Popular Engagement Ring Styles
Just like all trends, various engagement ring styles go in and out of fashion. These are a few of the styles that are forecasted to be big in 2020:
Fancy cut diamond engagement rings: In case you’re unfamiliar, a fancy cut diamond is any diamond shape other than a round brilliant. A few of the most common fancy cut diamonds are cushion cut, emerald cut, princess cut, heart shaped, marquise shaped, oval shaped, pear shaped, and radiant cut but there are many others.
Emerald stone engagement rings: For brides who love a pop of color, they’ll be happy to hear that rich, deep green-colored emerald stones are going to be an in-fashion center stone option this year.
Vintage engagement rings: Those with an eye for classics are going to love that vintage engagement rings which are known for having intricate detailing and elaborate halos are expected to be front and center in 2020.
Rose cut diamond engagement rings: Classic brides with an eye for the old-fashioned will also swoon over this 2020 ring trend. Rose cut diamond engagement rings, which became popular in the 1500s, have a flat bottom and a domed top to resemble the shape of a rose bud.
Hidden halo engagement rings: This ring trend offers a more understated approach to halo settings. What is a hidden halo? Well, it’s a whole lot like what the name sounds like. With this “hidden” halo, you typically can’t see the delicate pavé diamonds that run along the base of the center stone when you view the stone from above.
Which Finger Does An Engagement Ring Go On
A: In western cultures, engagement rings are worn on the ring finger of the left hand. In some countries, however, including Russia, Spain, India, Greece, and Poland, the engagement ring is more frequently worn on the ring finger of the right hand. Ultimately which finger you choose to wear each ring on is up to you, but people will typically look for a ring worn on the left ring finger as a sign of engagement or marriage.
What Is A Legal Gift
We learned at an early age that if you give someone a gift, you shouldn’t expect it back. There’s nothing different between then and now, so if you offer someone an engagement ring, with the intention of giving it to your partner as a gift, and your partner accepts it, you shouldn’t expect the ring back if you break up.
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Wearing Your Engagement Ring On Your Wedding Day: What’s The Big Deal
While there’s nothing wrong with wearing your engagement ring on your wedding day, it can make things a little awkward, if you’re having a ring exchange as part of your ceremony. Traditionally, your partner places your wedding band on the ring finger of your left hand during the ring exchange. Tradition also states that the wedding band should be placed on the finger before the engagement ring, so the wedding band is closest to your heart. So, if your engagement ring is already on your ring finger, this can cause a little bit of fumbling on your partner’s behalf. But don’t worry, because we’ve got some solutions lined up!
Photo by Sylvie Rosokoff via One Fab Day
Wedding Ring Vs Engagement Ring: What’s The Difference
Regular wedding bands and engagement rings are very different from each other and it is important to understand what role each piece plays. Tradition is as follows: Wedding bands are the same as wedding rings and are worn by both the groom and the bride. An engagement ring is worn by only the bride. The bride is supposed to wear her wedding band under her engagement ring . The bride is also able to not wear a wedding band if she chooses not to.
The difference between a wedding band and an engagement ring is obvious. The engagement ring is much more elaborate and extravagant, containing an array of stones, most commonly white/colorless stones such as diamonds, and most commonly one large center stone. A wedding band that can be worn by both the bride and groom does not traditionally have a large stone in the center and is usually much more understated. The engagement ring is generally much more expensive than the wedding band and is presented during the proposal. The wedding bands are exchanged during the wedding ceremony.
While these are the traditional standards concerning wedding bands vs. engagement rings, there is no reason that couples must stick to them. Some people prefer a flashier wedding band featuring diamonds, while some brides prefer their engagement ring to not have stones. Your wedding jewelry is about symbolizing your love and commitment to one another, and your ring choices can be as unique as your relationship.
Tungsten Rings
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Differences Between Engagement Rings And Wedding Rings
Engagement rings are typically the showier of the two. The most common styles of engagement ring feature a large diamond set atop a high-quality metal band.
