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Two Months’ Salary?  Not in This Day and Age

Frequently, people ask me, “How much should I spend on an engagement ring?”  My answer is always, “It depends.”  Many people choose an engagement ring based upon cost.  I want to remind you of three things:

1. The quality of a more expensive ring may not necessarily be better;
2. Your fiancée may not want an expensive engagement ring;
3. An exorbitant amount of money spent on an engagement ring may be better spent elsewhere, like the wedding, a house, or paying down debt.

Traditionally, men spent two to three months’ salary on an engagement ring.  Even commercials for jewelers encouraged men to spend three months’ salary for love that would last a lifetime.  Obviously, this benefitted the jeweler not the buyer.  Today, a man who makes $50,000 a year would spend $12,500 on an engagement ring if he followed that rule!

When the cost of weddings and houses were less and people weren’t in as much debt as they are today, spending two to three months’ salary on an engagement ring was reasonable.  In fact, the ability to save that much money during my parents’ generation was common.  Now, most people I know would need to get a line of credit to pay for an engagement rings that costs that much money.  Let’s face it, buying an engagement ring on credit and putting yourself further into debt is not wise.

Currently, the average amount a man spends on an engagement ring is $4,000.  You can spend even less and get the same ring, if you shop around.  Shopping online from a reputable company will provide savings and satisfaction.

To give you an example of the savings offered online if you comparison shop, look at the examples for the 1 carat round solitaire.  There are up to $2,000 difference in prices for essentially the same ring.

http://www.superjeweler.com/ItemDetail/1ct-Round-Diamond-Solitaire-Ring-in-14k-White-Gold-G-Color-I1-Clarity-3027.asp

http://www.diamond.com/rings/solitaire-diamond-ring-prd_rds_022314.jsp

http://www.zales.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2561615

http://www.amazon.com/Certified-Solitaire-Diamond-Engagement-Clarity/dp/B000UUE20Y/ref=sr_1_14?s=jewelry&ie=UTF8&qid=1315329773&sr=1-14

So before you buy an engagement ring:

1. Determine what your fiancée wants.
2. Determine your budget—don’t blow your budget.
3. Shop around, especially online.

Happy shopping!

If you want to be different than everybody else, get a princess cut engagement ring. This ring will really make your wife feel like a princess. The cool thing about it is that this design or cut of engagement ring has always been in style and it will likely remain that way for the future as well.

You’re in love.  You know that you’ve met “the one”.  Now you want to make it official.  Chances are that either you or your partner have been adversely effected by our country’s current economic downturn.  How do you put a ring on it and still have money left to live on (or plan for a wedding)?

Did you ever consider Cubic Zirconia (CZ)?  I have and I LOVE it!  Before you cringe or say that you don’t want a fake engagement ring, consider the following:

• Cubic Zirconia has all of the properties of a diamond.  It is simply the man made version.  Gemologists consider CZ the BEST diamond substitute.
•  Cubic Zirconia is not a fad.  In fact, a scientist discovered the first zirconia in 1892.  Merchants began commercially producing CZ almost 40 years ago.  By the 1980’s production reached 50 million carats per year!
• You don’t have to worry about the 4 C’s with CZ!  When purchasing a diamond, a buyer must consider the color, cut, clarity, and carat weight.  With CZ, the color is always perfect (and there are dozens of color options), the clarity is always perfect, and the price is low enough to get the cut and carat weight you want.
• Cubic Zirconia is economical.  You can buy CZ for a fraction of the cost of a diamond.  Where a one carat, flawless diamond engagement ring costs thousands of dollars, if you shop around, you can buy a one carat CZ engagement ring for under $50!
• This is not your mother’s gold/platinum plating.  The technology used today assures that the high quality gold and platinum plating does not wear off.
• Even experts can’t tell the difference.  On many occasions, gemologists have grabbed their loops to determine whether a stone is a Cubic Zirconia or diamond.

