Friday, June 19, 2009

Platinum Wedding Rings - A Buying Guide

Thinking of buying platinum wedding rings for the big day? Check out our buying guide.It’s a big investment buying platinum wedding rings - not just a financial one but an emotional one too. So you need to be prepared when you decide to start looking to buy your platinum wedding rings.
1. Where to look for platinum wedding rings
The first thing you need to decide is where to look for your platinum wedding rings. Although it can be useful to go around the jewellery shops to try on rings and see how they look and feel, the best place to buy is online. As long as the website is that of a reputable jeweller, it’s the best place to get value for money.
How do you know the website is reputable? Check for the following:
Contact details
Check for a physical address and telephone number - you don’t want to buy in the virtual world and discover that the too-good-to-be-true discounted platinum wedding rings were in fact, virtual too! If you need to exchange products or otherwise contact a retailer, it's reassuring to know they have a physical presence.
Information and choiceA
reputable and good platinum wedding ring website will have a wide variety of rings on offer and plenty of information.
Who are they?
You should also check out the company profile - if they are a company that has a large headquarters and have been operating for a number of years that is reassuring that their goods are of quality and the service is reliable.
Look for guarantees and warrantees.
2. Invest time and effort
As well as the financial cost, your platinum wedding rings need to last a lifetime - don’t spend too much energy on the flowers for your wedding which will last a day, invest that energy into your rings. Start looking six months before the big day so you are sure on the platinum wedding rings you decide on and don’t leave it to the last minute. You don’t want to settle for any old ring.
3. Budget
Weddings are expensive affairs, but you should make a decision how to spend the money. The reception, dress and décor are there to make one day special but your ring is something that will last a lifetime. Set money aside for your platinum wedding rings early on so you don’t have to scrimp on the most important symbol of your marriage.
4. Shop together
Your platinum wedding rings are the most romantic and important symbol for a couple, so shop together. The experience shouldn’t be rushed and buying rings is an art form in itself with engravings, stones and tri-coloured options. Finding the right platinum wedding rings to suit you requires thought.
Whichever style of rings you choose, you want them to last a lifetime, so start early, invest wisely and choose platinum wedding rings for the best quality, style and durability money can buy.

Platinum Engagement Rings – Platinum Perfection

Platinum engagement rings are the perfect way to propose to your girlfriend.Beautiful platinum engagement rings are now the gift of choice for men to give to their girlfriends when they propose. Whereas gold rings were once the most popular, platinum has taken over as the metal to have on your left hand.
s versatility and durability makes it a great investment as well as a symbol of eternal love, and the many styles of platinum engagement rings available today mean that there will be a style to suit every bride-to-be. Here are the main advantages of choosing platinum engagement rings over other styles.
Platinum Engagement Rings – Rare and Desirable
Platinum engagement rings are made out of the most precious metal on the planet. Platinum’s high value is reflected in the way that ‘platinum’ credit cards are offered to people with more money than those with gold cards, and the way it is sung about in rap songs. The metal is so rare and desirable because ten tons of ore are required to produce one ounce of pure platinum. It is significantly heavier than gold, and because of its weight and density, only the most skilled jewellers can work with it to create the most beautiful designs. The price of platinum engagement rings reflects the skill, time and effort required to mine the metal and forge it into an item of beauty, but the end product is well worth those extra pounds.
Platinum Engagement Rings – Durable and Tough
Because platinum is such a dense and heavy metal, it is far tougher than the much softer gold. Gold can scratch easily, and lose weight and therefore value. Platinum engagement rings may look like they are getting small scratches, but in reality the metal is only being displaced, and over time very little weight and value is lost. An experienced jeweller can easily polish up platinum engagement rings to restore them to their original glory. Platinum engagement rings are also the perfect base for diamonds – they provide a secure and strong setting for the gems, and complement their sparkle perfectly.
Platinum Engagement Rings – Versatile and Stylish
Part of the reason for the rising popularity of platinum engagement rings is that they are also incredibly versatile and sophisticated. They complement any type of gem stone from diamonds to sapphires, amethysts and emeralds, and will blend in perfectly or enhance any type of outfit with less risk of a colour clash. Platinum is also hypoallergenic because it is so pure, making platinum engagement rings ideal for anyone with sensitive skin. Platinum can be forged into many different styles and combined with other metals, such as titanium or even gold. However, the platinum on combined rings will always be the part that lasts longer, so you may be best to stick to pure platinum engagement rings for a symbol of love that lasts forever.