- A solitaire setting only has one gem, fixed to the ring with four prongs.
- Halo settings encircle the center stone with tiny diamonds.
- Pave settings cover the entire band with sparkling jewels.
- Channel settings secure the diamond with two strips of metal.
- Bevel settings offer the most security by protecting most of the diamond, with a window on its top face.
- Split shank settings have the band split in two before joining again at the center stone.
- Three stone settings displaywell, three stones.
There are many more variations, all special in their own unique way. Diamond Mansions Basic Guide to Diamond Education goes more into detail the benefits of each style.
Wedding rings are typically much more subtle. Many of them dont contain diamonds or gems of any kind, but rather premium metal. Diamond-encrusted bands have become more fashionable for wedding rings, but the classic look is plain gold or silver.
Engagement rings tend to be of much greater value than wedding bands, even if the wedding ring features diamonds or other precious gems. Measuring by carat, there is no comparison. Younger couples are opting toward purchasing one single ring more frequently, representing both the engagement and the marriage with the same piece.
Different Style Wedding Bands
Once you have a handle on your budget and the different price ranges available, now the real fun can begin! Set your price range filter and then begin exploring all the options. Narrow down the choices by gender and search through the womens selection or go for the mens options first. Check out the different kinds of metals, such a white gold and platinum. Keep in mind, most brides like their wedding bands to match the metal used in their engagement ring. The same goes for if youre on the hunt for wedding bands with diamonds or gemstones–youll want them to match the proposal ring as well.
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What Should You Do With Your Engagement Ring During The Wedding
It’s not as straightforward as you’d think.
Brides-to-be proudly flaunt their engagement rings on the fourth finger of their left hand. After getting married, both the engagement ring and wedding band reside on this finger. Since your groom will be sliding a brand-new band on your finger during the ceremony, what should you do with your engagement ring on the big day? Most brides don’t consider this question until getting ready for their big day, and it can cause some last-minute panic. Although there’s no right answer, there are three common options brides choose between: temporarily moving the engagement ring to the right hand, leaving it on the left hand, or not wearing it to the ceremony at all. Here, learn about each option.
What Is The Difference Between An Engagement Ring And A Wedding Ring
There are a couple of ways an engagement ring differs from a wedding ring.
For one, timing plays a big role. Traditionally, the engagement ring is given by one partner to the other when a takes place. The engagement ring is typically more extravagant than a wedding ring and commonly has a center stone.
The wedding ring or wedding band is worn by both spouses after exchanging vows during the marriage ceremony. For brides, the wedding ring is typically on the simpler side when compared to the engagement ring and is worn directly next to a woman’s diamond engagement ring on her left-hand ring finger.
While the engagement ring simply shows that a woman is engaged, the addition of the wedding band on the same finger shows that a woman is officially married.
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After The Wedding Ceremony
Let the festivities begin! Just try to make sure your rings stay clean during the day. Typical danger spots are when a woman puts on makeup or hairspray.
Do not get involved in any cake pranks like smashing cakes into each others faces if youre still wearing the rings. This might cause you to find cake chunks in the prongs which you will have to clean up. That said, it might be wise to remove the rings for this instance.
Which Finger Does Your Engagement Ring Go On
In some traditions, engagement rings are worn on the ring finger of the left hand, as is the same for wedding rings.
In Western cultures, the engagement ring is the classic symbol of love and commitment. It serves as a statement that two people are engaged to be married , and has become an essential to many proposals across the globe.
As both the engagement ring and the wedding ring are worn on the same finger, when getting married, youll have a few options on how to wear both items. Its common for people to stack both rings on the same finger, the wedding ring placed on the bottom of the finger whilst the engagement ring is worn on top of this.
This is common practice, as it means the engagement ring can be taken off without needing to remove the wedding band, which superstition dictates should never be taken off once married.
