Lava material is very light and delicate. Because of this reason lava jewelry is very easy to wear and even small girls can wear necklaces made of lava casually.

Lava jewelry comes in many different forms like carved and handmade jewelry. Lava pearl and volcano are also two of relatively less known varieties of lava jewelry. Similarly, some other forms of this unique type of jewelry include vintage and antique.

Lava jewelry is not very expensive. If you are looking for something elegant to wear at a party, this type of jewelry will come very handy and useful. It is not even necessary to be real lava. As long as you will find eye-catching substitutes, the outfit will be more interesting. You can easily buy a necklace composed of a black lava tear and silver chain, rings. Or colorful pieces, good imitations of active lava!

Brilliant idea for a brilliant diamond ring

Jude Frances came up with the Cipriani ring, consisting of 5 center diamond put together in a wonderful shape. Maybe you can’t have that precious single perfect big diamond, but you can have setting of five with the same effect and a better price. You can get the ring you desire for much less. Brides.com says “To get an idea of the price, the 1 carat total weight ring costs $5,907 while the 3 carat total weight ring costs $7,638″. The same style can be applied to earrings and pendants.

Photos and story coutesy to Jude Frances and Brides.com.

Whether you are about to give an engagement ring or are about to (or has) received one, it’s useful to understand where the tradition started from? Well, yes. This way you’ll make sure to make an educated decision.

So, what is an engagement ring all about? An engagement ring symbolises the intention of a couple to wed in the near future. Is the ring that is given to a person when you either propose to them, or they propose to you.

By tradition the man would propose to the woman, but nowadays a woman can as well propose without any problem. Even more, you both can wear engagement rings if you choose to do so. It is like you both decided to show the world your commitement and future plans.

And what does an engagement ring symbolize? Are you familliar with the promise ring? An engagement ring is not a promise ring, it is actually its replacement. A promise ring means that there is a chance of a future together, and when it is replaced with an engagement ring the promise is set in stone.

It symbolises the decision and also tells people you know or meet that you are no longer available and that you have made a commitment to somebody. It also displays how serious you actually are about the changes that are about to take place in both your life, and the life of the person that you have made the promise to.

Let’s go to the next step. Wedding bands. Wedding bands can also be set in stone but there are not to be confused with engagement rings. The big difference is the fact that they come after the engagement ring and they are the symbol of the actual marriage. If you have a wedding ring then you have already been married and are starting out on your new life.

Engagement rings bear witness for the moment when a man and women decide to become man and wife. The engagement ring is an embodiment of their devotion and their promise to lead their lives together henceforth.

Engagement rings are the symbol of passion and commitment that couples feel for each other. The patterns and designs used in the engagement rings have changed through ages.

At first, diamond solitaires were the way of proposing to the bride to be. A single stone diamond ring was the proof of marital intention. Yet nowadays, colored gemstones have taken soliatire diamond’s  place: citrine, emerald, ruby or tanzanite.

Antique rings have made a strong come back. Due to the classical look they’ve become the trendiest accessories of all with floral motifs and extensive engravings.

Platinum jewelry has become widely popular because this  precious metal has the property to  enhance the effect of the diamonds. The modern couples flaunt their love with expensive engagement rings and declare their love in style.

According to the western tradition, engagement rings are worn on the left hand ring finger of a woman. In the modern era, after the bride-to-be accepts the marriage proposal, the prospective groom gifts the engagement ring her in a romantic moment . It stands for the formal bond of marriage that will surley happen in the future.

As the tastes of the people has evolved down the ages, the designs, patterns and metals used in the engagement rings have changed according to the popular tastes through the ages.

From bridela.com

Engagement rings are now made of various materials. Rare metals such as gold, platinum, sterling silver, titanium, palladium are commonly used to make engagement rings.

Diamond engagement ring

Diamonds are always a woman’s best friend and the tradition of proposing to a lady with a diamond solitaire has been in existence for years now.

From sndgems.com

When it comes to picking out the perfect ring for any occasion, especially an engagement, it can be very difficult to find the right ring that you know that she will love.  Well, you should be able to rest assured that if you are one of the many men that are picking out a tension set engagement ring, you are definitely going to get a yes out of the ‘will you marry me’ question!