Wedding Rings – What they mean to you

Choose wedding rings that have a special significance for you both.Choosing wedding rings often comes lower down the wedding planner list than picking the dress and deciding on the flowers, but out of all of your wedding preparations, the wedding rings are the things that last the longest. That’s why so many people are looking for wedding rings that really symbolise something about their relationship.
Plain wedding rings
Of course, for some people, wedding rings are just a simple statement of marriage. No other adornment is needed for the couple to know that they have committed to one another for life. Plain, simple wedding bands confirm a straightforward promise.
Patterned wedding rings
There’s no shortage of design variety when it comes to wedding rings. Where once the choice was between a relatively simple set of wedding bands, today’s couples can be browsing for weeks before they see something they like. Couples can choose patterned wedding rings simply because they like the pattern, or because they want it to mean something more – some Celtic-style patterns represent the never-ending nature of the relationship or the intertwining of two hearts.
Stone-set wedding rings
Wedding rings that have stone settings are becoming increasingly popular. Couples look for wedding rings that match the engagement ring, or that act as pieces of jewellery in their own right, rather than just a functional wedding band. Diamonds are the most popular stones to match with gold or platinum for wedding rings, but other stones are also used – birth stones, for example are a great way to personalise your wedding rings.
Two-colour wedding rings
The use of two colours in wedding rings can often be interpreted as the coming together of two people to make one. The patterns used in these rings can be symbolic; one band of colour inside another, for example, or two bands that intertwine or interlock. Two-colour wedding rings can be of a simple style but still have a meaning for the couple that chooses them. If you’ve still to buy your wedding rings, start looking early. There are a lot of designs to choose from and if you want to make sure you choose something that holds a personal meaning for you, you’ll need to take your time and look at everything that’s available before you buy.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

How to Choose a Matching Wedding Ring for Your Engagement Ring

When choosing a wedding ring you need to remember a few things. Comfort is one of them. You will be wearing this ring your entire life and you should really get something that is very, very comfortable to you whether it be titanium, gold, white gold and something that really means something to you. Because the vows means something. And the wedding ring is circular because it means life continuing. And so when choosing a wedding ring you have to also remember the male's point of view is a lot of the time they like something that is light or if it's a different type of guy, he may want something with a little weight on it so he remembers it's there.
So just remember some points that you might want to remember for a woman's ring is match your engagement ring. Because when you match your engagement ring it makes a very, very nice flow on the finger. Whether you have diamonds around it or not, or something as simple as a white gold band, it's very just make it something that means something to you. It could be very whimsical, very ornate, just something that you feel comfortable with, and in a man's ring a lot of the times because they are a lot bigger you can get them engraved.
Engraved with the date of the wedding with your names in it. Or a saying that means something to you. So just always remember that a ring is something that's going to be on your finger the rest of your life and make it special to you."

Step 1
Examine your engagement ring and imagine what kind of wedding ring you would like to pair with it.

Step 2
Ask the jeweler who sold you or your partner your engagement ring if the ring comes in a set. Determine whether you like the way the two similarly designed rings go together, or whether you would prefer something that stands out more.

Step 3
Ask the jeweler what types of rings would be possible to match with your engagement ring. Take into consideration the size, shape and intricacy of your engagement ring. Remember that some designs, such as the antique look with pave diamonds bordering the center stone, may need to have a customized wedding ring made, as normal, round rings won't lay up against such as large design.

Step 4
Research the various styles of wedding rings, and determine what style would go best with your engagement ring. Take into consideration the level of intricacy and ideal design styles you'd like to see, as well as how often and where you'll wear the ring.
Step 5
Determine what material, design and stones, if any, your ring will display. Try on a variety of styles that catch your attention, noting characteristics like size, shape and comfort.
Step 6
Examine yourself in a full-length mirror to see how you look with the wedding set on. Then take your engagement ring off and see how you look with just the wedding ring on.
Step 7
Finalize any customized details.