Even though I have been married for awhile, I needed (okay wanted) a new engagement ring. I worked with jewelry for years and have an addiction.  Since my engagement ring no longer fit, and I didn’t want to have it sized, I figured I had an excuse to buy more jewelry!  My problem is that I fell in love with too many rings!  Here are three of my favorites (I won’t tell you which one I’m wearing):

At only $29, the price is definitely right for this ring.  What else do I love about it?  The platinum plating is definitely a bonus, but my favorite part about this ring is the classic styling.  The round cut provides a classic feeling while the diamonds inset on either side give the ring a little bit of extra pizzazz.  This style looks great on any hand.  If you are a classic, princess, fairytale wedding-type woman, then this ring is for you.

When you are looking for a designer name with Cubic Zirconia, Zoe R. paired with Swarovski are it.  You are not just paying for the name, there is something truly special about each stone and crystal that the Swarvoski creates.

I love the style of this ring.  With a 1.4 carat center stone, it can be seen without being too flashy.  The side stones are .2 carats of CZ, and .2 carats of diamonds surround the center stone.

Why is this ring more expensive than my other choices?  It’s not only the Swarovski name.  This ring is 10K white gold.  Based on the size of the ring, the Swarovski CZ, and the weight in gold, you are getting a great deal!  You might even be able to catch it on sale for 50% off . . . like I did!

http://www.susanb.com/rings/cz-rings/betty-carre-1-carat-simulated-diamond-ring-18k-gold-clad-r1itxx.html

Susan B. makes great jewelry.  You can always find something new and different when you check out the website. I was absolutely thrilled to find a bezel set, yellow gold, one carat, CZ solitaire!

Why is this ring so great?  Bezel set rings don’t grab the light the way higher settings do.  The light actually reflects within the setting, giving the stone a deeper look.  Also, if you are a klutz like me, you won’t snag your ring on your clothes.  Bezel settings were big about ten years ago, and seem to be making a slow, steady comeback.  Wouldn’t you love to be the first of your friends with a bezel set ring?

This ring has a matte finish of 18k gold plating.  Another reason to love it!  This ring is classic and unique all at once.  If you want an understated yet attention getting look, this is the ring for you.
At only $40, you can’t afford to pass it up.

By now, I bet that you are at least considering the Cubic Zirconia option.  Let me explain the differences between CZ and a diamond.

v CZ is perfection.  Because Cubic Zirconia is produced in a lab, its structure is literally perfect.  Unlike a diamond, a CZ does not contain flaws or inclusions.

v Less brilliance, more fire.  CZ mimics a diamond’s brilliance, with hundreds of facets cut into each stone.  The naked eye cannot typically detect the difference in brilliance.  Moreover, the fire (the rainbow flashes of color) in a CZ is impressive.  Many jewelers market their diamonds as exclusive with fire unlike any other.  When you are buying a Cubic Zirconia, the fire is included without any extra marketing or price!

v CZ is heavier.  Cubic Zirconia weighs 75% more than diamonds.  A 6.5 mm CZ is the equivalent size of a 1 carat diamond, but the CZ weighs 1.75 carats!

v Both Cubic Zirconia and Diamonds can scratch glass.  My grandmother always told me that only diamonds can scratch glass.  I guess she was wrong!  Cubic Zirconia is almost as hard as a diamond and can scratch glass too.

So you’ve read all of this, and you’re still not sure whether to buy a CZ ring or a diamond?  Let me leave you with two thoughts.  First, you can wear a rockin’ CZ and still have money left over for your wedding or the down payment on a house.  Second, I wear a CZ engagement ring EVERYDAY!  I prefer it over my diamond.  I have caught women staring at my ring with envy and they hide their .25 carat diamonds that cost 5x as much.

Well, I’m itching to check out.  The sooner my new rings arrive, the better!

Continuing on my topic of getting engaged on a budget, I’d like to bring up another option that some say is better than a diamond.  Back in 1998, Charles & Colvard became the first and only company to produce the only gemstone second in hardness to a diamond.  This amazing gem is called Moissanite (moys-un-ite).  Owning this gem has been on my wishlist for years.

So what is Moissanite?  Moissanite is silicon carbide taken from a meteor crater.  It is truly not of this world!  Due to its chemical properties, Moissanite is more stunning than a diamond.  It is 10% more brilliant, and its fire is 2.5 x greater!  Moissanite is also less likely to attract grease and oil, so it stays shinier longer!

