The Most Romantic Ways to Propose
Everyone has watched romantic movies before and seen the multiple storybook ways that people have proposed to their counterparts. Some of them are highly romantic, a few are quite sappy unfortunately but for the most part they are all extremely creative and would indeed leave a life long lasting memory. Naturally, having seen this occurrence take place on the silver screen your whole life or having heard about real life interesting marriage proposals, you want to propose to that special someone in a way that will not only bring a smile to their face but leave a great memory and conversational story. In case you are running low on marriage proposal ideas or just want to compare some to the one you have come up with, check out the following ideas and picture you acting them out for your companion.
Does your loved one get home from work after you and leave before you? A great idea would be to leave a handwritten marriage proposal and ring on his/her pillow after they go to work. The handwritten letter will leave a nice touch and you’ll probably either receive a pretty interesting phone call or text message while at work and ultimately come home to a very happy significant other. It might make for a long day at work though so unless you have a lot of patience this might not be the best option for you.
Another great marriage proposal idea and a pretty romantic one is as follows. Spread rose petals all over your bed as well as the floor leading up to the bed. Tell him/her that you’ve gotten them a special gift and wrap the ring inside of a relatively large box on the bed along with a note. Make sure the note will get reached before the ring and on it explain that their gift is you for the rest of their life. If you pick an innocuous day to do this on it could come as a complete surprise, adding to the romanticism inherent in the proposal itself. If you and your companion have been talking about marriage a lot lately then it probably isn’t the best method of proposal as it could be somewhat obvious.
A sensual and intimate way to propose involves a massage followed by a subsequent foot massage and an unexpected place to slip the ring. Give your significant other the most sensual and romantic massage of your relationship. Incorporate oils, music, and lighting if possible and after the full body massage focus on a foot massage that ends with you slipping the ring on her toe. She’ll probably be so entranced by the massage that she won’t notice, which leads to a great surprise when you inform her to check her foot and upon doing so there is a nice shiny engagement ring.
By far the most romantic and long lasting method of proposal is the following. A pretty high tech proposal idea that is bound leave a lasting memory is creating a proposal web site. Either design it yourself or have a graphic designer design a blog for your companion that is filled with various pictures and videos of your life together thus far, funny stories, and of course your marriage proposal. The web address can be something unique to your companion and yourself and with web site hosting relatively expensive you could simply opt to keep the web site running forever as a digital memory of the day you proposed. You can really build a detailed web site this way and the possibilities of content are limitless. As your life together progresses towards a family, the web site can them be utilized as a way to display family photos as well and is essentially turned into an e-photobook of your marriage starting from the very moment you proposed.
These are just a few ways that you can tell your special loved one that not only are you in love with them but you plan on being in love with them for the duration of your natural lives and wish to spend that period of time in their arms and company. Proposing to your companion is a very special moment that deserves a lot of pre-thought in order to ensure its uniqueness and making sure its a lasting memory.
The Most Popular Engagement Mountings
Nowadays there are all types of settings or mountings available for engagement rings. In the past the engagement ring was similar in every way except for the stone that was placed in it. It was typically a half carat diamond set in a four prong princess setting set in a yellow gold ring.
Modifications to the mountings took place to rectify the problem of the stone falling out as well as to keep up with current rends and demands. A sturdy and secure strap needed to be constructed to house the stone. The high settings did not work as with time the wedding band would rub against it causing wear and tear and the eventual loss of the stone. To prevent that nowadays jewelers have opted to place the stone closer to the band or to place the setting lower so as to prevent that kind of damage.
If this is not to your liking then there are other settings out there that can be used. The stones are now anchored with more straps as opposed to the initial four straps. The settings now being offered for engagement mountings are attractive.
The most popular engagement ring mountings are three stone, solitaire or pave. These mountings come with special services such as sculpting, engraving and special finishes like smooth, sable and mokume gane. If it is a family heirloom that you will be using you also have the option of reproducing the ring with modifications or you can simply maintain the original design.
