Anatomy Of An Engagement Ring

The ritual of the marriage proposal and the presentation of the diamond engagement ring create the highlight event of any courtship. A practice that dates back to the traditional Romans, the engagement ring itself has many layers of symbolism. Every piece of the ring is a strong symbol communicating key info concerning herself, her partner and their relationship.

The Band

The primary image isn't any mystery - most folks understand the marriage band represents the eternal circle, and the same principle applies to the engagement ring. The image of the endless circle with no starting and no end, illustrates eternal love.

But the band of the engagement ring has changed within the last century - at least, the metal used for the band has. The warmth of gold has been a customary for eons, but nowadays, couples have many readily on the market options. In the previous couple of years, platinum has been gaining in popularity and prominence, trumping the gold normal for engagement rings.

The rarity and expense of platinum makes it an attractive various to gold, even white gold. But the sturdiness of platinum is presumably its most adorable quality - a metal that can rise to dents and scratches over the lifetime of the engagement ring and the wedding, with the ability to keep up its original beauty.

The Form of the Diamond

The shape of the diamond is the sole element of the ring that is an on the spot reflection of the bride-to-be's personality. There are six to eight common shapes to decide on from, and each sends a terribly different message.

The spherical diamond is very classic and traditional, and sends this very clear message regarding the bride. The princess cut, in distinction, communicates the message of a woman with a sturdy sense of style. The second-most fashionable ring form, the princess cut, can have a more "bling" quality to it - the method the diamond is cut reflects light-weight during a method that contributes to a a lot of sensible quality.

A pear-shaped diamond resembles a sensible teardrop, and is a sign of a girl who features a unique quality. The center-form - yes there is one - indicates a girl with additional of a sentimental flair.

The Stone

The diamond in an engagement ring is another image of purity, endurance and longevity. A rare and precious stone, diamonds come from the earth and literally take billions of years to form. A gem stone that can only be scratched by one in all its own, the popularity of diamonds in engagement rings will be linked to the association between the strength and sturdiness of a diamond and the same in a very marriage.

Whereas the "four C's" are the clear tips for selecting a top quality diamond, today's brides, thirsty for originality, are choosing different gems for his or her engagement rings. Whether or not motivated by their birthstones, or personal preference for something other than a diamond, brides are choosing everything from rubies to opals for their engagement ring stone.

Solitare vs. Three-Stone

The diamond solitaire engagement ring is another tradition that has stood the take a look at of time in the design of diamond engagement rings <http://www.danforthdiamond.com/engagement_rings/index.html> And whereas the single diamond within the pronged Tiffany-style setting remains widespread, the 3-stone ring is giving the solitaire some competition.

While the solitaire ring represents the idea of a solitary true love, the three-stone ring's symbolism - a couple's past, gift and future - works as an engagement ring or an anniversary ring. Either means, the standard for a three-stone ring may be a central diamond a lot of prominently displayed by 2 slightly smaller diamonds. But, some brides like to own a different gem on either facet of the diamond.

The beauty and importance of the engagement ring began centuries ago, however the engagement ring and ritual we have a tendency to know nowadays is believed to have started in 1477 when Archduke Maximillian presented an engagement ring to Mary of Burgandy.

Through world wars, the increase and fall of empires, the evolution of cultures and emergence of technologies, the individual symbols and collective representation of the engagement ring have not a lot of deviated from tradition. The engagement ring may be a robust symbol as a result of the separate pieces of the full are, themselves, incredibly powerful elements.