Some Facts about Diamond Engagement Rings
These days, it seems that the engagement ring is synonymous to the diamond, a symbol that stands for everlasting love and devotion in the 20th century.
In western tradition, a diamond engagement ring is given to a woman to signify her status as a bride-to-be, a tradition that is becoming more and more popular throughout the world.
This practice of giving a diamond engagement ring first arose in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian of Austria asked Mary of Burgundy to marry him.
At that time, only royals and noblemen could afford diamonds, but the trend is so popular these days, especially since diamonds are readily available these days, because of the discovery of diamond mines in Africa and other parts of the world, and also due to technological advances.
The De Beers advertising campaign which started in the 1940s, made the diamond more popular with its famous slogan "A diamond is forever", a line that is still being used in their campaigns today.
Even though the diamond engagement ring is more common, it is still an expensive purchase because of the diamond gemstone. That is why there are a lot of guidelines to know about when buying a diamond.
First is determining your budget. Salespeople can often trump up a sale when they convince the grooms-to-be that the amount of money they are willing to spend on a ring is equal to their love.
But the general rule of thumb is that two months salary is what your budget should be, but don t let this dictate you. You can estimate your own personal budget, given that this is one of the most important purchases of your life.
Since an engagement ring is so personal, it would also help best if you did a little research on the wearer s preference before even going to the jewelry store. What is her style?
Is it simple or does she prefer fancier things with intricate designs? What type of metal does she like? White gold, yellow gold or platinum are the usual choices. Also, if you don t know much about buying jewelry, it s best to go with a friend or to a store that someone who know would highly recommend.
It would also be best if the ring you brought had certification from the Gemological Institute of America or the American Gem Society. All these steps will insure that you will be buying the best for you and your special someone.
Dan Joines is the Owner of Polished Diamonds. For High Quality Diamond Rings at 1/2 retail shop available at: Polished Diamonds.co.nz - The Diamond Ring Specialist in New Zealand