his intended and only the woman wears the engagement ring on the fourth finger of her left hand.
However, the diamond engagement ring is just one of many ways that people around the world use to say "I'm taken!" Here are some fun facts about the engagement ring and other engagement gifts from yesterday and today!
The diamond engagement ring only became the standard in the late 1930s and 1940s after the De Beers diamond company's famous "A Diamond Is Forever" marketing campaign, and engagement rings themselves only became popular in the late 19th century! Before that, some women received sewing thimbles as engagement gifts instead!
According the same De Beers campaign, the groom to be was supposed to spend two months' salary on a ring for his bride to be (which today would probably run around $5,000 on average!)
Why are both the engagement ring and wedding band placed on the fourth finger of the left hand? This stems from a Greek belief that a certain vein in that finger, the vena amoris, runs directly to the heart and so a ring would bind the wearer's promises to their heart.
In countries such as Denmark, Finland, Germany, Sweden and Brazil, both women and men wear engagement rings on their right hand and then move the ring to their left hand after the wedding.
Unique engagement ring styles - something old, something new?
While the solitaire diamond is still a popular option, with all the trend shifts throughout history for engagement rings and bridal gifts, there's no reason not to have a ring that reflects your personal style if you're looking for something a little more unusual AND that fits your budget.
Gemstone engagement rings can be a funky alternative to the typical diamond ring, and many of them are less expensive - sapphires, rubies, emeralds, topazes and opals are all gorgeous choices as either the primary gemstone in your ring or as a colorful accent to your diamond.
For the vintage queens out there, an antique style engagement ring is a great option. Check out the selection at My Jewelry Box, for example.
If you have a little time to perfect your engagement ring, one way to save today is to buy loose diamonds and create your own ring setting design. Start with a retailer that specializes in wedding jewelry, like Wedding Rings Depot or Sea of Diamonds, to get ideas for setting styles and to compare prices.
Tips for designing your own engagement or wedding ring
If you've decided to create a personalized setting for your beloved, here are a couple of pointers to get you started:
Romancing the stone: What sort of stone will form the centrepiece of your ring? You may want to pick a gem that has special significance for your intended, such as her birthstone. Or take her favorite color into consideration - if she's a fiery lady who loves red, she might like a ruby or garnet, or look for turquoise or aquamarine if your loved one really enjoys the ocean.
Get in shape: Determine the shape, size and cut of the primary stone - do you want the popular round solitaire, a square princess cut, or a romantic heart shape? And keep in mind that bigger is not always better! Try to talk to your fiancée to get an idea of whether she would like a huge, impressive stone that she can proudly show off, or if she would prefer a small, quality gem.
Battle of the bands: Do you want a gold band, or something more trendy like titanium, tungsten or platinum? And even if you choose gold, you may want to consider whether your lady would like white gold, yellow gold or rose gold, or a combination.
What about men's wedding jewelry trends?
Although the bride is usually the main focus on the big day, the groom ought to look great for his wedding too! But as it may sometimes be difficult to inject too much of your personal style into the man's formal wear since you want to avoid clashing with the bride and bridesmaids, the best and most subtle way to dress up the groom's look might be with groom's accessories.
Even the most conservative groom will probably benefit from a tasteful piece of men's wedding jewelry to add a unique touch to what is usually a fairly somber outfit.
So what are some key pieces to consider? Here are a few ideas!
Cufflinks
One of the easiest ways for the groom to accessorize is with that quintessential piece of men's jewelry, the cufflink. Because of the cufflinks' small size, they can be as bold as you like without you having to worry about being too loud, and there are plenty of classic styles as well that will add a subtle decorative touch.
First popularized during the time of Louis XIV, cufflinks are meant to keep the extra fabric of your shirt's wrists from showing too much under the hem of your blazer or suit jacket. They have since become an elegant men's accessory associated with formal wear. Besides the double-length "French" cufflinks, for shirts that have a longer cuff that's meant to be folded back on itself, and the single-length cufflinks, there are two different types of cufflinks:
"Kissing" cuffs: The most popular way to wear cufflinks, especially for formal occasions such as weddings, the "kissing" style fastens your cuffs so the flap ends just meet and are pinched together.
