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You’re going to “pop the question,” as the expression goes, and you want to do
it right. Perhaps you’re an incurable romantic or just very much in love. Either
way, you know how important the engagement ring will be to your future bride
(assuming she says yes), and you have been shopping for that perfect ring for
months. The good news is you know what you want; the bad news is you haven’t
found it … at least, not in one ring. You’ve seen bits and pieces of your dream
ring, but you can’t seem to find them all in one piece of jewelry or one place.
(Publisher's note:
See
this page for information about designing your own wedding rings.)
Custom Engagement Rings
It may be time to design your own engagement ring! Don’t panic. It’s not as hard
as you may think. All you have to do is picture each element you want, put them
together in a sketch (no matter how rough), and describe those elements to the
person who will actually make it. Here’s how to do it.
If you analyze a typical engagement ring, you’ll see that it has only two basic
parts: a stone and a setting. The stone is most often a diamond, but that’s not
a hard and fast rule. Some of the most beautiful custom engagement rings are
made with emeralds, pearls, rubies, or sapphires.
As you shopped, you probably saw many rings with a single, solitaire diamond
set in some precious metal. You’re not bound by that design either. You might
prefer to have a larger precious stone in the center of the ring, encircled by
small diamonds.
Let’s say your bride to be has hinted that she wants a diamond ring. If
that’s the case, you should take the time to educate yourself about diamonds.
They are not all alike in appearance or quality. Jewelers don’t just look at a
diamond to determine its quality. They rate each stone according to a diamond
grading system. For more, see our pages on the four c's of grading:
diamond
color, clarity, cut, and carat (size).
After learning all you can about diamonds and evaluating each of these
elements, once you make your choice, make sure the diamond is certified in
writing. Since each diamond is a one of a kind, all of its qualities should be
recorded by an independent laboratory. While there are many such laboratories,
experts say the
Gemological
Institute of America (GIA) and
American Gem
Society (AGS) are most reputable and accurate. The certification or diamond
grading report should include the exact measurement of the stone, as well as its
color, clarity and carat weight. Ask for a certificate when you buy the stone.
It is proof of your diamond's value.
Designing your own engagement ring setting.
Just as you evaluate the diamond, you should carefully consider the setting
as you design the engagement ring. Most engagement rings are made form 14K or
18K white or yellow gold or platinum. The type of metal you choose is another
factor in determining cost. Platinum is more expensive than gold but is gaining
in popularity. Gold and platinum can be molded into intricate designs. Another
choice, titanium, while extremely durable, lacks that flexibility.
Another reason your choice of metal is important is the design of the ring.
Your options are vast but should be dictated by your fiancé’s preferred style.
Here you will have to do some astute observation or sleuthing. Assuming you know
her pretty well, that shouldn’t be too difficult. Here are some choices.
- How does she dress — classic or chic?
- What kind of jewelry does she wear — simple or elaborate, real or
costume?
- What is her overall style — modern or old-fashioned?
- Are her hands small or large; her fingers, long, thin, short, or
rounded?
Why are these things important? Because you want her custom engagement and
wedding rings to complement her hands. If her fingers are short, you want a ring
that makes them look longer. If her hand is small, you don’t want it overwhelmed
with a huge ring, especially if she is going to wear her wedding ring on the
same hand. If her hand is wide, opt for a ring that makes it look slender. The
idea here is proportion. Imagine how many years she will be wearing that ring,
and put some thought into how it will look on her hand.
One other consideration as you design an engagement ring is its practicality.
If your bride to be is going to wear it every day while she engages in a range
of activities, it has to be well constructed and durable. This is a lot to think
about, but it is well worth the effort.
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