Engagement rings that will last a lifetime

Traditionally men are known to give their fiancés diamond engagement rings when asking for their hand in marriage. If the marriage proposals are accepted, engagement rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. Women then wear their wedding rings next to their engagement rings.

This romantic tradition of women wearing engagement rings and wedding bands on the fourth finger of the left hand can be traced back to the times of the ancient Egyptians who believed that a special vein vena amoris, the "vein of love", ran from the top of the fourth finger of the left hand directly to the heart.

In many cultures, the circle or ring is a symbol of perfection and unity which is symbolic of their love having no beginning or end.

When the time comes for men to buy engagement rings they need to make sure of two things:

	They shop for engeagement rings that are wise investments.
	They shop for engagement rings that their girlfriend will love.

Shopping for engagement rings that are wise investments

When selecting engagement rings, the four C's (cut, color, clarity, carat) are important. To ensure that you make a wise investment be prepared to spend a little time learning.

You can find more information on this topic in the diamond jewelry tips section.

Shopping for engagement rings that your girlfriend will love

When choosing engagement rings you need to have done some homework. Most men do not have a clue what their girlfriend's ring size is or even what type of jewelry they admire.

But...

Engagements are not normally surprise events.

With this in mind, the only way to choose "the ring" from a selection of engagement rings that will match your girlfriend's taste and style is to discuss her preferences and then to go shopping for a ring together.

While discussing the various engagement rings that are available and what will be your ultimate choice will be, bear in mind the following:

	The most popular diamond engagement rings are the solitaire rings , the simplest consists of one single stone in a four prong setting (four-claws or tips) on a band of gold or platinum.
	An alternative is a ring that has a solitaire as a focal-point and smaller side stones on either side. These are known as diamond accents if the smaller stones are diamonds or gemstone accents if the smaller stones are gemstones such as sapphires, rubies and emeralds.
	Due to their high brilliance, the most popular diamond shapes are the round brilliant cut and the princess cut. Other diamond cuts used in the jewelry trade are emerald, heart, marquise, pear and oval.
	A setting that is gaining in popularity is the bezal or the half bezal setting, where there is a strip or frame of gold or platinum around the diamond. This is an important point to consider if the woman is an active person because the bezel ring setting would protect the diamond.
	Engagement rings and wedding rings are available in wedding sets . These consist of engagement rings and wedding rings or bands which match perfectly and can be both worn together or separately.

If you are determined to make the engagement a surprise, you can find specific advice on how to choose a ring your girlfriend will love in the rings section.