Tension set rings are not only some of the greatest and most fashionable looking rings, but they are honestly some of the coolest rings in the world and there are so many different designs available!  You can get anything from two diamonds all the way up to three or four in a tension set and they can all be in a different place!

Tension set rings are definitely the wave of the future for all people, so why not get with the times and get your girlfriend a tension set engagement ring?  I promise that she will love it!

From JRJewelers.com

From bridela.com

American couples might be trading down slightly when it comes to carat size, but even in this tough economy, they are still buying diamond engagement rings.

When it comes to an engagement ring, people will still want what they want. They are going to slightly smaller sizes but staying with the same quality.

Whatever size is selling these days–whether it be a small three-quarter-carat sparkler or a 5-carat rock–retailers say there are two key ways to keep engagement ring sales on target in a turbulent year: partnering with other bridal-focused businesses to offer special promotions and keeping up the tradition of top-notch customer service.

After all, when a couple decides to spend their lives together and start planning a wedding, the goal is to make it the event of a lifetime, whether it happens in the midst of an economic crisis or not.

“I know that for people that are in love and want to get engaged and want to get married, it’s supposed to be a one-time experience,” a storeowner says. “It’s not the area where they really want to cut back.”

Cubic zircon is not an alternative for a diamond ring! Every man who wants to propose to his love must know this simple rule. Although it is true that you can purchase a bigger cubic zircon for the same amount of money as you would probably spend on a smaller diamond engagement ring, you should know that every girl’s dream is a Diamond.

The reasons why you shouldn’t choose a cubic zircon over a diamond engagement ring are:

• She will not think that the lack of money is a good enough excuse for a cubic zircon ring,

• Every girl wants a diamond engagement ring,

• She knows that if you just search hard enough you can find the perfect little diamond (on your price range), so brilliant that will take her breath away,

• A small real diamond is better than no diamond at all,

• She will feel disappointed if she discovers that the beautiful ring you are offering to her is just an impostor piece of glass.

Even when the diamond set on the engagement ring is small, it is real and it holds its own value. Think about it if you plan to pass it down through the generations. The diamond is the symbol of your ever-lasting love and devotion to the person that you plan to marry. A ‘fake’ symbol will say that you are not in it for the long haul or that you do not care enough to purchase a real diamond.

Your significant other knows you and is most likely aware of your financial situation. If they know what you have to spend, they will generally have an idea of what to expect when it comes time to talk about marriage proposals. Therefore, if you are barely making enough to get by at the end of the month your future fiancée will not expect a multi-carat diamond ring. However, if you are making more than enough money to pay your bills, your significant other may be expecting something a little larger than that tiny diamond on the corner.

Here’s what I know:

• Platinum jewelry is really amazing. Not many of us can afford it, but those who can must be quite proud of their little treasure.

• Platinum is one of the most valuable of precious metals. It is 30 times rarer than gold and it can be found only in a few places all over the world. No wonder platinum is so appreciated.

• In general, it has a purity of 95% pure (while 18 karat gold is only 75% pure) and guess what? It makes the perfect setting for diamonds … in engagement rings, of course! That’s because the brilliant white luster helps reflect the true radiance of diamonds like no other metal. Have a look:

• Due to its hardness, platinum is well suited for daily wear. It does not easily get scratched and will definitely enhance your appearance.

• Platinum’s purity makes it hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin.

• To maintain the metal’s luster you have to soak it in a mild solution of soap and warm water and gently scrubbing it with a soft-bristled brush. This is usually all that is required in order to keep clean your platinum jewelry. And then enjoy wearing them…

If you can provide other info on platinum jewelry that can complete the list above, please do! I’m waiting for your suggestions

Most of the women dream, want or plan to get married. The ultimate dream is obviously that stunning diamond ring that can blind your rivals and envious is, but why not make then GREEN with envy? And by this I’m suggesting an emerald diamond ring. It is certainly not the obvious choice, but who says what is or should be.

I chose this because personally I love green and the thought of getting a little bit out of the ordinary really appeals to me. A vintage emerald engagement ring can be the piece she has always dreamed about, and can surpass a diamond ring in its beauty.

