There are many possible styles of engagement rings to choose from, whether you are going to get a custom design or buy a ring ready made. Part of the decision on what to choose will be predicated by your budget. However, with the advances in technology, providing us with man-made gemstones and high quality semi-precious stones like cubic zirconia other diamond alternatives like moissanite, that still leaves ample room to choose a style that is unique to your girlfriend’s personal style.
In terms of design, you can choose from vintage, id verification ring modern, designer, or even culturally inspired rings with Celtic designs. You could have a plain gold ring, or any type of precious or semi-precious gemstone. The gemstones could be pave style, princess cut, cushion cut, solitaire, emerald-cut, asscher cut, or a number of other gem styles. Lets have a look at what some of these terms mean for engagement rings.
Vintage Engagement Rings
True vintage rings in the style you want may be difficult to find, and some people don’t like wearing pre-owned jewelry. However, you can always get a custom ring designed from a picture of an antique ring. And a lot of online jewelers have a range of rings that are designed in a vintage style. The advantage of this is you can exert quite a bit of control over the design – perhaps you’d prefer a vintage looking ring in platinum, or a Victorian style ring with a large diamond center/ You’d be hard pressed to find either of those designs in a true vintage Victorian ring as diamonds were more scarce then, and platinum too hard to work with.
Popular vintage engagement rings include art deco, Edwardian, filigree, and Victorian designs.
Inexpensive Engagement Rings
Even without the current uncertain economic climate, some women prefer not to spend tens of thousands on an engagement ring. That money may be earmarked for a house deposit, or even a big honeymoon. And some couples may simply not have the luxury of choice given their financial situation.
Fortunately, you can get beautiful engagement rings that look like the real thing without the prohibitive price tag. This is a real boon if your girlfriend likes huge stones but can’t afford a carat or more of diamonds.
There are several options for inexpensive engagement rings. Cubic zirconia and moissanite are both comparatively cheap diamond alternatives. And there are also many synthetic, or lab created diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. These lab created precious stones are virtually chemically identical to the real thing. They are actually created using lab techniques that replicate the same processes that occur over thousands of years in the earth’s crust.
Lab created precious stones aren’t as cheap as diamond alternatives like cubic zirconia and moissanite, however, they have the same sparkle and depth that a real stone has. And they are still much cheaper than their natural counterparts. For example, a ring that would cost you in excess of $20,000 can be had for around $2,500 or less.
Different Gemstone Cuts
Choosing a cut for your gems in your ring is really a matter of personal taste, although the size and quality of the stone, as well as your budget, may influence matters also. Below is a quick guide to the different types of gemstone cuts available:
