How to Choose Your Diamond Wedding Ring
By
Richard
Keir A favorite activity of
everyone getting married is the incredible fun of going through
a wedding ring selection process. But there are so many things
to consider - and sometimes it can turn into a nightmare.
I've got to be honest here, everybody secretly wants a
monster stone in the most beautiful setting possible. Do most
women get it? No, not really. A perfect, flawless 3K diamond (or
bigger) isn't realistic for most. Getting married involves a lot
more than a flash ring which is going to have to be paid for
and, of course, the bigger it is, the longer it's going to take
to pay for it.
Like most young girls, you may have spent a lot of time
dreaming of the perfect diamond wedding ring. Hopefully, you and
your fiance decided to shop for rings together, or you have
informed him of what you like. You will wear the wedding ring
for a significant amount of time and it only makes sense that
it's something that you like. If your knowledge of diamond
wedding rings is limited to size, it's a good idea that you
obtain more information before you make your wedding ring
selection.
Consider some alternatives like "Loose or Set".
When most people think of a diamond wedding ring, they often
think of a stone that is already set or mounted. You can
actually buy a diamond only and choose a setting later. Why
would you do this? The cost. When you shop for loose diamonds
you will notice that diamonds are available in various sizes and
shapes, including oval, round, and marquise.
Now let's say you are pretty much indifferent to the shape,
but you might want to consider your hands. Certain styles
complement certain types of hands. A good guide is to match the
shape of the diamond to the hand. Do you have long, narrow
fingers? Then an oval-shaped diamond or similar elongated style
diamond for your wedding ring would probably work for you. Round
diamonds usually are considered a good choice for most hands.
Now, what about the setting.
You really need to carefully consider the setting when
shopping for a wedding ring. Should you choose platinum or
yellow or white gold? Yellow gold is the setting that most
people choose for their wedding ring. It is typically less
expensive than platinum or white gold. But if you do choose a
yellow gold wedding ring, be careful that you don't choose a
higher quality just because you think it is better. As the
quality of yellow gold goes up, the softer the metal becomes. A
wedding ring set in 24k gold will be less resilient to scratches
and more malleable than a ring that is set in 14k gold.
Platinum is by far the most expensive and most durable of the
trio. White gold is a good choice for a wedding ring setting if
versatility is important to you. White gold tends to go with
everything.
White diamonds are by far the most popular. Did you know that
you could buy a pink diamond? Diamonds are available in other
colors, but these are typically more expensive. Second to the
classic white diamond is the yellow diamond. When shopping for
your wedding ring you will actually find more of these than any
other color of diamond.
OK, now the big one - consider the cost.
Your budget probably carries the most weight in your wedding
ring selection. A wedding ring featuring a diamond can cost as
little as $100 and as much as $1,000,000. In general, the amount
of money you can expect to pay for a diamond wedding ring will
vary according to the type of stone and the setting. The more
carats (that is the bigger the single diamond or the more
smaller diamonds there are in total) a wedding ring has the more
it will cost. Diamonds set in platinum will cost you the most.
You can, however, spend much less on a wedding ring set in
14-carat gold. You can balance the cost by buying a wedding ring
with a high number of carats and set in a less expensive
setting.
Ultimately, you have to carefully consider your budget and
your future. There is no single answer that will suit everyone.
Some have the enviable pleasure of being able to buy whatever
combination they most desire. For most of us, however, we need
to begin our married life by using smart and careful selection
to make sure our diamond ring not only suits and satisfies us,
but also doesn't stress our finances.
Copyright 2005 Richard Keir
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