Engagement Rings

The engagement ring, a tradition that dates back to the 15th century

A useful reminder, the engagement ring is a piece of jewelry that indicates that the person wearing it is going to get married soon. It differs, in this sense and for those who respect the customs, from an engagement ring without passing before the mayor considered. The history of the engagement ring goes back to the Middle Ages. It was during this time, in fact, that the tradition of giving one's bride a diamond solitaire was born, followed by an accompanied solitaire - that is, with a ring set in it - starting during the Renaissance. The gemstone then became the symbol of fidelity, when the ring expressed eternal love. Beyond the prestigious aspect of the jewel itself, offered at this time during sumptuous celebrations to formalize the union of two beings, the engagement ring then marks its difference with the alliance, more sober. If we add the wearing of the ring on the left ring finger and the persistence of the solitaire as the engagement ring par excellence, we can see that the traditions have hardly changed. With one nuance, however: it is increasingly common to give a engagement ring for men, for a mutual commitment. And while jewelry houses are vying to design modern solitaires with more original shapes, another trend has emerged: the white diamond, mounted on a white gold or (rarer) platinum ring still gets the lion's share of the attention, but colored stones are an increasingly common proposition. A solitaire today can be adorned with a ruby, emerald, sapphire or fine stone.

How to choose an engagement ring for your bride

Alliance of a precious metal and a stone, the solitaire offered as an engagement ring actually cuts across several types of rings these days. It is obviously possible to choose a classic solitaire with a single stone and its claw setting, but just as much a shouldered ring (or accompanied solitaire) with the semi-paved band, a halo ring, where the center diamond is surrounded by a circumference of small diamonds (guaranteed brilliance) or a trilogy ring. The latter, symbolizing the past, present and future is made up of three stones set in various shapes. Some pave rings can still come to replace purely and simply the solitaire. We will have understood, choosing an engagement ring is often a headache. To be sure not to make a mistake, the first indicator is the style of the future wife, rather conventional or rather modern, a tendency to ostentation or on the contrary to discretion, as well as the colors she likes to wear on a daily basis. A simple solitaire will thus suit a woman with a reserved look when a loved one who likes to differentiate herself will probably prefer a creative ring. The pavé solitaire will be more for someone who is elegant and looking for a touch of sophistication. Diamond or color, or even colored diamond, the choice of stone is also of great importance, as well as its shape. Make no mistake, the white diamond remains the undisputed star, but the blue sapphire and aquamarine are also very popular. The round-shaped stone (known as a brilliant cut) remains the majority in engagement rings, but it's not out of bounds to prefer an oval shape for a vintage touch, a cushion shape - a square with rounded corners - or princess for a more modern or graphic ring.