Barrel cuffs: Where the cuffs overlap each other.
Today, there are tons of different cufflink options to suit every style, whether you're into fashion, sports or even comic books. For a more sophisticated look, how about trying some Swarovski crystal cufflinks from Forzieri? Or if you'd like something more fun and casual, there's a wide variety of sports-themed cufflinks at SportsMemorabilia.com.
Pocket watches
This vintage timepiece style is back en vogue! Pocket watches are a classy way to keep track for the groom and his groomsmen to keep track of the schedule on the wedding day, as well as making for a terrific bridal party gift.
It's also a neat piece of wedding jewelry to add a touch of old-world charm to the groom's ensemble, as the watch fob can be quite decorative and the watch itself can be specially engraved. But don't worry about looking too old-fashioned as there as there are some cool modern updates to the pocket watch available, like with the Relic Men's Pocket Watch from Sears.com, which has a unique blue-green dial.
For more ideas and tips on what to buy for the big day, check out the eBillme wedding page!
Krystle Chow is a writer for eBillme - the safest way to pay in cash online! She loves food, fashion and beauty, film and TV, technology and shopping. A graduate of Carleton University's Journalism program, Krystle has been reporting and blogging on technology for more than three years. You'll often find her either on the lookout for hot deals and new trends, busy keeping up with the latest and hottest shows on the big and small screens, or indulging her love of Broadway musicals. You can follow Krystle @krystlechow.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Krystle_Chow
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4911368
How to Take Care of Your White Gold Wedding Or Engagement Rings
White gold is an alloy of gold and platinum. This increases its value as it has two very precious metals combined in one and is widely accepted and more preferred these days. The more expensive pieces are also plated with rhodium to help enhance the pieces durability. Nevertheless you should do your part in ensuring your white gold jewelry a long and beautiful life.
Cleaning your white gold: if your piece is an engagement ring or wedding band you know that it will go through a lot of wear and tear as these are pieces that are seldom removed. A great and easy way to clean these is by using a mild soap in some warm water. These pieces of jewelry usually have precious gems in them and as such you will not be able to use harsh cleaning agents as they will tarnish the precious stones.
Maintaining your white gold - you can keep your white gold piece in great shape by getting the rhodium plate replaced every three or so years by a jeweler who specializes in this type of plating. You can also take them off at night and store them in a soft cloth or leather pouch away from other jewelry. Even if you do not take them off for long, take them off and wipe them down so that moisture doesn't stay on them which can lead to thinning breakage of vulnerable parts. You may also want to remove your rings when in the kitchen preparing food and using kitchen utensils that can scratch the surface of your jewelry.
Your engagement ring and wedding band are very special to you and it is very likely that you may always wear them, even in your sleep. There is a strong bond to these rings due to the sentiment that they carry, you should still at least remove them to clean them and buff them dry. This will ensure that they keep their beauty and luster for years to come.
If you liked this article, please visit Gold Mutual Funds and IGDAX.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jayan_B
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4438839
Cleaning your white gold: if your piece is an engagement ring or wedding band you know that it will go through a lot of wear and tear as these are pieces that are seldom removed. A great and easy way to clean these is by using a mild soap in some warm water. These pieces of jewelry usually have precious gems in them and as such you will not be able to use harsh cleaning agents as they will tarnish the precious stones.
Maintaining your white gold - you can keep your white gold piece in great shape by getting the rhodium plate replaced every three or so years by a jeweler who specializes in this type of plating. You can also take them off at night and store them in a soft cloth or leather pouch away from other jewelry. Even if you do not take them off for long, take them off and wipe them down so that moisture doesn't stay on them which can lead to thinning breakage of vulnerable parts. You may also want to remove your rings when in the kitchen preparing food and using kitchen utensils that can scratch the surface of your jewelry.
Your engagement ring and wedding band are very special to you and it is very likely that you may always wear them, even in your sleep. There is a strong bond to these rings due to the sentiment that they carry, you should still at least remove them to clean them and buff them dry. This will ensure that they keep their beauty and luster for years to come.
If you liked this article, please visit Gold Mutual Funds and IGDAX.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jayan_B
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4438839
الاشتراك في:
التعليقات (Atom)