Detroit Area Wedding Guide
The Engagement Ring
The Engagement Ring
Next to her wedding day, every little girl dreams about the beautiful engagement ring placed upon her finger by the beau of her life. She imagines how the ring will sparkle and how lovely her hand will look when adorned with such a precious bobble. She may even think about the style and shape of the ring and what type of gemstone she would prefer. For many years, she may have had the precise design all prepared in her dreams.
The engagement ring is a symbol of the commitment a man and a woman pledge to one another. The continuous band symbolizes the union as one and the everlasting love. Various cultures and religions around the world accept the engagement ring and wedding band as the symbol of commitment between two people.
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When choosing an engagement ring, it may be difficult for the man. Many factors influence the choice of engagement ring. The woman will most likely wear the ring everyday for the rest of her life so it must be functional as well as ornate. For some woman, it may be the only valuable piece of jewelry that she owns so it needs to be what she prefers. Before looking for and actually choosing an engagement ring, consider several factors carefully.
Diamond or Gemstone
Will you purchase a diamond ring or a ring set with another type of gemstone? Although diamonds are the most popular stone for the engagement ring, many couples are opting for other types of gemstones such as rubies and sapphires. A combination of diamonds and pearls are lovely as well.
When choosing between a diamond and a gemstone, be very sure that you understand the woman's wishes. For instance, if she is expecting a diamond and has longed for a diamond engagement ring all her life, it may be a bit of shock to receive a gemstone in the diamond's place. Couples that choose gemstones have usually discussed the options together beforehand and have a specific significance for choosing a ruby, sapphire, emerald or any stone other than a diamond.
Yellow Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Trying to choose between yellow gold, white gold and even platinum may be a bit tricky. The man may prefer yellow gold but the woman prefers white gold. Before shopping for the engagement ring find ways to determine the woman's preferences. If she only wears white gold and has indicated that she is not fond of yellow gold, then one whole category has been eliminated. Look only for white gold or platinum.
Family Heirloom
A vintage engagement ring that has been handed down through the generations is one to cherish and of which to be proud.
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Ornate or Subtle
When a man is marrying a woman, one would think that the two know one another quite well and he should be able to determine the woman's preferred style. But that is not always the case so he must watch for clues and listen to signals. The woman may hint about what she prefers when she sees rings in the shop window or magazines. Take note of the type of jewelry she wears on a daily basis. If she is not a ring wearer, then you may have to ask questions about her preferences.
Does the woman wear loud, gaudy jewelry or does she wear simple, subtle pieces?
In what type of environment must she work everyday and how does the ring fit into the lifestyle?
Would she prefer old or new? Does she feel ties to the past are important or is she more modern oriented?
Cut of Diamond or Gemstone
Whether the stone is a pear-shape, oval, square or even a cluster is important. Like a woman's hairstyle must suit her facial features, her engagement ring must suit her fingers and hands. This will be harder for a man to determine on his own but it is important to the engagement ring decision.
Set or Mix and Match
One of the factors which may be important when choosing an engagement ring is whether a set (matching engagement ring and wedding band) is preferred or a separate engagement ring and wedding band.
Buying On A Budget
Buying an engagement ring on a budget does not mean the ring must be cheap. Rather, it means that one should not go overboard when purchasing a ring. Going into serious debt and taking years to pay off the ring may be a prudent decision. Most experts agree that a realistic guideline is two months salary. So, before going out and choosing the ring, sit down and calculate what you can afford and stick to it. Once you get into a jewelry store and see all that glitter and gold, emotion is sure to take over and you want to be well prepared.
Seasonal Shopping
In order to get the best price on the engagement ring, there are certain times of the year where prices are lower. On the other hand, there are particular seasons that must be avoided. Christmas is a popular time to give jewelry and prices are at the highest. Wait until January when all the sales start and the prices decreases. You might choose a more expensive piece and still keep within your budget. Valentine's Day is another time of the year when prices are higher so you might want to avoid February for engagement ring shopping. Lastly, retail stores in general are slow in the latter summer months. This may provide an opportunity to save some money.
Purchasing Online
Internet purchases have become the norm for many shoppers. Purchasing an engagement ring online can be completed nowadays as well. Since the ring will be purchased "site unseen", follow these general rules for guarding yourself against fraudulent websites.
Make sure the company has been in operation for some time.
The site must use a secure server to transact the sale. The address in the browser must include an 's' in the 'http'. It must read 'https' and show a yellow padlock at the bottom of the right hand screen.
If the site has a "chat" button, use it to ask questions. Even if you know the answer, ask to see how the attendant responds.
Look for a return and refund policy. Legitimate jewelers usually stand behind their products.
Use a search engine and enter the company's name. Watch for any negative comments that are returned in the search results and read the posts. If one or two people are complaining, it might not be a problem but if every forum has negative comments, one might use that as an indication to move on.
Does the company have a real physical address or just an email?
Does the piece of jewelry come with an authentication certificate?
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