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All About Pear Shaped Engagement Rings

January 25th, 2010

Contrary to what many of us imagine, pear shaped engagement rings are not a very new creation. Indeed, in jewellery circles, the style that produces these pear shaped engagement rings is considered a ‘classic configuration.’ Nonetheless, it is only in recent days that pear shaped engagement rings have become very popular. Their popularity is mainly attributed to their unique look – and to what are virtually ‘celebrity endorsements:’ where several opinion leaders have opted for the pear shape in their engagement rings. In what has been termed as a ‘celebrity obsessed culture’ as ours, anything that these opinion leaders endorse by way of wearing instantly becomes fashion. Yet this is not to depreciate the true beauty of pear shaped engagement rings, because truth be told, even without celebrity endorsements, they would still eventually have come to be liked as people came to learn about them.

At their core, pear shaped engagement rings can be seen as being the progeny of two other popular shapes: the marquise and the oval shapes (which combine to make the overall ‘pear shape).

Naturally brilliant stones work best in making the pear shaped engagement rings. Diamond is the default stone, out of which pear shaped engagement rings are made.

There are many settings in which pear shaped engagement rings can be made: mainly depending on the preferences of the people shopping for them.

Most opt for the solitaire setting, as it is arguably the setting that best brings out the simple elegance of the pear shaped engagement rings.

Still, pear shaped engagement rings are also available as bridal sets, accented settings or cluster settings.

Due to the pear shape (which is pointed on one end, and round at the other), the person buying a pear shaped engagement ring has the option of either wearing it with the sharp end of the pear point toward the hand or away from the hand. Going with either is a matter of personal preference, though wearing it point away from the hand has the effect of visually elongating the finger; a good thing for some wearers.

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Engagement Rings: Solitaire Settings Explained

January 15th, 2010

The term ‘solitaire settings’ as used with regard to engagement rings, refers to the setting of the jewels on the rings: where only a single (solo) gem is used. It is categorized as a traditional ‘classic’ setting, and is one of the most popular such classic settings.

Solitaire settings come out best with some metals than others. Diamond is one of the metals with which the solitaire setting works best. Gold, too works well in bringing out the solitaire setting. In either case, it is the metal in question (gold or diamond in these cases) which is to be seen on the ring: hence the name ‘solitaire.’

People who want to ‘remain proper’ and stick with tradition are the people who are likely to find solitaire settings most appealing. Like the wedding gown (which is to be eventually worn, should the engagement be successful), and which is traditionally meant to be white and pure, the solitaire engagement ring is also ‘pure’ and thus ‘proper.’

Besides purity, solitaire settings also ooze of elegance. This is indisputable, and according to some quite authoritative commentators on these matters, the introduction of other gems in rings (engagement or otherwise), has the effect of diluting elegance. Of course, this dilution of elegance not always a bad to all people: because in many people’s vocabulary, there is such a thing as ‘too much elegance.’ Yet for those who really want all elegance they can get, solitaire settings work best.

In many people’s view, solitaire settings also result in beauty: the sort of simple (rather than loud) beauty, which is what many men are looking for in the women they present engagement rings to, who are typically women they are looking to eventually marry. This is what is otherwise referred to as ‘real beauty without much ado.’

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Factors Behind the Popularity of the Bezel Engagement Ring

January 13th, 2010

We should perhaps, start our exploration of the factors behind the popularity of the bezel engagement ring by understanding what the bezel engagement ring is, in the first place. As it turns out, the ‘bezel’ is one of the designs in which engagement rings are presented. At its core, the bezel is a raised collar, surrounding a jewel in a ring. Unlike other types of jewellery rings, where for all purposes and intents, the ‘jewel’ is exposed, in the bezel engagement ring, the jewel is protected by the bezel. This way, it doesn’t risk being detached from the ring, or corroded (in the case of metals that are prone to corrosion) in the course of its use.

From this explanation, it would obviously follow that this enhanced protection of the jewel is one of the factors behind the popularity of the bezel engagement ring. This is particularly attractive to people who are engaged in ‘active occupations’ where use of a plain engagement ring would call for having to frequently remove it (to avoid its damage)– which is definitely not what an engagement ring is meant for.

The unique look of the bezel engagement ring is another factor behind its popularity. The bezel engagement ring is the type of ring that you wear –and soon have everyone asking you about it. For those who love things that ‘stand out’ then, the bezel engagement ring comes across as one of those truly outstanding engagement rings.

The fact that the bezel engagement ring is not a plain one, but one that can be configured to various unique settings makes it all the more alluring.

So in the final analysis, we have in the bezel engagement ring the near-perfect ring: where practicality (thanks to the superior protection in the bezel) meets beauty and elegance.

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Top Three Features of Contemporary Engagement Rings

December 8th, 2009

Simply put, contemporary engagement rings are ‘modern engagement rings.’ Here we are looking at ‘modern’ vis-a-vis the likes of terms like ‘vintage,’ ‘classic’ or traditional. Thus if an engagement ring isn’t vintage, classic or traditional, then it has to be contemporary.

