Antique Engagement Rings Gets Better In Ages

Antique engagement rings are a unique and beautiful alternative to a new ring. The tradition of giving separate rings for the engagement and the marriage started in Victorian England. The first DeBeers diamond minds in the late 1800s helped increase the popularity of engagement rings.

The earliest diamonds were not nearly as brilliant as today’s rings. The first mine cut diamonds were not very clear. This improved in the early 20th century with the European cut diamonds. These are often found in rings from the Art Deco period. Diamond cutting continued to improve and evolve into the brilliant cut that is still used today.

Larger stones are found in Victorian rings. While these diamonds don’t have the clarity of newer rings, the stone is generally larger. Rings became smaller throughout the early 1900s and into the Great Depression. Overall, the quality of the diamond affects the price. Clarity isn’t as important in antique rings as it is in new ones. The value depends more on the demand for specific rings.

The most popular vintage rings are from the Victorian Era through the 1940s. Distinct styles, settings and stones can be seen in rings from each period. Victorian rings are generally yellow or rose colored gold. The stone can be a diamond, but pearls were just as common in this time period. Edwardian rings have a filigree design in the rings. Some may have Jewish or Christian designs in the filigree.

Art Deco rings of the 1920s are generally platinum, white gold or silver. Bezel settings are common in these rings. The setting makes the smaller diamond appear larger. Rings became smaller and less ornate in the 1930s and 1940s. Platinum became less common during the war years and yellow or white gold was commonly used in rings. Carvings on the shank and settings helped make the center stone appear larger.

Where to Find Antique Engagement Rings

There are several good places to find antique rings. Antique stores often carry jewelry. Some dealers are more knowledgeable than others about the details and value of rings from each period. In some cases, you ca get a really good deal. Some stores under sell jewelry because they don’t know its true value. The ring may not come with a certificate. If not, have it independently appraised for insurance.

Jewelers sometimes carry vintage pieces. A good jeweler will be knowledgeable about the value of the ring. You may not get as good a deal, but will have the peace of mind of knowing that you have a quality ring. You will be given a certificate for the diamond when you buy from a jeweler.

Estate sales are a good place to find antique wedding jewelry. You can usually arrange to view the items the day before the estate sale. Read about the value and characteristics of antique rings to help determine the value of the ring. Inspect the ring carefully before the sale to decide how high you will bid. You can find information in books at the library or on the internet.
Caring for Antique Engagement Rings

Antique diamond jewelry will retain its beauty for years, if you care for it properly. Before you purchase the ring, have the jeweler inspect the prongs carefully to be sure the stone won’t come loose. You don’t want to lose your diamond. Take the ring to the jeweler for professional cleaning and inspection once or twice a year.

Romantic Ways To Propose To My Girlfriend Movies Best

Here are some of the "Romantic Ways To Propose To My Girlfriend" That Launches In The Movie Line. Cinema goers actually leave their hearts on these movies because of the beautiful proposals scenes. Now everybody is dreaming to have this kind of proposal too.

Walk The Line - When June Carter (Reese Witherspoon) told Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) that the only time he was allowed to speak to her was when they were onstage, she probably didn’t have a public proposal in mind. “I have asked you 40 different ways, and it’s time you came up with a fresh answer…You’re my best friend. Marry me,” Johnny says to June, mid-duet. He tells her—and the audience—that he won’t finish the song until she says yes. Cue the kiss.


Serendipity - Sure, Sara (Kate Beckinsale) ends up with Jonathan (John Cusack), but it’s her proposal from boyfriend Lars (John Corbett) that makes this list. Done wrong, the scene could have been really cheesy: The millions of rose petals on the floor…the candlelight room…the fireplace…the big box with a note that read “Open Me!!”…the boxes inside boxes…the Annie Lennox song in the background…the snow falling outside…. And to be honest, it was cheesy, but in a totally I-wish-that-were-me kind of way.



Stepmom - Some girls want the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes engagement story at the Eiffel Tower. Those who dream of something a bit more intimate can relate better to the bedroom proposal in Stepmom. Luke (Ed Harris) wakes up Isabel (Julia Roberts) one morning with a kiss and a ring box. Instead of a ring, though, there’s a spool of thread in it. He ties the thread around her finger and says he let the thread break once and he’ll never do it again, before sliding the ring down the thread and onto her finger


Sweet Home Alabama - What woman’s heart didn’t melt when Andrew (Patrick Dempsey) took Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) to Tiffany’s—after-hours, no less!—and got down on one knee right in the store? As if that weren’t romantic enough, the scene really entered fantasyland when he gestured to every diamond around and said, “Pick one.” Average guys didn’t stand a chance after that one.


