Having thought a lot about the time you propose, you want it to be special and original. Having your bide to be proud to show off her ring is what you really want. You don't want her to not like the ring or feel embarrassed that it is similar to many other engagement rings.

Having a vintage engagement ring setting evokes memories of a romantic time and strong feelings of how important marriage is. Thats how marriage is supposed to be and you can add that special touch, and that unique look, by having your ring specially designed using antique engagement ring designs as a model.

Finding a jeweler who can mold your ring into an antique engagement ring design is your first task. Next, you will need to decide how you want the ring to look. Next, all you have to do is propose!

Finding a Jeweler

Finding a jeweler who is able to create your perfect ring is your next task. If one jeweler you contact can't help you I am sure they will be able to recommend someone who can as jewelers work together in a network.

One thing to note is that a specially designed ring will be more expensive that if your purchased a ring that was already available from a shop.

However, this cost is worth it as it will only make the occasion that much more special.

An Original Design

Choosing from a selection of antique engagement ring settings, is now your next decision now you have found your jeweler.

One great idea is to base your antique engagement ring design off of your grandmothers or great grandmothers. Or, you could look through old photo albums or look up pictures on the Internet of old wedding ring designs and kind of base your ring design off of those.

Incorporating several different designs into one design can be a great way to make your ring totally unique.

Make sure, though, that if you have a jeweler specially make your ring and you find the antique engagement ring design youre looking for, ask the jeweler to destroy the mold so that you'll know your wife will be the only one carrying that ring on her finger.

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How To Select Antique Engagement Ring Settings

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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Read This Before You Buy An Engagement Ring

The diamond is a precious gemstone known all over the world for its value. You might be surprised to learn that although the diamond is the most coveted stone in the world, making more in sales than all other precious stones combined, it is simply made up of simple carbon.

Before diamonds are known to the public eye, they undergo a process of mining, grading, cutting, and polishing, transforming from a rough diamond into a sparkling precious gemstone. But it just doesn't stop there. What makes the diamond arrive in its final perfect form is the setting of the stone, completing the jewelry.

Diamond settings are the platform or the foundation in which the diamond sits. There are different settings available for different types of jewelry, whether you're looking into buying a ring, necklace, or earrings. When jewelers acquire loose diamonds, it's best to consider their shape and cut before placing the stone or stones in its setting. Certain settings enhance the beauty of the diamond shape better than others.

For example, the pear shape diamond is more commonly used in pendants and drop earrings, while the princess cut diamond is more used in engagement rings as a solitaire.

Here are just some of the questions or decisions to ask:

1. Do you like yellow gold, white gold or platinum?

2. Would you like your diamond to be a solitaire or adorned with smaller stones? You can either choose smaller diamonds or another type of stone, like sapphires or emeralds.

3. Try wearing different settings before deciding. What you like and what looks good on you might be two different things altogether. 4. Know your taste, whether it is vintage, modern, romantic or floral.

5. Ask help from a reputable diamond jeweler on what style and setting would be best for your diamond and you. Although it's a matter your personal taste, it won't hurt to ask for an opinion from an expert.

Daniel Joines is the owner Polished Diamonds. For High Quality Diamond Rings at 1/2 retail shop available at: Polished Diamonds.co.nz - The Diamond Ring Specialist in New Zealand

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Diamond Ring Settings

While buying diamond jewelry, you'll probably see some specimens being offered at unbelievable prices. There's a good chance that at least a few of them aren't real, though. There's nothing wrong with fake diamonds, and some couples like them better, but you should never pay real diamond prices for fakes.

There are lots of different ways to fake a diamond. Many of them are beautiful gems in their own right, but if you want a diamond, don't be taken in by them. If you understand the different types of diamond look alikes, you'll learn how to spot them and when you're looking at the real deal.

Moissanite - This is a very rare mineral that looks like a diamond, but it's chemically and physically quite different. This diamond fake isn't as common as some of the others, as its rarity means that moissanite sold as itself can cost more than natural diamonds.

Cubic Zirconia - This common substitute for natural diamonds looks similar but is heavier and less costly.

Artificially Made Diamonds - These real diamonds are chemically and physically identical to natural stones, but shouldn't be sold as natural diamonds, since they were made in a lab. They're a lot cheaper than good natural diamonds.

Faceted Crystals - Cut glass is sparkly and attractive, but lower in quality and much more fragile than the real thing. These crystal stones could crack or shatter in a ring.

The four characteristics that help guide you in finding out whether a diamond is real and what quality it is are called the four Cs. These are cut, color, carat and clarity, and learning about them will help you keep from being fooled by unscrupulous jewelers.

You should only work with jewelers you trust, and whose reputation is good. They should be able to tell you in detail about your diamond and answer detailed questions.

When examining a diamond for quality, don't forget to look at the setting. These expensive gems won't be placed in a loose, crooked, or badly made setting, and if yours seems low quality, the stone probably isn't real, either.

While you're looking, see if there's damage on the stone. A diamond is a hard gem that doesn't scratch or scuff easily. It reflects light in gray or neutral tones - rainbow sparkles are for fakes.

Is the stone transparent enough? Turn loose diamonds upside down onto a piece of paper with printing on it. If you do this, you shouldn't be able to read text through the light dispersion of a real stone.

Don't be afraid to look at your diamond closely, through a jeweler's loupe or magnifying glass. Real stones are well defined and cut, with fake stones often being asymmetrical or otherwise badly made. The thin girdles of real diamonds are faceted, too, with some designed types bearing numbers in this area to identify them.

Use the fog test on suspected fakes, too. Diamonds disperse heat rapidly, meaning that if you fog the diamond with your breath, it vanishes fast. Imitation stones remain fogged for a while.

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Tips For Spotting A Fake Diamond