How to Choose an Engagement Ring

Step 1
First you should pay close attention to the jewelry she wears now. What is the color, white or yellow gold. Also, if you have ever looked at jewelry, what styles did she like? Try to notice which shape of stone she likes such as square, round, or oval. She may even be more drawn to a cluster, which means there are several stones together.


Step 2
Next, talk to her friends. See if they have ever discussed what type she likes. It's possible she may have commented on a ring the friend wears.


Step 3
Also, does she like diamonds? Some women don't. There are several gems to choose from like sapphire or ruby.


Step 4
Make sure you find our her ring size. It is horrible to have a new ring and not be able to show it off because it has to be sent back and resized. Good luck!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

What Is The History And Meaning Of Promise Rings?

Meaning Of A Promise Ring

A promise ring symbolizes a promise or commitment between two people. Promise rings can be given for almost any type of promise made and need not be limited to promises made for engagement or weddings. Having said this, we would also like to mention that the reason for giving or accepting a promise ring should be well understood by both persons. This is to avoid a misunderstanding by either person as to the true intention for giving or receiving a promise ring. This could alter the entire significance or meaning of the promise ring.



Why Are Promise Rings Given Or Exchanged?


As mentioned above in the paragraph on meaning of the promise ring, such rings can be given for any promise or commitments made and need not be limited to matrimonial commitments. There are few main reasons for giving or exchanging promise rings and the meaning of the promise ring will depend on each individual case. Pre-engagement promise rings are given when two individuals have decided that they will be getting engaged and then married in the future. It happens when two individuals have decided to live together in the future but do not want an official engagement or marriage at the current time.

This is the most common meaning for promise rings and in most cases, such promise rings are replaced by the engagement or wedding ring later on. For such promise rings, an exchange of rings between the man and lady is very common. Purity promise rings have a slightly different meaning as they symbolize a commitment or promise to remain chaste or abstain from something. A good example is when a parent gives a purity promise ring to a child and it is meant to symbolize a promise by the child, to remain sexually pure until marriage. In the U.S and Europe the idea of liberal sexual behaviour is slowly going out of fashion and the symbol of purity promise rings are getting to be more relevant. A similar meaning for promise rings is the purity ring given to symbolize, abstinence from certain bad virtues like drinking or smoking. Friendship is one of the most obvious reasons for which a promise ring might be given. The meaning of a promise ring in such a case, would not relate to any romantic affair, but rather signify a commitment to always be there for each other in times of need. The friend who receives such a promise ring could be living next door or far away in another country, there is no relevance to geographical distance separating two friends.

It is very important that both friends understand the true meaning of such a promise ring, there should not be room for misunderstanding where, either friend misinterprets the ring as showing romantic intentions. Religious promise rings are another type of rings that need special mention. Such rings could be worn by a group of believers of a particular saint or religion. The meaning of the promise ring in such a case would be a commitment to follow the teachings or beliefs of the religion or saint in daily life. We have devoted a paragraph below to explain the real significance and meaning of religious promise rings.


What Are Religious Promise Rings?


Simply put, a religious promise ring would symbolize something that a person is willing to do to show religious devotion. For example, followers of a particular religion or saint might wear a promise ring and make a commitment to follow the path of truth and practise the preachings of that saint. The meaning of the promise ring in such a case would be similar to all followers in the group and they might even gather together at special prayer meetings etc. Like most promise rings, a religious promise ring would involve a commitment for a lifetime in most cases.


Can Men Wear Promise Rings?


This is a question that is asked very often and the answer is quite simple. Given the true meaning of a promise ring and the significance of the occassion or commitment for which they are worn, there is no reason why men should not wear a promise ring. Depending on the reason for the wearing of promise rings, men's promise rings could be worn as pre-engagement rings or as purity promise ring, as friendship promise rings and also as religious promise rings. While the meaning of promise rings worn by men would be the same as for those worn by ladies, the difference would be mainly in the size and weight of men's promise rings. Men take far less care of their jewelry as compared to the ladies and this would mean that promise rings worn by men would need to be more sturdy and durable. In cases where promise rings mean a pre-engagement relationship, it is common for the lady and man to wear promise rings with similar designs, such rings are commonly referred to as promise ring pairs.