“Wait a minute!” you say.  “You just got done telling us that Cubic Zirconia is almost as hard as a diamond and has greater fire!”  Don’t fret, silly readers, both facts are correct.  Cubic Zirconia is a synthetic diamond, where as Moissanite is its own unique substance.

Moissanite is NOT a synthetic diamond.  The two gems are made up of completely different chemical properties. Diamonds are carbon. As I previously stated, Moissanite is silicon carbide.

I covet Moissanite.  I have been longing for pieces of Moissanite jewelry since 2002 when a good friend of mine received a Moissanite engagement ring.  It wasn’t the setting that I loved, it was the Moissanite.  I could stare at that thing for hours!

Moisannite is more expensive than Cubic Zirconia, but less expensive than diamonds.  The settings tend to be in gold or platinum more often than silver, due to the value of the gem.  I constantly peruse Moissanite on the web, adding items to my ever-growing wishlist.

Here are three of my favorites:

Click here for more information

Princess cut solitaires do exactly what the name says, they make the recipient feel like a princess.  This engagement ring is 1.25 carats.  It’s not so big that it will weigh your finger down, but people can see your ring from a distance.  Also the white 14k gold adds the perfect, subtle complement to the stone.  This is classic and can be worn to a formal occasion or with jeans and a t-shirt.

I love the user reviews for this engagement ring.  An added bonus is that the ring comes with a Charles & Colvard Certificate of Authenticity.

Click here for more information

As you may know, I am a sucker for bezel settings.  I think that they are making a comeback.  The bezel setting is beautiful, different, and gives the Moissanite a look and depth that contrasts to the more common, higher settings.  The 1 carat stone gets attention without making the wearer self-conscious or flashy.

I also love the two-tone gold!  I am a type-A personality.  If my earrings, rings, and necklace don’t match, then I can’t leave the house.  I even had my wedding band handmade with white and yellow gold.  This ring’s designer was a smart cookie, the gorgeous piece of jewelry goes with everything.

When we got engaged years ago, I wanted to have this exact ring made, but we didn’t have much money.  Needless to say, it has always been on my mind.  Since I found this engagement ring already made, I have sent my dear husband the link for this ring more times than I’d like to admit!  It would make a great anniversary gift!

Click here for more information

I don’t own much vintage jewelry.  I envy my friends who pull off the look with ease.  This engagement ring is so elegant that I feel as if it is straight from the pages of the Great Gatsby.

This engagement ring contains a 1 carat Moissanite gem, surrounded by tiny accent diamonds.  The intricate detailing would take anyone’s breath away at first, second, and even tenth glance!  What is even better is that this 14K white gold ring comes with a Charles & Colvard Certificate of Authenticity and a lifetime guarantee on the Moissanite.

Owning a Moissanite engagement ring has become just as prestigious as owning a diamond.  Although diamonds may be associated with love, Moissanite is associated with the stars.  Is there a better way to tell your love she is out of this world?

Continuing with our discussion of getting engaged and not breaking the bank, I ran across a unique and traditional option . . . the pearl.  Historically, a pearl’s circular shape represented unending love and knowledge.  Moreover, until the 19^th century (when large amounts of diamonds were discovered), lovers proposed with pearl engagement rings.

Pearl is June’s birthstone, so, for a bride born in June or a summer wedding, pearl may be a thoughtful and touching engagement choice.   Pearls also have religious significance, with Hindu, Hebrew, Islamic, and Christian scriptures all referring gem.  Unfortunately, as time passes, pearl engagement rings become rarer.  I wonder why—pearls come in so many shapes and colors that the options for a pearl engagement ring seem infinite.

Pearls are really amazing acts of nature.  An irritant, like a single grain of sand, gets into the mouth of an oyster or mollusk.  The creature secretes nacre (a transparent crystalline substance).  Between three and six years later, a pearl forms.

Pearls come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.  Although generally round, a pearl may be any shape from a perfect sphere to almost a stick-like shape.  Pearls have been discovered the range from microscopic in size to one weighing 14lbs!  Colors of pearls can be anything on the color wheel.

There are two different types of pearls: freshwater and saltwater.  Freshwater pearls are often found in mussels in lakes, rivers, creeks, and ponds.  Saltwater pearls form in oysters from oceans or their tributaries.  Pearls may also form in other creatures, such as snails.