Other heirlooms that persons may have are in the form of precious stones like rubies or sapphires and are quite appropriate for use as an engagement ring. The only thing that would be left to do is to find the appropriate mounting. There are quite a few types of antique mountings that can be used as well if the modern ones are not appropriate. The antique rings are still popular however for their intricate detailing. You can choose from an Art Deco, Edwardian, Georgian or Victorian mounting. If you are not sure of the types of settings you can always find samples of the settings online. The joy of an engagement ring too is that you can design your own if you are the creative and have your jeweler make it for you.
The choices that you can make for an engagement mounting are infinite. Engagement mounting are out there to suit every taste and every budget. Whether you want an old antique setting or something a bit more modern once you have the type that you want in mind then you can go ahead and select your stone if you do not already possess one. You must also remember that you have other options open to you as well like hand engravings, you can engrave short messages or anecdotes to each other as an expression of undying love and eternal devotion that will last as long as the rings do. Make choosing the mountings an enjoyable task. Look at it as an experience to learn about the evolution of the engagement band.
Picking Out An Engagement Ring Set
Some persons consider the job of picking out an engagement ring set an arduous task. If is not as easy as it may seem but if it is planned correctly then the process will not be as hard.
The first thing that you need to do is decide on the budget. Decide how much you wish to spend on the ring/rings and then begin the search to find the perfect one that fits into that budget. The search is one that can be done online as most jewelers have websites that you can access to see the various rings that they have to offer. The difficulty here would be to decide the cut of the diamond, the style of the ring and the type of metal. If the bride or groom does not have their minds set on what it is that they want already, be it an old fashioned ring or a new modern design.
The best thing to do is to find out what your fiancée likes before you go ring shopping. If you decide to choose the ring together or to let her choose it then half your job is done. If not then you have to do your research. Her best friend is the best one to check as they will know her preferences and her likes and dislikes.
The very next thing is to ensure that your jeweler is reputable and skilled enough to answer all the questions that you may have. When speaking to your jeweler as well make sure that you are updated as to their policies on returning or exchanging items so that if the ring you choose is not to her liking, you will be able to make an exchange for one of similar value. You should also ensure that you have a little knowledge of what carat weight, color, cut and clarity diamond you want to get so that you do not get lost when the technical jargon begins to hit you.
The carat weight of a diamond refers to the size that the diamond is. The bigger it is the more carats it has and the more expensive it is. The color of a diamond is also important. There is actually a grading system which has been set up on the color. D indicates a pure white diamond and is the best ranking and Z indicates a discolored diamond. The best thing that you can do is to ensure that you stay between the E to H color range. If you have the money you can always go for the D rated diamond.
Jewelers will also refer to the clarity of a diamond which is a rating based on the defects that can be found in a diamond. The more defects it has the less clarity the diamond will be said to have and by default the less expensive it will be.
The last thing to bear in mind is the cut of the diamond. When jewelers use this term it is referring to the shape of the stone (i.e. round, baguette, princess) or to how symmetrical proportionate it is. It must be noted that when picking out an engagement ring set you must ensure you get the best rating on the symmetrical proportions. Ensure that the stone is cut properly.
Picking a Custom Design Engagement Ring
Choosing an engagement ring can be a pretty daunting task. This is especially true if one is inexperienced in buying and choosing jewelry. Good thing we have our mothers, sisters, best friend who can help us. If you’re a man and you’re in the process of picking out the right ring for your fiancée, all you have to work on is how to (secretly) find out what your woman’s ring size is.
Should you go for a custom design engagement ring, there are several options to look into. The most common ones are listed below.
• Stay away from branded jewelry stores. Not only are they expensive, their designs are most likely mass produced. Should they claim that they don’t mass produce, it is still likely that their designs can be copied since their store is popular and more exposed to the public.
• Check out jewelry stores that are family-owned. You’ll have greater chances of finding a design that’s not mass-produced.