Promise Rings On Which Finger?


Though the meaning of a promise ring does not change much depending on which finger it is worn, it is always better to give a little thought when choosing the finger to wear a promise ring. The idea is to avoid any misunderstanding that could arise when wearing a promise ring. We need to clarify the term 'ring finger' before we move ahead. The ring finger is believed to be the third finger and the reasons for calling this the ring finger are as follows. Many people believe that the third finger is well protected by fingers on either side and that it is not very actively used as compared to the thumb and other fingers. This makes it ideally suited for wearing promise rings (certain cases) and other rings as well. The more romantic explanation for this belief is that there is a 'vein of love' that runs directly from this ring finger to the heart. This ancient belief referred to the 'vena amori', that means vein of love and it's connection to the heart.


Here are some recommendations for choosing the finger to wear your promise ring. Pre-engagement Promise Rings should ideally be worn on the ring finger of the left hand. This promise ring is then replaced with the engagement ring at the time of engagement. There are some people who believe that the wearing of a promise ring on the left hand ring finger could be confusing as, people could mistake it for an engagement ring! You will therefore find quite a few people wearing their Pre-engagement Promise Ring on the ring finger of the right hand. A Purity Promise Ring is worn as a symbol of commitment made for sexual abstinence or abstinence from other habits like drinking or smoking. When the wearing of a promise ring means sexual abstinence, the ring should ideally be worn on the left hand ring finger as it would then be replaced by a wedding band after marriage. If a purity promise ring is worn to commit abstinence from other habits or substances, it can be worn on any finger but the left hand ring finger is preferred. Friendship Promise Rings are given or exchanged between platonic friends (very close friends with no romantic relationships). To hold the right meaning of such promise rings, they can be worn on any finger including the thumb. However, it is best to exclude the left ring finger to eliminate any misinterpretation or misunderstanding of romantic intentions.



Origins Of The Promise Ring


Social life in the ancient times had betrothals as a vital part of life. The origins of the promise ring evolved from the practice of betrothals which was quite different from an engagement. In Biblical terms a betrothal was a contract made through a public announcement. The contract covered financial arrangements and other similar affairs. The parties to the contract could not back away from it and the betrothal was legally binding. The actual wedding would take place after several months but the betrothal contract was a commitment to marriage in the future. A ring would be given by the man to the lady as part of the betrothal ceremony and the ring would be a symbol of his promise to marry her. These are the earliest recordings of the promise ring.


There is also another type of ring called the gimmal ring that is related to betrothal ceremonies. The gimmal ring is a type of promise ring and is infact made up of two or three separate rings. These rings can be worn together or separately and this ring style became popular in the 16th century. During the betrothal ceremony one of these parts is worn by the bride-to-be and one by the bridegroom-to-be. In cases where the gimmal promise ring is made up of three parts, the third part of the ring is given to a person who would be witness to the promise and the ceremony. The two or three parts of the gimmal promise ring are put together during the wedding ceremony and worn by the bride.

**ALL About Wedding***1st step

You’re here! Welcome to my site. I believe that getting engaged should be a lot like falling in love, so I've built a site to make it all that easy – and hopefully, fun.

A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of wedding vows by the couple, presentation of a gift (offering, ring(s), symbolic item, flowers, money), and a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or leader. Special wedding garments are often worn, and the ceremony is followed by a wedding reception. Music, poetry, prayers or readings from Scripture or literature also may be incorporated into the ceremony.
YES You ARE the man.
You’re excited, but afraid. You want to rock her world and you want to make sure you don’t screw it up. Makes sense. Good thing you made it to Wedding Day. Because we don’t have a single bad diamond in the place. Not a single second-rate ring. Because we personally choose every one of each. You’re at THE only place in the twin cities that can say that!
And even if you need a little help, we’ve got you covered with our diamond buying cheat sheet which is a great place to start your adventure. So relax – and have fun.

Isn’t She Lovely?
You’re not in love with an average woman, why go to an average jeweler. You’re madly in love. She’s the love of your life. Make sure the ring tells her just how special she really is.
When you come to Wedding Day Diamonds, you’re going to find a selection of designer rings, a top notch selection of diamonds, and the most helpful courteous staff in the Twin Cities.