Both freshwater and saltwater pearls may be formed naturally or they may be cultured.   Natural pearls are more valuable because of their rarity.  Cultured pearls have all of the same properties of natural pearls, except that cultured pearls had man intervene to create them.  The most popular type of pearls are Akoya Pearls, a cultured variety chosen for their round shape.

A pearl engagement ring is classic, affordable, and beautiful.  Unlike most gemstones, extra considerations must be taken with pearl jewelry.  A pearl engagement ring could last a lifetime but you must be careful with it.   If you wear your ring daily, expect the delicate gem to wear down and lose its sheen over time.  Also, keep your pearl engagement ring away from makeup, hairspray, creams, detergents, and ultrasonic cleaners.  Pearls may be cleaned with a soft, lint-free cloth or mild soap and water.

I own a pearl ring with a very special meaning.  On my parents’ honeymoon in New Orleans, my mother picked out an oyster and found a pearl inside.  I wear it for special occasions with coordinating necklace and earrings.  I am a clumsy person and not careful enough to wear the beautiful gem every day.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THIS RING

Gemvara offers a Jessica Behzad pearl engagement ring that I instantly added to my ever-growing wishlist.  This ring is stunning and unique with the peach pearl set in rose gold with diamond accents.   The delicate design along the sides of the ring features ribbons and bows—the perfect look for a bride!

This ring is a little more expensive than what the standard pearl engagement ring goes for, but Gemvara runs great sales.  The thing to remember is that it is a high quality designer ring. This is honestly the best looking pearl engagement ring I have ever had the privilege of laying my eyes on. The pearl is cultured in China.  Of course, Gemvara offers customizable options, so you could change the gold and pearl to any combination!

http://www.jewelclub.com/Search.action?details=&piece.id=923&facets=jewelrytype:Ring|stone:Pearl|overstockboutique:JewelClub.com&pageSize=15&viewType=gridmedium&searchSortOrder=3&page=0

Personally, I love white pearls set in yellow gold.  The look is classic.  When I think of a man proposing to a woman with a pearl engagement ring, I picture the man in a three-piece suit and top hat, the woman in a long Victorian dress, and a ring like this.

A quarter carat of diamond accents surround this white freshwater pearl.  The ring is set in sturdy and affordable 10K gold.  The diamonds illuminate the pearl.  The design is complicated and sophisticated while remaining classic.  You can’t beat the price either!  When I checked out this ring, JewelClub had it on sale for $210!

Click the above image to buy this ring!

Pearl rings can be very intricate, as my examples above illustrate.  I love this ring for its simplicity.  This pearl is set in sterling silver.  More interesting is the fact that the silver is wrapped in 14K pink gold!  The gold is just enough to show off the pearl without overpowering it.  Six small diamonds accent the pink gold and the pearl.

As you probably know, I am a sucker for two-tone rings.  I am also a sucker for a great deal.  When I found this ring on Amazon, it was on sale for only $79.99 plus free shipping!  This is truly a way to steal your lover’s heart on a budget!

I think a pearl engagement ring is a wonderful way to propose on a budget.  With rings from under $100 to thousands of dollars, you can certainly find something within your price range.  The meaning and history behind the pearl engagement ring is exciting as well.  There must be something to a pearl if almost every major religion mentions it, right?  If you decide to go in another direction, remember that pearls are also used for third and thirtieth anniversaries!

To continue our discussion of getting engaged on a budget, I would like to move onto non-traditional options that may be more traditional than you think.  Over the course of the next few articles, I will discuss other gemstones that don’t look like diamonds, but make beautiful, affordable, unique engagement rings.  We’ll start off with my personal favorite (my birthstone), the Ruby.

Ruby is a gemstone of nobility that stands for love, commitment, strength, and warmth.  Yes, the gem definitely describes me!  In many countries, Rubies are a sign of eternal love.  The red color of the Ruby further supports this meaning.  Legend says that if true loves turns bad, a Ruby engagement rings red color will darken signifying this turn for the worst.

