Diamond Rings

Every woman wants to feel special when she is proposed to and given that symbol of love and commitment. So why is it so popular to show this commitment with a diamond? Why not another stone or gem or even just the precious metal adorned? There is a lot of history behind the diamond and how it has become the coveted center stone to show everlasting love.One theory is that the tradition of gifting an engagement ring featuring a diamond stone or centerpiece originated in 1477. This is the year in which Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy. Since many people follow what the royals do, it then became popular among the wealthy to give engagement rings with a diamond center stone.The finding of the mass amounts of diamond mines in South Africa in 1870 helped to make diamonds more accessible to not only the rich and famous, but to commoners as well. This helped the tradition to flourish in Europe and find its way over to the United States.Americans coveted diamonds and as the stone that lasts forever, they cherished it as something that could be passed down to future generations. This became especially poignant during the Great Depression in the 1930's and World War II.Many forms of the diamond have been popular throughout the ages as well. During the rule of Louis XVI, from 1754 to 1793, the popular engagement ring style included a diamond cluster shaped like a long, pointed oval. This style of diamond shape cluster remained quite popular for the next 150 years in the area and these rings are still coveted by many. Other colored stones and gems have also been added to the diamond over the years to signify different meanings of love and commitment. One of the more complicated arrangements would include several stones, including a diamond, which would spell out a word. For example, "dearest" could be represented by a ring containing a diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, epidote, sapphire and turquoise stone, each aligned. Solitaire settings, as one of the most popular styles of engagement rings currently, were not introduced until the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, the "princess ring", which features multiple diamonds, became popular in the United States. This ring stye served as the original influence for the currently popular three-stone style.The diamond's history is steeped in tradition, one that does not look as if it is going to be leaving anytime in the near future.You have made up your mind to ask the special woman in your life for her hand in marriage. You might even have the proposal figured out. Maybe you have even asked her father's permission already. There is just one thing left to do. You need to buy the engagement ring. A lot of men get nervous at this point because they know as much about rings as they do about quantum physics (excluding men that are actually a quantum physic). For those men that are lost thankfully buying one isn't rocket science. Let's take a look at some of the things that a man should consider when he is shopping for an engagement ring.The first thing to consider is price. This should not come as a surprise as almost everything in this world can be bought at different prices. Only you will know how much you can afford. You should set a limit because that will make it easier for yourself later. You will no doubt see many rings that are very nice and cost a lot of money. It is easier to dismiss them off the bat knowing full well you can't afford them.Another major thing to consider is whether you want to buy online or in person. Both have their pros and cons of course. The biggest con of buying online is that you don't get to see the product with your own two eyes. Only you can decide what you are comfortable with. If you do go the online route make sure you only buy from a reputable company. Do your research and make sure to have the ring insured when it is shipped.Now that you have those two things figured you will want to familiarize yourself with the 4 C's. They are: color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. There are books devoted to these topics along with plenty of websites. Do your research because knowing what each of those terms mean is important.You should shop around and not settle for something right away. This is hopefully a one-time purchase so take your time and make sure you absolutely love it. You should not settle for anything when it comes to this. There are so many different rings out there for purchase that you eventually will find one that undeniably floors you.Keeping these things in mind will go a long way in helping you buy the perfect engagement ring.By Charlotte Rego