• Talk to a jewelry manufacturer if you want to find out where a particular ring is designed and made. You can also ask who owns the ring’s design rights.
• Research for a jewelry designer online. Ask for an estimate for a ring design.
• Talk to a jewelry designer who uses a 3D software for designing jewelry. Yes, if there’s a piece of software that can aid in designing clothes and houses, so does jewelry. There is a wide array of custom design engagement rings that were made by artisans who make use of such software. These professionals actually find these pieces of 3D software more precise and accurate when developing intricate designs, which all the more makes custom designs possible.
Let’s face it. Custom design engagement rings can definitely make a woman stand out. It speaks not only about the uniqueness of the design but also the uniqueness of the moment and experience. While shopping for a ring is always an option, you would always want to pay for something that only you or your loved one can own, without having to think that someone out there also has it.
Important Things to Know About Diamond Insurance
Whether you’re buying it or giving it to someone special, a diamond ring should always have insurance once it’s bought.
Usually, the first step to getting a diamond ring insurance is to have the ring appraised. Now, here’s the critical part. A lot of people tend to claim that they know how to appraise jewelry. It is for this reason that it is recommended to find someone who is qualified or, better yet, is a Gemologist Graduate or someone with a GG degree. Professional gemologists are most likely to give a better estimate on your jewelry’s value.
Once you’ve had your diamond ring appraised by a qualified gemologist, you’re now ready to look for an insurance company to get your diamond ring insurance policy. In this stage, you actually have the option to either buy what they call a special rider on a homeowner’s policy or purchase an insurance policy that specializes on diamond rings. For the first option, you would want to get a special rider to take advantage of a special coverage that will ensure settlement or some form of payment for lost or damaged jewelry. So, in this case, if your diamond ring gets lost or damaged, the insurance company may be able to provide coverage of up to $1500 or even more. Note though that this amount might already cover all the other jewelry in your possession. For the second option, you can enjoy the possible benefit of getting paid through settlement (cash value policy) in case your diamond ring gets lost or damaged. The downside of this option though, diamond ring insurances tend to be costly.
Once you’ve found the right insurance company, the next step is to send the appraisal of the jewelry. You can either send the details via email, snail mail or fax. Once the insurance company receives the appraisal, they will be able to give a quote for the insured value for your diamond ring. At this point, you can ask them if the insured value they stated would automatically increase over a certain period of time or if another process for appraisal would need to be done in a couple of years or so.
Once you have the diamond ring insured, it is now time to pay for the monthly, quarterly or annual premium. On the average annual premiums are at 1.5%. So, technically, if your insured diamond ring has an appraisal of $20,000, your annual premium would then be $300 or somewhere near that range.
Lastly, just make sure that you understand everything that’s stated in the policy’s terms.
How to Select an Engagement Ring Setting
No matter what kind of engagement ring you choose, the ring setting makes a big difference to how it will look and how much life it will eventually have. There are several kinds of engagement ring settings, with the most common is the prong setting.
Prong settings will vary, and they will mostly be determined by the rings design and the size of the stone. A little basket is formed, the ends of which have prongs, and once the stone or stones are set into the ring, the prongs are bent over it so that the stone is in place and is held firmly.
You can choose an engagement ring setting with the following kinds of prong settings:
A traditional prong setting
This one is most common, and the stone is held in place by six little prongs, not too low and not too high, so that the ring stone stands way above the finger. It has one con though – because its stands a little far off the finger, it tends to get caught more in things.
Tall Prong setting
With this one, the prongs have some extra length, and the stone will stand high above the finger, actually higher than the traditional prong setting. It looks much better with single stones than with multiples. You should reserve these kinds of rings for special occasions because they will often get caught in everything. If you really want such a ring for your engagement, you can have one made for that special occasion and then later have it refitted with shorter prongs.
4 prong setting
This setting will usually give beautiful, practical rings. The prongs are short so that the stone sits snugly in the ring. You’ll have 4 sets of prongs to hold four different stones and the best thing about it is the variations it allows you. You can choose different colored stones, or different stones that have a different special meaning. They look great with the wedding ring eventually as they don’t stick out.