Love Actually - The English flick was filled with more romantic gestures than even Cupid could stomach, but the most aww-worthy of all occurred when Jamie (Colin Firth) proposes to his summer housekeeper in the restaurant where she worked.“Beautiful Aurelia,” he said in broken Portuguese. “I’ve come here with a view to asking you to marriage me…Of course I don’t expecting you to be as foolish as me, and of course I prediction you say no, but it’s Christmas, and I just wanted to…check.” “Thank you,” responds Auriela (Lúcia Moniz). “That will be nice. Yes is being my answer.” “You learned English?” asks Jamie. “Just in cases,” she says.

In her shoes - Foodies, rejoice! Popping the question at a fancy restaurant isn’t all that original. But slipping the ring on a piece of shrimp and rotating the plate so she can see it? That definitely gets points for creativity, and it’s just how Simon (Mark Feuerstein) proposed to Rose (Toni Collette) in this novel-based chick flick.


Gone with the wind - The honesty between Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) and Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) makes this sexy proposal scene steaming hot. No matter how much the bullheaded Scarlett protests, Rhett refuses to take no for an answer. “I shall never marry again,” the widow tells him. “Oh yes you will,” he retorts, “and you’ll marry me.” And she does.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding - There’s a reason this rom-com was so successful: its real-girl feel. Toula (Nia Vardalos) leads such a low-key lifestyle that it’s only appropriate for Ian (John Corbett) to propose to her in bed. No grand gestures, no bed of roses—simply the two of them sharing their love for each other. Who could say no to that?

Cheap Engagement Rings With High Quality

If you want to find affordable engagement rings that don’t look like you compromised on quality they can be found in a variety of places. You just need to know where to look and what to look for. You can put together an engagement ring that will dazzle her and appraise for much more than you paid for it.

Ways to Save Money on an Engagement Ring

There are many ways to have cheap engagement rings and yet still have it be every bit as special – maybe even more so. One of the simplest and most affordable ways is to pass along a family heirloom.

An engagement ring that once belonged to your great grandmother for instance will help to carry on the tradition of long and happy marriages. If your great grandmother’s ring is too small, you can have it resized to fit the new bride.

Taking a family heirloom and making it your own is also a way to create affordable engagement rings with your own unique touches. The diamond may have been small if it was pre-war era, so you can replace it with a larger carat ring. Antique jewelry is often a custom in both Jewish and Christian traditions. To use a vintage style ring today is more than modern; it is a real trend setter.

Another way to save money on an engagement ring and still have the high quality ring is to choose silver over gold for the setting. Ounce for ounce, sterling silver is much less expensive than gold. Many women also prefer silver jewelry to gold, so choosing ring of silver will match her other jewelry.

One more thing you can do to save money on an engagement ring is to buy the gemstone and setting separately. Often in travelling people will find inexpensive gemstones, even diamonds that are very high quality. Buying the stone, even before you have met the person you intend to give it to is thinking ahead. Then, to make the ring truly intended for your intended, pick the setting out together or surprise her with something you know she will like.

Showing Off Your Affordable Engagement Ring

Who says an engagement ring has to have diamonds in it? There are many other beautiful precious gem stones that can represent your commitment. In fact many celebrity couples don’t choose a traditional white diamond. Think of Princess Diana with her sapphire and it will get you thinking out of the box.

Sometime a large single diamond is much more expensive than smaller ones. You can compromise on size to get higher quality for the same money and vice versa. Also, the three stone diamond engagement ring has become very popular and can be a much more affordable engagement ring. Even alternating diamonds with other stones can cut costs, but not beauty.

Having found the perfect ring, it is time for a celebration! You can have an engagement party for all of your friends to celebrate having given the ring and set the date for the wedding. Make it a night full of music and song and it will be a wedding party to remember.

5 Romantic Proposals That Works Perfectly

Here are 5 fun and romantic ideas for getting down on one knee and asking for your girlfriend's hand in marriage. Romantic proposals in the spring time are perfect as thoughts turn to love.