Rubies are rare and tough stones.  Among naturally occurring stones (not manmade, like CZ and Moissonite), they are second in hardness to the diamond.  The most sought after Rubies in the world are found in Burma, but beautiful Rubies have been discovered all over the world.  These qualities made Rubies a favorite and popular type of engagement ring for hundreds of years.  In the 1980’s, Prince Andrew gave Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson a Burmese Ruby engagement ring.

Rubies can be found occurring naturally or lab-created.  I like to think of them as twin sisters.  Both Rubies have identical chemical properties.  The lab-created Ruby tends to be a true red (this is a subtle difference), whereas a naturally occurring Ruby can range from pinkish to a dark red.  A certified gemologist may have difficulty telling the difference between a good lab-created Ruby and a naturally occurring one.  As with Cubic Zirconia and Moissonite, lab-created Rubies are much less expensive than their naturally occurring sisters.

In Sanskrit, the people called Rubies ratnaraj (“king of precious stones”) or ratnanaya (“leader of precious stones”).  In other cultures, warriors wore Rubies as symbols of protection against danger.  Healers believed that Rubies contained healing properties that could ease ailments and cure diseases from indigestion to fatal blood diseases.  Other associations made with the Ruby are love, passion, commitment, nobility,

Personally, I think the sentiment and meaning behind a Ruby engagement ring is beautiful.  What a beautiful way to show your Queen that you love her by giving her a ring fit for and used by nobility!  A wide-range of Ruby engagement rings are available online, and most fine jewelers offer Ruby engagement rings cut in classic solitaire styles.  Prices range from under $100 to thousands of dollars.  Here are three of my favorites:

Gemvara offers a large selection of high-quality designer Ruby engagement rings.  I actually had difficult time choosing just one or two or ten!

CLICK HERE TO BUY THIS RING

Gemvara offers a bezel set three-stone platinum Ruby engagement ring called the Naomi.  The three-stone ring stands for Past, Present, Future.  The natural Ruby is flanked by two gorgeous diamonds while the bezel setting gives the Ruby a blood red tone.  The Ruby as center stone weighs almost 1.4 carats.  The side stones are each are a third carat.  This is not a small ring, but it doesn’t qualify as bling either.  Although the current price tag is over $6,000 (it’s on sale), I dare you to find a comparable ring for less elsewhere (the regular price is $12,000).

I won’t harp on why I think bezel settings are so wonderful, just read my earlier articles to understand my obsession.   My real excitement about this ring stems from the fact that it is a customizable engagement ring!  You can pick the center and side stones!  In other words, you could pick your love’s birthstone as the center stone with your birthstone as the side stones.  Of course, the Ruby is so stunning that making a decision like that is easier said than done.

http://www.finejewelers.com/jewelry/ruby/rings/301310.aspx

For a beautiful Ruby solitaire engagement ring at a great price, check out this ring.  Round solitaires are classic engagement rings.  Another great reason to buy a solitaire engagement ring is that when you get married, your wife can choose a wrap as a wedding band.  Wraps come in all shapes and sizes with almost every type of stone available.  She will get a lot of mileage and options with this Ruby engagement ring.

This ring is set in 10K gold, and you have your choice of yellow or white gold!  The center lab-created Ruby weighs 1.6 carats.  At under $300, it won’t break the bank.

Click the above image to buy this ring!

By far, this ring is my absolute favorite Ruby engagement ring.  With a square cut lab-created Ruby sitting front and center, at 1.5 carats the gem dazzles.  Although the center gem is gorgeous, what makes the ring are the twenty-two inlaid diamonds that surround the band!  Until I stumbled upon this ring, I had never seen anything like it.  The stones are all set in high quality 14K white gold.

This ring is fit for royalty without the exorbitant price.  The price is reasonable at $899.  You’d pay thousands for the same ring’s diamond version . . . if you could find it.  The seller also offers great perks like free sizing, free shipping, a warranty, and a free teddy bear!

If you’re looking to wow the woman who rules your life, propose with a Ruby engagement ring.  You can buy a natural or lab-created Ruby for a fraction of the price of a diamond.  Ruby engagement rings are steeped in tradition and have meaning that will warm her heart.  If you’re already married or not quite ready to take the plunge, a Ruby ring makes a great gift for any occasion, including anniversaries, birthdays, holidays.  One can even be used as a promise ring!