Common prong setting
This one is the most popular and most people like it as it allows the stones to catch a maximum amount of light. Only two prongs will be used, but they run lengthwise and are made in such a way that they can hold several stones at once without the interference of prongs at each.
Protective prongs
If you’re going to offer your fiancé a particularly large stone, this one is the best option. The prongs are long enough so that they cover the outer half of the stone, and any contact with another surface will still leave the stone intact. You can have them done on any shape of stone.
Decorative prongs
These give the ring and the stone a better look because they are cut to be more than just prongs – they are decorative. They shine and compliment your stone, but because they will be made of special material, may cost you more.
The best way to choose an engagement ring setting is to first choose a stone and a ring and make sure that they complement each other. After that, it’s easy to see what kind of setting will look best. Make sure to consult a good jeweller – they can give you invaluable tips.
How To Best Measure Ring Size
Whether you are planning to purchase a ring for yourself, your spouse or you plan on surprising your love with an engagement ring, you will need to make sure that the size is correct. The process of determining yours or someone else’s ring size is pretty straight forward and easy to do. However, if you are planning on giving the ring as a surprise, for example, an engagement ring, you will need to be a little more creative. Below, we will provide some suggestions on determining yours or someone else’s ring size, no matter the occasion.
One of the very best ways to have a ring sized is to take it to the jeweler. He or she is a professional and will be able to figure out the ring size either by using an existing ring or measuring the right finger out right.
The use of ring size chart is another option. These can be found online. A chart can be used to convert measurements or determine the ring size based on a ring the person already has. For instance, if you are planning a surprise engagement, secretly borrow one of your girlfriend’s rings which fits well, and then compare the ring with the ring size chart you already downloaded.
Please note, it is important to make sure that the measurements are suitable. Ring sizes may differ based on the country. If you don’t choose one a chart from the country where you live or are planning to purchase the ring from, you could end up with the wrong measurements. Also, double check to make sure that the printer you are using, doesn’t resize the chart, as this could cause the measurements to be incorrect as well.
When measuring your ring size, it is important that you do so at the right time of day. The size of a person’s finger may vary depending on when you measure it. Temperature can also have an effect. If it is at all possible, measure the ring at room temperature and during the latter part of the day. This is because the fingers tend to be biggest at the end of the day.
When you are measuring yours or someone else’s ring size, be sure that you use the widest part of the finger or if you are utilizing a ring chart, use a ring that fits well. When sizing a ring for a female, be sure to avoid doing so while she is on her menstrual cycle because her fingers may be larger then normal if she is retaining water.
Correctly sizing a ring is extremely important. A failure to obtain the right measurements will result in an ill fitting ring. Rings are made to be worn. If you are going to shell out thousands of dollars on one, you won’t want the ring sitting in the jewelry box, untouched.
Getting a ring re-sized can be a hassle but done inexpensively for the most part. However, though this isn’t always the case. Bridal rings and eternity rings can be very costly to have resized. If the ring is engraved, this can also be problematic. The engraving is bound to be ruined if the ring has to be resized.
How To Read A Diamond Appraisal Report
Have you ever requested or received a Diamond Appraisal Report but been unable to completely understand everything it was detailing or discussing? Naturally you aren’t the first person to run into this dilemma as it isn’t as if De Beers offers a diamond appraisal course in all major high schools. Although the understanding of a diamond appraisal report is rarely achieved, it should definitely be a necessary step in the purchase of a diamond as it details everything about the diamond and helps an appraiser decide how much value the unique gem contains. Let us take a look at some of the most common definitions of the terms used within a diamond appraisal report so that you can not only admire your gemstone from a naked eye standpoint but also understand and appreciate its minute features and characteristics.