For more emerald rings and jewelry you can visit JR Jewelers, who had the courtesy to provide us with the above photos.

Before buying an engagement ring there are some things you should know. One of the most important is that emeralds are rarely flawless, most emeralds has the so called small inclusions. The famous 4 C’s from diamonds apply to emeralds as well:

The 4 C’s of emerald from Jewelryinfo4u

1. Cut – the precision and delicacy of the cut dictates the price of this stone. Emeralds are however cut in a variety of different shapes, ranging from traditional rectangular step cut, known as “Emerald cut” to rounds, ovals, squares and cabochons. Usually heavily flawed stones are given cabochon cuts.

2. Color – Emerald, a gem belonging to Beryl family are often found in different shades of green. Depending on the presence of chromium and vanadium, the emerald can be grassy green or yellowish or bluish green. The finest quality of emerald bears a “lime Jell-O” color. For emeralds color is the most important price determining factor. Smaller emerald with better color commands higher prices than the bigger stones which have weakly colored.

3. Clarity – this indicates the clearness of the stone. Clarity and color together dominates the price of the emerald. Emerald is characterized by the abundance of inclusions which decreases the hardness and give it a soft velvety appearance. They are marked by the large presence inclusions like calcite, yellow-brown needles of the mineral parasites, pyrite, albite and biotype inclusions. However good emerald with both high clarity and good color are extremely rare. An emerald that has high clarity and higher carat may be cheaper than a smaller emerald with a good color.

4. Carat – the weight of the emerald is measured in carat. A carat is 0.2 grams and is divided in to 100 cents. Good stones of high clarity and colour are extremely rare in sizes above 2 to 3 carats.

It is so fascinating to see what celebrities consider to be appropriate engagement rings. They are trend setters after all! No one can forget J. Lo’s radiant-cut pink diamond ring, which set a new trend in Hollywood, suggesting that bigger is better. Yet celebrity taste in jewelry differ so much…

10 famous engagement rings

1. Actress Elizabeth Taylor became more popular for the striking jewelry in her possession. She received a 30 carat emerald-cut diamond from Michael Todd, her third husband. She also received a Krupp diamond of 39 carats, the Taylor-Burton pear-shaped diamond of 69.42 carats, and the heart-shaped 17th century Taj Mahal diamond.

2. Priscilla Presley received a diamond engagement ring of 3.5 carats, circled by diamond chips and 21 small diamonds, from Elvis.

3. Sharon Stone was engaged to Phil Bronstein with three emerald-cut diamonds in a 3 1/2 carat ring.

4. The engagement to Catherine Zeta Jones was formalized by Michael Douglas with a beautiful antique marquise diamond of 10 carats with a horizontal set, worth $2 million.

5. Joan Collins received a heart-shaped diamond ring made in the 19th century from Percy Gibson, her husband.

6. Some celebrities settle for a three-stone engagement ring to represent past, present, and future. Famous pop star Madonna received a three-stone antique exquisite Edwardian diamond ring with a decorative platinum band from Guy Ritchie.

7. Paris Hilton, the famous diva, was engaged to billionaire Paris Latsis with two famous engagement rings: a canary diamond ring of 24 carats worth $5 million and a white emerald-cut diamond ring of 15 carats worth $2.1 million.

8. Britney Spears also has two engagement rings: a cushion-cut diamond ring of 4 carats worth $40,000 bought by herself before her wedding and another one presented by her husband Kevin Federline, nine months after their marriage.

9. Toni Braxton received a stunning and beautiful three-stone 4.5 carat diamond ring from Keri Lewis. It has two heart-shaped diamonds on each side and an oval-shaped stone center.

10. Jennifer Lopez was engaged to Ben Affleck with a radiant pink diamond ring of 6 carats, which quickly drew public attention and became very famous. The pink diamond ring, complete with three baguette white diamonds and a platinum band on each side, was purchased for $1.2 million. Inspiring and famous engagement rings Celebrity engagement rings only reflect the lifestyle acquired by an endless budget. The famous diamonds have created a huge demand for celebrity-inspired rings, which are available at affordable rates.

From Hubpages.com