Engagement Rings, Fashion Life
Most Flattering Engagement Rings for Every Hand
An engagement ring not only needs to fit her style, but it also needs to look good on her hand. Read on for tips for choosing a flattering ring for every type of hand.
Choosing the perfect engagement ring is not easy
First, it needs to match her personal style. And you also have to consider her lifestyle and make sure it doesn’t get in the way of her hobbies or work. And, of course, it needs to be within your budget.
But there is one other important factor a lot of people forget to consider.
And that is whether the ring will actually look good on her finger!
Fingers come in all shapes and sizes. And not every style is one-size-fits-all. You want to make sure it will be flattering on her hand. For example, if she’s got wide fingers, you don’t want to get a ring that makes them look chubbier.
So as you’re shopping for the perfect engagement ring, keep these tips in mind for her hand type.
Long Fingers
If she has long, slender fingers, then your job is easy. Almost any style will look good on her. Long fingers can get away with small, dainty designs or large bold designs. In particular, a smaller center diamond with a medium-thick band is especially flattering, as it’ll help widen the finger a bit.
Stay away from: She can pretty much wear anything, but the marquise shape will make her finger look even longer.
Short Fingers
Short fingers don’t necessarily mean thin – just short in length. To help short fingers appear longer, look for elongated diamonds, like the oval, pear, emerald, or marquise shapes. Keep the band thin and delicate, so it doesn’t cut off the fingers and make them look shorter. If she’s got short, wide fingers, consider a thin split shank to add a bit more width to the band without making it chunky.
Stay away from: Large round or square diamonds (they can make short fingers look stubbier), and thick bands.
Chubby Fingers
These fingers are perfect for a bold statement ring. You can go crazy with angular or asymmetrical designs. You want as little skin showing on either side of the center design as possible. If she’s more traditional, a halo is a budget-friendly way to give the center more mass. Or a cluster setting is a relatively inexpensive way to get a large center.
Larger shapes like emerald, oval, and pear will look good on this finger type. A thicker band will also minimize the appearance of wider fingers. Or a split shank (like the ring pictured above) is a great way to widen the band without making it seem too clunky.
Stay away from: Narrow center shapes (like the marquise cut) and thin bands.
Petite Fingers
If she has thin fingers, then simpler rings with thin bands won’t overpower them. Also, diamonds with smaller carat weights will look better proportionally (so great news for you!). Small round, oval, princess, or heart shapes look especially good on small, dainty fingers.
Stay away from: Huge statement designs, large solitaries, and wide bands.
Small Hands
It’s all about proportion. So if her hand is small, a smaller diamond will look larger on her hand. Keep the design less elaborate; you don’t want it to look too imposing. A simple solitaire is best and makes enough of a statement on those tiny hands. A thin, delicate pavé band is a great way to add some extra sparkle without going over the top.
Stay away from: Large statement rings and thick bands.
Large Hands
On the other hand (ha!), larger hands will need a larger design to make the ring look proportional to her hand size. If you don’t have the budget for a bigger rock, a cluster or halo will give you more mass for the money. Funky designs and chunkier settings will also complement larger hands.
Stay away from: Small solitaries and thin bands, as they’ll look extra small.
Bottom Line
Take these tips as general rules of thumb, not gospel. What’s still most important is that the ring is in a style that she absolutely adores and matches her personal taste. And, of course, don’t go over budget trying to get a large carat diamond for your sweetie with larger hands.
There are always ways to adjust a design. Like picking a wider or thinner band, going for a larger or smaller center stone, adding a halo or side stones, etc. So most importantly, get a style she loves, and then make adjustments based on her hand type.
Engagement Rings, Fashion Life
How to Buy The Perfect Wedding Or Engagement Ring
So, are you looking for the perfect wedding or engagement ring? First of all, Congratulations! You are going to enter into a new phase of your life and want to make it extra special from the beginning by selecting the best ring for your wedding or engagement.
The big question is how to select the right ring?
