by Rudiger Petulanze

Engagement rings can be incredibly beautiful works of art, as well as an amazingly important part of your life. However, there are plenty of rings to choose from, and you'll probably run into a lot of confusing terms. That can make it hard to know what to pick without the right information.

There are three main components to any engagement ring - stone, metal, and design. The stone is usually a diamond, and the metal is traditionally gold, but there are also other options.

Picking The Stone One thing to be aware of is the system for grading diamonds. The four components are Cut, Carat, Color and Clarity.

Pay close attention to the quality of your diamond when you buy, but don't necessarily insist on the best. Buying a somewhat lower quality diamond can save you money, even though the stone looks the same to the naked eye.

Choosing Metals Most engagement rings have bands and settings in either gold or platinum. You can get gold in levels of quality from ten to twenty-four karats, and in many colors, ranging from yellow to white to rose.

Eighteen karat gold is the most popular choice for many people, though some choose lower grades like ten or fourteen for their higher durability. These less pure types of gold are less likely to dent or scratch.

Platinum is an intriguing, though more expensive, alternative to gold. It looks similar to white gold, but it's much harder, and if you learn to look, you can tell the difference between the two metals.

Design and Your Engagement Ring Your engagement ring design is a choice that's very personal, whether you go with a pre-existing ring or have a custom one made. Semi-custom options are also available, and allow you to choose band width, stone, and other elements to create your own special ring.

Remember that there are four basic elements to a good engagement ring design. These are practicality and comfort, strength, and appearance. Without these four elements, your ring just won't live up to its potential.

An attractive, durable, comfortable ring depends on the way you live and work. A higher setting looks pretty, but is prone to catch on things, making it a hazard in some conditions.

That means that if you're a mechanic, you'll be putting your engagement ring through a lot more than you would if you worked in an office. Think about how and where your ring will be worn when you pick out the design. This is the reason that some people pick a less pure alloy when they decide on gold for their rings. This is a stronger material. Sturdier ring designs and the choice of platinum for the metal can also help.

There's also a design factor - four prong settings are the least secure, six prong settings are stronger, and bezel settings are the strongest. Low, heavy settings take more abuse than high, light ones.

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