As owners of a website offering fine, gold, designer handcrafted jewelry, and specializing in bridal selections, we’ve been noticing an interesting trend amongst our customers. It appears that some soon to be engaged couples are purchasing birthstone engagement rings for the bride-to-be. The most popular choices, lately, have been the gemstone in the center, flanked by diamonds on either side, such as with the pink sapphire diamond three stone ring, or emerald diamond three stone ring, as well as ruby diamond three stone ring.

It is an interesting phenomenon, and I was surprised, myself, when I got my first call from a woman on the west coast inquiring about purchasing a gemstone ring as her engagement ring. I realize now, that while diamonds are the most popular gems for wedding and engagement jewelry, birthstone engagement rings are increasing in popularity for women for several reasons. First of all, some people always want to do things differently than others, they pride themselves on doing things out of the mainstream, and marching to their own drummer. What grander way to make a statement on your uniqueness than with a birthstone ring as your engagement ring? Secondly, a birthstone ring can potentially cost far less than traditional diamond rings, because many birthstones are semi-precious gems, which typically have a lower value because they are less rare. And finally, some woman might find the birthstone ring just layered with symbolism and sentiment.

The easiest choice for birthstone rings is to use the bride’s birthstone. You can use the birthstone as an alternative center stone instead of the traditional diamond. With regards to using birthstones in engagement rings, it is important to keep in mind the fragility of certain gems. For example, while a sapphire is very suitable to be worn as an engagement stone because of its durability, an opal or a tanzanite is not. It is something to consider, unless of course you will not be wearing your engagement ring every day. If longevity is what you are looking for in your birthstone engagement ring, try to choose a gem that can take the wear usually associated with an engagement ring.

Whatever your reason for choosing a birthstone engagement ring, the combination of semi-precious or precious stones and diamonds, are sure to make for a unique and stunning engagement ring. You can also dress it up with a matching wedding band of alternating diamonds and your birthstone gem.

Author: Wendy M. Rabbani

Interesting Trend: The Non-Traditional Engagement Ring

Discusses an interesting trend among couples purchasing engagement rings. Whereas, diamonds used to be the only way to go, more people are choosing birthstone rings as engagement rings.

Weddings In Rockford : Eddie Van Halen is Married!

Tips, hints, trends and venues in the Illinois-Wisconsin stateline area a blog from Theresa Collier, Professional Bridal Consultant, wedding planner/manager determined to make it happen, Trinity Weddings, LLC. Professional Wedding Management. Serving Northern Illinois and Southern … The couple wrote their vows and designed the rings - Janie’s, a platinum band beside a nearly three-carat diamond engagement ring; Ed’s, a gold band with yellow diamonds. Non-Alcoholic Bar.

Non Traditional Engagement Rings

If you want a non traditional engagement ring, be prepared for some rude bitches! … For those of you planning to say “I do,” Bridal Guide provides the how-to for you. This guide for soon-to-be married couples features stories about homemaking; wedding planning, fashions and trends; unique honeymoons; modern etiquette, relationships, finance, beauty and remarriage.

Technorati Tags: 2 carat engagement ring, engagement diamond, inexpensive engagement

Rose cut diamonds for engagement rings are making something of a return. Thought to have originated first in India in the late 1300s, Rose cut diamonds and gemstones first become used and exceptionally beloved during the Renaissance, when they were thought to symbolize a mystical, even “neo-pagan” type of Christianity that was flourishing in those days. They flourished in the Neo-Classical and Romantic Eras. But they went out of style by the late Victorian Age (which for all intents and purposes closed out in the year 1900).

Rose cut diamonds have flat bottoms without the distinctive tapering body; instead, the crown of the diamond or other gemstone is elevated in a faceted dome where anywhere from three to 24 triangular facets are used to mimic the progressively tighter spiral of a rose. As these come together, they reflect the central focal point of a rose bud.

Now, the rose cut lost its flourish eventually because, to diamond and gemstone aficionados, it’s got a fatal flaw. The rose cut “leaks light”. Gems, especially diamonds, are “supposed” to be cut in such a way that them emit an internal light (or seem to), a trait know as “fire and brilliance”. Rose cuts tend not to do this; instead, they reflect light that is coming in from around them (that is, it’s obvious this is what they are doing). Rose cuts are made in such a way that they maximize a stone’s carat weight; but this gives them more risk of being flawed in their facets. While this trait can be used to cover up a flaw, it can also distort the color of the stone. Jewelers have used thin gold, silver, or foil backings to enhance the appearance of “fire and brilliance” in rose cut stones.

So, if rose cuts are so flawed, why then desire them for one’s engagement rings? Well, price for one thing. The rose cut can offer up a gemstone that glimmers like a star without breaking one’s bank, since it is focused on reflecting exterior light rather than radiating captured light from its interior. Also, this cut is so unique in shape that it can provide a powerful air of mystery or sophistication; and it can evoke “ye olden dayes” and is thus perfect for retrofitting a ring.

However, keep in mind that the rose cut can be very hard to find, since it has been out of style for so long and is so one-of-a-kind. You may have to find one in heirloom collections or estate collections that are for sale, or go through an antiques dealer. Online, you can use Toltec Trading Company to help you get one. But this all means that a rose cut gem ring can be more expensive than taking a standard size ring with gems featuring more trendy contemporary cuts like the round-brilliant, marquis, or princess. If you have an upper price range limit, the rose cut gem engagement ring can be a bargain, but if you are lower budget it can be too expensive because of its rarity.

Author: Julie Shields

The Benefits of Selecting a Rose Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

By James Greene Diamond engagement rings are such exquisite pieces of jewelry as a whole that there really is no bad style of diamond ring. Each style of diamond engagement ring is beautiful in its own right. There are emerald cut.

The Romanticism of Victorian Engagement Diamond Rings | Buy Victorian

The scarcity of diamonds during the early Victorian era did not prevent their men from keeping up with the romantic times. Early Victorian engagement rings are usually in clustered designs or rose cut diamonds.

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As well as traditional yellow gold, you can have rose gold and white gold engagement rings. These are made using different alloys of gold that change the metal’s color. If you’re choosing a ring to surprise your girlfriend.

Technorati Tags: cushion cut diamond rings, diamonds, engagement diamond