In this sixth installment of getting engaged on a budget, I am going to tell you about a gemstone is close to my heart . . . aquamarine.  Aquamarine, the birthstone for March, is a light blue gemstone that tends to be flawless.  Aquamarine is easy to care for and will stay beautiful as long as you are not destructive, or expose it to harmful chemicals or ultrasonic cleaners.  Aquamarine dates back to 400 B.C.  The gemstone is a symbol of protection and healing.

So why do I love aquamarine?  Well, the story spans most of my life.  The story is one of an accidental tradition.

My grandfather died 21 years before my grandmother.  Their love was true.  My grandmother never dated again, and every day, until illness took her gift of storytelling, she spoke lovingly of my grandfather.

My grandparents did not have much money, and, even though my grandparents owned a jewelry store, my grandmother owned very few pieces of jewelry.  As a child and teenager, I took for granted the large, emerald-cut, white gold aquamarine ring that Grandma wore on her left ring finger—I never realized it was her engagement ring.

In 1998, Grandma died.  We buried her with her aquamarine engagement ring.

In March 2005, I gave birth to my miracle.  My baby boy with a potentially fatal heart condition survived and was healthy.  On Mother’s Day, two months later, my husband gave me an aquamarine ring that was almost identical to my grandmother’s!  Ironically, he had never met my grandmother nor had he known about the ring.

I stopped wearing my diamond engagement ring and started wearing my aquamarine engagement ring.  My mother received an aquamarine vintage-style engagement ring for her birthday that year, symbolizing her first grandchild.  My mother stopped wearing her flawless one carat diamond and in honor of her grandson, wore the aquamarine engagement ring.  Neither of us meant to replace our engagement rings, but we couldn’t stay away from the aquamarine.

Now, as we did with my grandmother, my mother is laid to rest with the aquamarine ring on her left ring finger.  Someday, when my son grows up and meets the right girl, I will buy her an aquamarine ring.  Perhaps, she too will stop wearing her diamond, and continue this accidental tradition.  In my family, aquamarine engagement rings taking the place of diamonds has come to symbolize a life full of love and happiness.

Personally, I think aquamarine stuns in silver, white gold, or platinum.  The cool tones of the stone almost clash with yellow gold.  Instead of presenting you with the three rings that I like the best, I am going to show you the aquamarine engagement rings that spanned three generations.

http://www.finejewelers.com/jewelry/aquamarine/rings/26496.aspx

This is exactly what Grandma’s aquamarine engagement ring looked like.  My grandfather proposed to my grandmother in the 1940’s . . . 70 years ago!  That proves how timeless the design is.  The delicate white gold compliments, but does not detract from, the 1.50 carat emerald cut aquamarine gemstone.  A bonus, in addition to the classic styling and the beauty, is that this aquamarine engagement ring will look amazing with almost any white gold wedding band!

CLICK HERE TO BUY THIS AMAZING RING!

This is the aquamarine engagement ring that I wear.  Although I wear CZ on the typical rough and tumble day of raising a six-year old boy, I wear the aquamarine engagement ring whenever I get the chance.  Why don’t I wear it every day?  It’s not that the gemstone isn’t durable, it’s that I snagged the setting and haven’t had it fixed yet!

My ring is an update on Grandma’s ring.  As you can see, more than .50 carats of diamonds flank the sides of the classic emerald cut aquamarine center stone.  Like Grandma’s my ring is set in white gold.  Gemvara considers this aquamarine engagement ring a jewelry essential, and so do I.

Click the Image To Buy This Ring!

I couldn’t find my mother’s exact ring, but this 2.60 carat flower design aquamarine ring set in sterling silver comes close.  The flower design of this aquamarine engagement ring gives it a vintage look.  If I didn’t know better, I would think that it came straight from Grandma’s jewelry store in the 1950’s!  You can’t beat the price today or in yesterday.  When I found this ring, it was on sale for $49.99 (almost 75% off)!!

Whether your bride-to-be is a March baby, you welcomed a child of your own in March, it’s your 19^th wedding anniversary (traditionally aquamarine), or you just love the gemstone, you can start an accidental tradition of your own.  Giving an aquamarine engagement ring in any styling for any occasion is sure to flatter and please even the pickiest recipient.  Aquamarine must bring a lifetime of two.  Look at the blessings it’s bestowed on three generations!