On the day of your wedding, before walking down the aisle, it might be best to wear your engagement ring on your right hand. Then, once the ceremony is over, you can seal the wedding band in place by sliding the engagement ring on top of it.
Whilst these may be the more traditional ways to wear an engagement ring, many people do not follow these rules. As with any item of jewellery, its important that you wear an engagement ring the way you like best, especially given that itll be with you for a lifetime!
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Can Men Wear Engagement Rings
A: Of course! Although men dont traditionally receive engagement rings in western cultures, the practice is not unheard of. Ed Sheeran, for example, wore a silver band on his left ring finger while engaged to his now wife, Cherry Seaborn. When asked about it he said, I never saw why men didnt wear engagement rings. Its the same commitment either way. Other celebrities who sported mens engagement rings including Skylar Astin, Michael Bublé, and professional wrestler David Otunga.
The Cost Of Adding A Wedding Band
If youre buying a diamond Wedding Band, theyll commonly range from approximately $1,000 to $3,000. Of course, thats just an averageit is possible to find higher, and lower, cost bands.
If money is tight, like it was for me when I was getting married, an extra $1,000+ might be difficult to swing. If you like the idea of the Wedding Band, but need a more frugal option, you could get Cubic Zirconia or some other diamond simulant for the second ring. Because the stones on a Wedding Band are typically very small, it would be hard to tell it doesnt also contain diamonds. You would end up with the look you like and the price you need.
If you REALLY need to tighten your belt financially, you could explore bridal sets that give you both an engagement ring and a wedding band, which both have diamond simulants in them. Again, a diamond simulant is a stone that looks a lot like a diamond, but isnt. These rings can be really beautiful, and can bring your total cost down to $100 $1,000, depending on your choice of metal and stone types used. Sterling Silver will be on the less expensive side, with 14k or 18k gold on the more expensive side.
Click the following link if you would like to visit the retailer that I would typically go to for very inexpensive bridal sets. These are typically Sterling Silver ring sets that run $200 or less.
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Focus On Matching Metal Color And Diamond Quality
“If a couple is trying to match the engagement ring, they should always focus on matching the diamond quality and metal color,” Robbins suggests. In addition, many jewelry manufacturers make it simple for couples by offering wedding bands designed to accompany their engagement rings. For example, a newly manufactured platinum engagement ring should have a companion wedding band. Also, if clarity and color were essential factors in choosing your engagement ring, keep those as a priority for the band.
Consequently, mixing metals is also fashionable, but be sure you want to commit to mismatching for the long haul. “There is a trend towards having non-matching bands that either complement or contrast to give a stackable look,” advises Robbins. “These are all, of course, personal preferences.”
Money agrees that matching metals isn’t a must for those who want to be unique. “Traditionally, engagement rings and wedding bands are made from the same metal, but this isn’t the rule,” she advises. “You can explore different metals, just ensure they’re the same density so that over time, they’ll wear similarly .” Even metals of different karat weight, such as 14k and 18k yellow gold, may look good together but will wear down differently.
The Wedding Ring Finger Meaning
Wedding rings are a sweet symbol of eternal love throughout history. “The tradition of wedding rings came about in Egypt, about 4,800 years ago,” Ghanimian says. “The circle symbolizes eternity, with no beginning or end. What most people don’t know is that the hole in the center of the ring also has significanceâit’s not just space, but rather a gateway or door. When you give someone a ring, it signifies immortal love.”
Couples typically exchange rings during their wedding ceremony, placing the ring on each other’s wedding ring fingerâthe fourth finger of the left handâafter saying their vows. As for determining what hand does the wedding ring goes on, the choice is really up to you. Traditions are nice, but etiquette rules have softened through the years.
There are no rules on which metal your wedding rings must be made of, or whether or not they should match. You can opt for simple bands or more elaborate ones with stones or designs. Some couples choose to have their wedding date or a romantic phrase inscribed in their bands.
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