1. Does your sweetie love fast food? Talk to the general manager of her favorite restaurant about putting the romantic words, "I love you, will you marry me?" on their outside sign. Swing by and pick your honey up for lunch, take her there and get down on one knee.

2. Does your love like stars? Name a star after her, take her to a romantic place in your city as the sun is setting. When the stars come out, tell her you named a star for her and hand her the certificate. Make sure the certificate is wrapped in a box large enough to hold the engagement ring box. As she's opening it, get down on one knee. This is very romantic as the stars glow in her eyes.

3. If your girlfriend loves poems, purchase a book of romantic poetry. Wrap it up, and give it to her to open. Inside you will have written your own romantic poem in which you declare your love for her and ask her to marry you.

4. If your sweetheart likes birds, this is nest building time for them! Find a bird's nest, wrap her ring box in her favorite colored paper, and place it in the nest. Say "honey, look at this neat bird's egg". When she comes over, hand her the box and get down on one knee.

5. Are there ponds or lakes near your city? If your sweetie loves ducks, take her to the lake. Pack a romantic picnic lunch with sandwiches, her favorite snack and candy, and your favorite drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). Bring along some bread in a bag to feed the ducks. Have her wrapped ring inside and hand the bag to her. Get down on one knee and toast to your love as you're ending your picnic.

Romance should be light, airy and fun. Proposals are an important day in every couple's life and should be memorable, fun and tailored to both of your interests and hobbies to make it even more special.

Famous Diamond Engagement Rings Of Famous Celebrities

What better way to show the world that you are in love than by the act of giving and receiving a diamond engagement ring ? With many actresses and other famous women sporting bigger and sparkier diamond rings, celebrity engagements have become a delight for the jewelry lover. The size of the diamond is not necessarily the key as to what makes some of these rings so famous and recognizable, rather it seems to be a combination of the engagement ring itself and the famous lady it is associated with.


Celebrities and other famous people influence the look and style of many aspects in fashion and also set trends. Diamond engagement rings are no exception to this rule. The following is a partial list of the famous ladies and their equally famous engagement rings:

Royalty

Queen Elizabeth II received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip that was made from diamonds from his mother's tiara. Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier. Lady Diana was engaged with a ring made of an 18 carat blue oval sapphire that was circled by fourteen diamonds.
Actresses

Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, with an emerald cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats. However, she is more known for her other pieces of jewelry, one more striking than the other: the 39 carat Krupp diamond, the 69.42 carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond and the 17th century heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond.

Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips.

Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3 1/2 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Phil Bronstien.

Catherine Zeta-Jones promise to Michael Douglas was finalized with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated at almost $2 million.

Pop stars

Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. The Neil Lane ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.

In the case of Toni Braxton, drummer Keri Lewis designed a stunning 4.5 three-stone diamond ring with an oval-shaped center stone and 2 heart-shaped diamonds on the sides.

Paris Hilton, even though not a pop star but a diva anyway, received 2 diamond engagement rings from billionaire Paris Latsis, a $5 million 24 carat canary diamond ring and a $2.1 million 15 carat white diamond ring.

Britney Spears has two engagement rings also: one that she bought for herself before the wedding, a $40,000 4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring with a platinum pave setting, and one that she received 9 month after the marriage from husband Kevin Federline.

Christina Aguilera became engaged to Jordan Bratman after he presented a $54,000 20-carat diamond engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster.

Whitney Houston sports a stunning 4 carat oval-shaped center stone with trillions on the sides which she received from Bobby Brown.

Of course there is the very famous pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck gave to Jennifer Lopez. This 6 carat radiant shaped pink diamond quickly caught the attention of the public and has become a highly sought after replica. It is completed with a platinum band as well as three baguette white diamonds on each side. The pink diamond engagement ring is reported to have been purchased for $1.2 million in 2002. The ring, while easily identified is also very feminine and modern looking.



Some replicas are styled as more antique engagement rings. These rings have an everlasting quality and symbolize tradition and heritage. The recent engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles in February of 2005 featured such an antique engagement ring. The platinum ring has an emerald-cut center diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side. This ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother and is believed to be valued at over $1 million.