When reading a diamond appraisal report, the first thing to take notice of is the name of the laboratory that conducted the report. Just as is true with the appraisal of anything of value, the end resulting appraisal is only as legitimate as the lab that conducted it. If you aren’t familiar with the laboratory that conducted the report don’t think twice about researching the lab to verify legitimacy. After this is complete we can get to the diamond itself. Most labs now a days employ laser inscription as a way to “mark” the diamond without visibly altering it. This laser etching will provide a serial number so that the diamond can be tracked if stolen or lost. A lab will keep a copy of the diamond appraisal report on file for future verification purposes as well.
On the report you will see the terms “shape” and “cutting style” mentioned. These basically refer to the actual physical shape of the diamond as well as the arrangement of the facets of the diamond. When someone says they have a heart shaped princess cut diamond, this is what they are referring to. When it comes to weight, a diamond is weighed out to the thousandth of a karat but your report is only going to reflect the weight rounded to the hundredth.
If you are reading the report and see a name like VVS2, SI1, VVS1, etc…these are the clarity grades of a diamond. In order of depreciating clarity they go as follows- IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2 and I3, with If being the best grade of clarity possible. The color of the gem starts from the letter D and descends as the alphabet progresses thus a D grade gem is the most purest color possible.
In terms of brilliance or fluorescence as it would be referred to as, this is quantified by viewing the amount of fluorescence given off by a diamond when hit with a burst of long wave ultraviolet radiation. Although it is important for a diamond to have a good amount of fluorescence, it is possible for a diamond to be too fluorescent as it takes away from the ability to actually observe the diamond in light. When it comes to the “Finish” of a diamond, the report is referring to the level of polish the diamond has received as well as the quality of the symmetry present within the facets themselves.
Now that you understand the terminology and grading scale of a diamond appraisal report, it should be easier for you to distinguish whether a particular diamond is of good enough quality or not. You should be able to proficiently analyze the report and see the diamond not only from a naked eye point of view but from the standpoint of the expert gemologist who analyzed the diamond as well.
Engagement Ring Finger: Which One Is It and Why?
The offering of engagement rings is something that has been done since ancient times. The whole concept of an engagement ring is centered on the traditions and religious beliefs of many countries. It is the worldwide symbol of undying love and commitment that a man makes to a woman. As it is widely known a circle represents eternity and in the olden days the Egyptians took the ring as a symbol of an everlasting bond between two persons who were planning to get married. That particular finger is thought to have veins that lead directly to the heart referred to as the vena amoris meaning vein of love by the Romans.
Traditionally, an engagement ring is offered to the female by the male as a precursor to a wedding band. It is the symbol of a formal agreement to marriage in the near future. These rings can either be bought by the male, the couple or by each for the other.
In the western culture the engagement ring finger is the fourth finger on the left hand. There are a number of reasons why this has been the finger of choice for decades. A few of these reasons will be highlighted below. On the other hand in some countries like Spain and Germany the engagement ring finger is actually the fourth finger on the right hand. It is another custom that dates back to ancient times, and which has come up out of the thought that the Latin word for right and left have different meanings. Left comes from the Latin word “sinistra” and right from the Latin word “dexter” which changed into dexterity hence the choice as the left was not considered to have a good meaning. In other cases the choice of the engagement ring finger is dependent on the person’s religion. Depending on the beliefs of the particular it may be the right or the left hand that the engagement rings are worn on. Only one exception was noted in history in, specifically referring to the Monarchies in which the left hand was offered in the case where a noble of high standing was getting married to one of a lesser standing or class.
If we look to the South American Countries like Argentine for example both the males and the females use one ring which was very similar to the wedding rings the only difference being the type of precious metal that it was made out of. The engagement rings were usually silver. In other countries still both sexes wear engagement rings on the ring finger. To top it all off there are countries in which the wedding band is worn on the left hand until the official day of marriage when they would be transferred to the left hand.
Nowadays, some female wedding rings come in two parts, one being the engagement ring and the other the wedding band so one piece would be worn prior to the wedding and on the day both pieces would be worn. These pieces usually interlock.
