Diamond engagement rings
There are three days in a woman’s life that stand out. The birth of her first child, her wedding day and the day her husband proposed to her. The setting will have been different for every couple. For some it may have been a candle-lit dinner, for others, maybe on holiday or for some perhaps childhood sweethearts. But who can forget the proposal?
The ritual of the wedding proposal features the nervous boyfriend wondering if he will make a mess of the event and even wondering if she will accept. But the material centre-piece of the proposal for marriage is the engagement ring. For ever after in their marriage, the woman will wear the diamond engagement ring as a token of their commitment, love and fidelity to each other. In western cultures the ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand.
The ritual of the wedding proposal features the nervous boyfriend wondering if he will make a mess of the event and even wondering if she will accept. But the material centre-piece of the proposal for marriage is the engagement ring. For ever after in their marriage, the woman will wear the diamond engagement ring as a token of their commitment, love and fidelity to each other. In western cultures the ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand.
History of engagement rings
Diamond engagement rings
Engagement gifts date back to ancient Egypt and many cultures have required the man to provide a betrothal gift since then. However rings only became common in the late 19th century. Diamond rings only came into prominence in the 1930s in the USA following much promotion by the diamond mining industry and then spread to other countries afterwards. The diamond engagement ring has remained the primary token of a wedding betrothal ever since with about 80% of women given a ring by their fiancé.
In times gone by the man would choose the ring on his own or with guidance from the jeweller. However these days, it is common for the couple to choose the ring together. This way the man can be certain that the ring will be perfect for his bride to be.
However, there is a risk he may get talked into spending more money than he would otherwise have done.
The price of an engagement ring
This raises the question of the amount to pay for an engagement ring.
The price will depend on a number of factors. These include the size of the diamond, the amount and type of precious metal, how intricate the design is and the jeweller’s reputation. For instance, diamonds themselves can be found in a number of different grades each of which has an effect on its price.
The metal the ring is made from also affects the cost. White gold, yellow gold and platinum all have different prices for the same amount of material. And the prevailing price of gold itself will obviously have a significant effect.
The jeweller
A key impact on the price will be the jeweller and the amount of work they need to undertake.
There are some standard settings that jewellers use while others may custom-design a ring for the bride. For a custom-made ring there will likely be more work because of the design process alone. However, many women prefer to have a unique piece of jewelry rather than a standard item bought in a high-street jewellery shop.
Some designers, such as the Italian and other European designers have a certain kudos compared to New Zealand designers. Other people prefer to take a more local route and choose to work with Kiwi designers.
Where to buy a ring
There is plenty of choice of stores selling wedding and engagement rings throughout the country covering all budgets. Some are chain stores with generally lower cost, higher-volume pieces, while others are boutique jewellery designers in Auckland for example who cover a range of price levels and others import high-quality Italian designs. Auckland has the biggest range of custom designers so if you are looking for a unique piece of jewellery for an engagement ring, you are best advised to search for engagement ring
In times gone by the man would choose the ring on his own or with guidance from the jeweller. However these days, it is common for the couple to choose the ring together. This way the man can be certain that the ring will be perfect for his bride to be.
However, there is a risk he may get talked into spending more money than he would otherwise have done.
The price of an engagement ring
This raises the question of the amount to pay for an engagement ring.
The price will depend on a number of factors. These include the size of the diamond, the amount and type of precious metal, how intricate the design is and the jeweller’s reputation. For instance, diamonds themselves can be found in a number of different grades each of which has an effect on its price.
The metal the ring is made from also affects the cost. White gold, yellow gold and platinum all have different prices for the same amount of material. And the prevailing price of gold itself will obviously have a significant effect.
The jeweller
A key impact on the price will be the jeweller and the amount of work they need to undertake.
There are some standard settings that jewellers use while others may custom-design a ring for the bride. For a custom-made ring there will likely be more work because of the design process alone. However, many women prefer to have a unique piece of jewelry rather than a standard item bought in a high-street jewellery shop.
Some designers, such as the Italian and other European designers have a certain kudos compared to New Zealand designers. Other people prefer to take a more local route and choose to work with Kiwi designers.
Where to buy a ring
There is plenty of choice of stores selling wedding and engagement rings throughout the country covering all budgets. Some are chain stores with generally lower cost, higher-volume pieces, while others are boutique jewellery designers in Auckland for example who cover a range of price levels and others import high-quality Italian designs. Auckland has the biggest range of custom designers so if you are looking for a unique piece of jewellery for an engagement ring, you are best advised to search for engagement ring