Modern-ness is therefore the defining feature of contemporary engagement rings. It is worth noting, with regard to it though, that what we are talking about here is modern-ness of design, rather than of manufacture. An engagement ring could have been made yesterday, (literally yesterday), but by virtue of the design in it, which happens to be a traditional/vintage design, still fail to qualify for a position among the contemporary engagement rings. Thus it is the design of a ring that qualifies it to be termed contemporary, rather than the year/time of its making.

Contemporary engagement rings tend to be rings crafted taking full advantage of today’s technology. ‘Tech-savvy’ which manifests in things like precision of cuts is therefore another feature that sets these contemporary rings from the more traditional rings. Sure, traditional rings can still be made with today’s technology, but their makers are usually keen to leave ‘bits of imperfections’ in them, if they are to appear truly vintage, and representative of the point in time they are made to represent.

Contemporary engagement rings, which are highly loved by young couples who want to appear ‘fashion-conscious’ and ‘hip’ have tended to be made from metals different from those employed traditionally for the purpose. Traditional metals included the likes of diamond (the most popular), and gold. The metals you will tend to find in the ultra-contemporary engagement rings are the likes of titanium and platinum: which the new generation is increasingly finding more fashionable for making engagement rings.

So contemporary engagement rings end up being ‘set apart’ by their designs, technology/precision, and the metals used in their making.

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Why Cartier Engagement Rings are Many Couples’ First Choice

December 1st, 2009

It is an incontestable fact – looking at a number of jewellery stores’ sales statistics – that Cartier engagement rings are many couple’s first choice, when shopping for an engagement ring to mark that milestone of their relationship.
 But just why are Cartier engagement rings so many couples’ first choice of engagement rings, one may ask.
 Well, stylishness has to be one of the factors that make Cartier engagement rings many couples’ first choice of rings to mark that milestone in their relationships. After all, Cartier engagement rings are considered among the top ‘designer’ engagement rings, making them irresistible to the couple that wants to come across as stylish in their choice of engagement rings. In other words, the very choice of Cartier engagement rings shows that the couple doing so has a highly refined sense of ‘taste:’ for that is what Cartier engagement rings are associated with.
 Another factor behind the popularity of Cartier engagement rings is the fact that they appeal to both modern and classic styling. This is unlike other types of engagement rings that give the couple the choice of either getting the classic look or the modern look. In Cartier engagement rings lies a good compromise for a couple that wants to look modern without ignoring ‘tradition’ (with regard to what is considered ‘proper’ in engagement rings).
 It might also be added, the fact that Cartier engagement rings don’t come too cheap makes them alluring to the many couples looking for ‘exclusive’ engagement rings. These couples looking for ‘exclusive’ rings, by the way, are quite many, taking into consideration the fact that many people are often willing to ‘sacrifice’ things in order to celebrate their engagements in style. These couples find in Cartier engagement rings jewellery that  is ‘exclusive’ (a little pricey), but then which has a lot to offer, in terms of beauty and elegance – and beyond ‘just the name’ – to justify the extra price tag.

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Three Interesting Facts About Heart Engagement Rings

October 30th, 2009

Heart engagement rings are so named for the simple fact that the metal placed on the front part of the ring is heart shaped (the heart in question here being the ovalish shape that has come to be considered as being representative of the human heart).

 

Now the first interesting fact that you may not have heard of before, with regard to heart engagement rings, is that they are among the most popular types of engagement rings. The popularity of the heart engagement rings is perhaps attributable to the symbolism in them (seeing that the heart shape is also considered the shape of love, and engagements are all about professions of love). And since engagement rings are typically bought by men for their women (women who are always complaining that men don’t ‘understand love’), it follows that purchasing a heart-shaped ring engagement ring for your woman can go a long way in showing her that at least, you are not one of the men said not to ‘understand love.’

 

Another interesting fact about heart engagement rings is that although they are defined by the heart shape on the front part of them, there is nonetheless a huge variety of specific ring styles that are considered as ‘heart engagement rings’ – with the criteria used for classifying the heart engagement rings being things like ‘heart circumference’ (where we have fat heart engagement rings and elongated heart engagement rings as examples). In other words, heart engagement rings are not monotonous; there is plenty to choose from even after opting for this variety of engagement rings.

 

Yet another interesting fact about heart engagement rings is that they come in a great variety of rocks, so that if you are a fan of either diamond, gold, gemstone or any other precious metal, you can quite easily get heart engagement rings in your metal of choice. Indeed, even besides these precious metals, there are also heart engagement rings made from other plainer metals like aluminium and copper – so that even if you don’t have a liking for the ‘precious metals other people are so much after’ that wouldn’t mean that you can’t get heart engagement rings in the plainer metals. In other words, heart engagement rings are not metal-specific.

 

From the fact that heart engagement rings come in all metals, it can also be inferred that heart engagement rings come in all prices, as the third interesting fact about them. Even if all you have for an engagement ring is an amount less than a dollar, you can be still – with some luck – getting an aluminium heart engagement ring going for that less. On the other hand, if what you have as you go searching for a heart engagement ring is one that costs ten thousand dollars, and you go searching at the right price, you can find one that costs that much (and which actually has features to justify the price tag). In other words, heart engagement rings are not budget specific. Whatever you have, you can be sure that there is a heart engagement ring for it: only that you get what you pay for.

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In Modern Online Jewellery Stores, An Opportunity to Design Your Engagement Ring

October 19th, 2009

Are you considering going out to buy an engagement ring to celebrate that crucial milestone in your relationship? Are you keen to get a truly great ring – seeing that if your relationship turns into a success; it is the only engagement ring you will ever get to purchase in your life? And are you put off by the ‘one size fits all’ approach employed in the factory made engagement rings that are the most commonly available – so that you are asking yourself whether it is possible to have an engagement ring made to design, just for you and your loved one? Well, in that case, you will be glad to learn that in modern online jewellery stores, that is indeed a possibility: to get an engagement ring made to design, just for you.

 

The emergence of these online jewellery stores that are willing and ready to design an engagement ring just for you can be traced back to the peak years of the dot com boom, when online stores of all varieties were emerging and when many found themselves really struggling to stay competitive in an online market that was bereft of some constraints (like the geographical constraint) that somehow hinder the other types of markets competition-wise. Faced with this unhindered type and level of competition, many online stores tried to compete on the price-front alone (by undercutting one another, setting up price wars which no one could really win…and so on), but it soon became clear that this was an unsustainable way of doing business.

 

It is in the search of more sustainable ways of competing that things like the situations where the various stores started exploring competition by things like ‘value-addition’ arose – and in the case of jewellery stores, that was through something like the arrangement where customers have the opportunity to design their own engagement rings, exactly as they wanted them, so that all that would be left for the store would be to supply them with what you told them to.

 

How exactly does the arrangement work, you ask.

 

As it turns out, getting to design your engagement ring on these online jewellery stores is not really hard. You just have to make up your mind what it is exactly that you want to come out in your engagement ring, as the first step in this easy process. Having made up what you want in your engagement ring, you describe it to the online store – typically through a form where you define the engagement ring of your dreams in terms of things like colour, style, metal, size and so on. Most even have a software system where you can actual sketch the ring of your dreams, and then upload it to them – to ensure that they really get it right (sometimes including some personalization features, like having your name engraved on the rings). Typically, the online jewellery stores that allow you to design your engagement ring will demand for some deposit before they can start work on it. And surprisingly, most of these stores that allow you to design your engagement ring don’t charge you too much for the ‘privilege’ – and you could find yourself actually paying for the rings you design just as much as you would have paid for the mass produced, ‘one size fits all’ variety.

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Factors Behind the Allure of the Marquise Engagement Ring

October 16th, 2009

There is no denying that marquise engagement rings are among the most popular types of engagement rings. But which are the factors behind the popularity of the marquise engagement ring?

 

Well, for starters, marquise engagement rings ooze elegance all through, and this is one of the factors why many people love them. It is probably about subliminal communication really. Take into consideration that the people buying engagement rings are people who are trying to win the hearts of their women completely, as they approach marriage. Take into consideration too, that the women for whom engagement rings are being bought are also trying to ’size up’ the men. Under this kind of setting, it would not be hard to see why marquise engagement rings, which ooze of elegance through and through would be so much loved, seeing that a man buying such an engagement ring for his woman would be sure that he would most likely be seen as an elegant man, a huge plus on the endeavour to win the woman’s heart, given that elegance is one of the factors the woman is likely to be ’sizing’ him on.

 

Talking of elegance with regard to marquise engagement rings, and digressing for a moment, it would be worth mentioning that the elegance of the marquise engagement rings comes out most clearly when the ring is of the bigger variety – seeing that is in such a bigger ring, the luminance (which is many people’s outward manifestation of the elegance) comes out most clearly.

 

Besides elegance, of course, we have the fact that marquise engagement rings come in all cuts as another factor behind their popularity. As it turns out, very few other types of engagement rings come in as many stones as marquise engagement rings – meaning that whatever stone happens to be your jewellery stone of choice, you can be sure to find a marquise engagement ring in it. Most other types of engagement rings, on the other hand, tend to be very ’stone-specific’ so that if you find the style in diamond, for instance, it becomes very hard to find it in another stone, like say gemstone.

 

The fact that marquise engagement rings come in different stones means, by inference, that they also come in literary ‘all prices’ so that we have marquise engagement rings going for just a few dollars at the lower end of the scale, with marquise engagement rings going for as much as a few thousand dollars at the higher end of the scale. What this means, then, is that whatever your budget when going shopping for the engagement rings, you are sure to find a marquise engagement ring for you. This availability of marquise engagement rings in all budgets, while potentially off-putting to the people looking for exclusivity, can mean that more other people from ‘all walks of life’ (both the well endowed financially, and the modestly endowed) can get to use them, hence their popularity: in a situation where everybody gets what they pay for, but it still turns out be a marquise engagement ring.

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