Romantic Ways To Propose - Most Romantic Places

A romantic proposal is every girl's dream, and boy's. Show me any girl who wouldn't want to be swept off her feet by the most romantic proposal ever, and I will show you a girl who wished never to be married. Life time dreams of most girls and boys are to one day meet mister or miss perfect, and get proposed to by him or her, get married and live happily ever after. Yes, believe it or not, girls nowadays do propose to their boyfriends too.

Boys and girls, when it comes to popping the question, would you rather be spontaneous with little fanfare, or would you make it elaborate and memorable at a place he or she will remember forever? Remember that romantic ways to propose will even be remarkable if it will be done in the right place.

It has been written thousands of time, and if you're a movie buff you must have seen it hundreds of times, you know, the ring inside the desert romantic proposals in a restaurant. There are several other memorable movie places, but for real; are there really 10 most romantic proposals places? Here are probably the most talked about places known by many:

1. Eiffel Tower in Paris
2. Empire State Building in New York
3. City landmarks - most big cities have city landmarks that often attract couples for romance
4. Restaurants - usually couples favorite
5. Movie Theater
6. Winery
7. Beach Resorts
8. Adventure Sites - bongi-jumping
9. Mountain Top
10. Flower Gardens

As you can see, there is no end to romantic proposals places people can choose from, and certainly there is limit to thousands if not millions of proposal ideas out there. Question though is, how do we come up with these rankings, and how do we know that the ten list above are the top 10, or if Eiffel Tower should be the number one on this list? I don't know, and I believe you probably don't know either. As far as I'm concerned, your most romantic proposal place should be wherever pleases you - and that does include your favorite places in your own house.

Secrets Of Buying Your Diamond Engagement Rings

The diamond can be selected first or last, there is no right or wrong order. Some people prefer to choose their diamonds first and then find a setting that will accentuate its beauty. Others choose to pick out the setting initially and then search for a diamond, or diamonds, that will adorn that setting. And there are still others that find it much easier to buy diamond engagement rings that is already finished completely.

Diamonds all look beautiful. Even cheap diamonds can look elegant and classy. If you want your diamond engagement ring to look as elegant as you've always dreamed it would be the most important thing is to locate a fine setting. It's this choice of setting that will determine whether the finished product is a worthy purchase. Your choice of diamonds and setting is very important because ideally you won't get a second chance at choosing your diamond engagement ring.

Many women choose diamond engagement rings that have three stone settings. These rings will usually include one center diamond and two smaller offset diamonds. Three stone settings are very popular and can include either prong or bezel settings which can be made of 14k or 18k yellow gold, white gold or platinum.

Some women prefer classic solitaire settings that may include 4 to 6 prongs, bezel or cathedral settings. There is a wide assortment of solitaire settings. As a general rule the more prongs you have the safer the diamond engagement ring sets. You certainly don't want to lose a diamond because one of the prongs breaks off. So this is something to consider when choosing your setting.

When shopping for a diamond it's important to purchase a certified stone. A certified diamond has been evaluated by an independent expert that will give it a quality rating for its cut, color, clarity and carats. This is the surest way to purchase a high quality diamond. After finding a center diamond and complimentary diamonds to your liking the next step is to find that beautiful setting you've always dreamed of.

Another thing to consider when shopping for a diamond engagement ring is the current trend. Many women will end up purchasing a style of ring that is currently popular only to find out 10 years later that it's no longer in style. You have to remember that this wedding ring will be worn forever hopefully so choosing a classic style may be more to your liking.

It's also smart to consider the practicality of the engagement ring. If you plan on wearing the ring daily it may be wise to purchase a sturdier ring that can withstand the daily rigors of your job or activities. You should determine the amount of wear and tear your ring will endure and select a ring that is up to the punishment.

Other things to consider are the metal your wedding band or engagement ring will be made from. Some women prefer the look of yellow gold while others prefer white gold. Some forego gold altogether and go with platinum, a very popular style these days. Or you can go with a combination, a two-tone gold with some yellow and some white. It's purely a personal preference.

But something to consider is that two-tone gold may be easier to match with other jewelry that you may wear. Another question that brides-to-be often have a hard time deciding is whether or not they should buy a name brand ring or not. It's usually fairly easy to find comparable rings cheaper if you do not go with a name brand. On the other hand it's sometimes nice to be able to flaunt an expensive name brand ring. The choice is yours.