If you want an old style engagement ring then you should go for vintage style engagement rings or antique style engagement rings as they are the same thing. You will not be disappointed with their intricate designs.

Men’s engagement rings have probably crossed your mind whether you are a homosexual man ready to take the plunge with your partner, a woman wanting to take that next step, or a man afraid to pop the question.  Men’s engagement rings do exist.  In fact, the sentiment is becoming more popular each year.  What qualifies as a man’s engagement ring?  How does he wear it?  How do you propose?  I’ll discuss all of this and more, but first let me show you what we’re discussing.

Click here for more information

http://www.superjeweler.com/ItemDetail/Mens-Promise-Ring-with-7-Diamonds-in-10k-Yellow-Gold-3538.asp

Both of these rings are examples of men’s engagement rings.  These rings include the traditional solitary diamond (one black, one traditional white).  As you can see the level of detail varies with a man’s engagement ring, just as it does with a woman’s.  Here, the black diamond men’s engagement ring is relatively simple whereas the yellow gold ring with the white diamond is definitely a ring that wants to be seen.

Just as with a woman’s engagement ring, any ring with any gemstone or stones can be presented to a man as an engagement ring.  There aren’t set rules. Well, geez, I’m sure that info just helped you a ton!

In fact, I do personally know a thing or two about men’s engagement rings—and not just from working behind the jewelry counter.  A few of my girlfriends and several of my gay friends have shopped for, provided stories about, and asked for advice on men’s engagement rings.  Because I am a New Yorker, and the state recently legalized gay marriage, these conversations come up more frequently than before.

Here’s what to look for when buying a men’s engagement ring (and this is right from the source—men who wear them).  Most men’s engagement rings are set low within a wide band.  This is exactly what you want.  Men work with and use their hands, your love doesn’t need to worry about snagging a gemstone on a hammer or suit jacket.  Because the band is thick, take the time to engrave the inside of your fiancée’s engagement ring.  Also look for a gemstone or stones and metal that compliment his everyday activities because he will be wearing it every day.  For example, I wouldn’t give a carpenter an engagement ring with several large diamonds, a channel set ring may be more appropriate.

How do you propose to your man?  Once again, there aren’t any set rules.  Just as with a woman, you can take your man to pick out his own ring or truly surprise him by popping the question!  My favorite option is shopping together to pick out his and hers or his and his engagement rings.

My big question (and probably yours too) is what happens to a man’s engagement ring when he ties the knot?  According to my friends who have been fortunate enough to take this leap, there are two options.  Most often, the man wears his wedding band on his left ring finger and his engagement ring on his right ring finger.  When a man’s engagement ring or wedding band is thin enough, he can have them soldered together to wear them both on his left ring finger.

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Here’s my personal confession.  By our first Christmas together, I knew that I was going to marry my husband.    I was scared to propose (and later on I found out he was too), so I gave him a Claddagh ring to stake my claim!  Claddaghs are the Irish wedding bands and engagement rings.  In the United States, they are given as a symbol of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown).  When I was in high school, Claddaghs were the thing—wear it right side up to show that you are taken or upside down to show that you are single and looking.

This ring is the same one that I gave my husband on our first Christmas.  I thought about what he liked before I bought it.  This ring won’t snag on anything and the onyx makes it look manly while off-setting the yellow gold.  My gift was a success, even without a proposal.

http://www.superjeweler.com/ItemDetail/.50ct-Round-Diamond-Heavy-Mens-Wedding-Band-in-14k-White-Gold-327.asp

This channel set white gold diamond band is another great example of a men’s engagement ring.  Buy him a .5 carat band for the engagement and a .75 carat or one carat band when you get married, then solder them together!  You could even choose two different colors of gold for the look of a two-toned ring.

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This ring is just cool.  It’s a Tungsten Carbide ring, and is sure to impress anyone with testosterone.  The blue design along with the sapphire make it a men’s engagement ring without making it too dressy or showy.  Your man will be proud to wear it.

If you’ve been waiting for him to pop the question, want to break from tradition, or excited about finally being able to get married, start by checking out these men’s engagement rings.