1 – Know Your Partner
– You must carefully note the personality traits and sensibilities of your partner. It is important to know her taste and sensibilities to help you make the right decision.
– You must know whether she loves diamond, platinum or a gold ring. Many brides love to wear yellow gold rings because it enhances confidence and also gives a feminine touch.
2 – Choose A Gemstone
– It is important to choose a gemstone first. A gemstone is the “heart” of a ring. You will be surprised to know that 90% of the traditional or contemporary women in the world prefer gold or sapphire based engagement or wedding rings.
– Around 7% of the women prefer silver rings as an alternative. Due to the hardness and durability of these three gemstones, you can pick an appropriately styled ring based on either of them. Thinking about color? Yellow, Pink, and deep blue are the favorite colors.
3 – Pick a shape
– It’s important to pick a shape of the gemstone too. The size of the finger holds the key to choosing the right size. You need to pay specific attention to the personality traits and the design aesthetics of the ring.
– The shape depends upon the metal too. As diamonds can be cut, modified, and altered into many shapes, you can save up to 40% by choosing a non-round diamond ring. If you are looking for fully designed and modified diamond rings, you can check out a square shaped princess cut or cushion cut shaped ring.
– It is very important to consider the metal quality. If you are browsing online, you must pay specific attention to the brand image of the jewellery site before purchasing any ring apart from the price
4 – Alternatives
You can also look for alternatives like 950 Palladium Rings which consist of a scratch resistant tungsten material. It is very important to look and search for the right ring for your partner.
– Before you start your lifelong journey, make her feel special by applying the above tips to buy the perfect wedding or engagement ring.
Engagement Rings
Rules for Engagement Ring Shopping
Ready to pop the question to that very special someone?
If marriage is something that’s on your mind for 2017, then you’re no doubt thinking about proposal ideas and buying that all important engagement ring. Will she like the style? What kind of diamond should I get? What’s her ring size? What type of metal will she prefer?
Shopping for an engagement ring can be a daunting task, but fortunately, you’ve got plenty of help. Here are 10 rules for engagement ring shopping that should help you along nicely, and while it doesn’t tell you exactly what style of engagement ring your lovely lady will prefer – that’s all on you to figure out – it will give you an excellent idea of your options. Good luck!
1. It Doesn’t Have to Be a Solitaire
While a ring with a diamond solitaire is the classic and popular choice, expanding your search to include less common design options could lead to a more unique (and more affordable) ring. For example, you could get a ring with a small center stone but that is surrounded by tiny diamonds called a “halo” setting. Or how about a unique band that is covered with small diamonds in place of a center stone? It’s worth thinking about.
2. Know Your 4 Cs
It’s one of the first things men who shop for engagement rings learn about diamonds, the four Cs – karat, color, clarity, and cut (of the stone). Here’s your guide:
Carat: Carat refers to the weight, not the size, of a diamond. However, it’s only natural that the higher the number, the bigger the diamond will be.
Colour: While white remains the most popular choice for engagement rings, diamonds do come in a range of shades and colors. Diamonds’ colors are graded, with D being the rarest and most expensive, so you’ll probably want to look at something between D and H.
Clarity: The fewer imperfections within a diamond the greater the clarity as you don’t want to see any inclusions with the “naked-eye” or have them effect the stone’s brilliance. The less inclusions the more expensive it will be.
Cut: Cut refers to how well cut the diamond is e.g. how proportional, symmetrical & well-polished the “make” of the stone is. Cut is often confused with the shape of the diamond.
3. Get to Know the Fifth C
We’d consider the unofficial 5th C the certificate. It’s important to obtain a diamond report from a reputable diamond laboratory such as the famous Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A).
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Go Smaller
Supply & demand dictate that considering diamonds a little under popular weights will mean they’re proportionally less expensive. If you’re looking to save some money, opting for a diamond that is just slightly less than one karat, for example, is the smart way to do it. No one will be able to tell the difference.
5. Study the Setting
The way a diamond is set in an engagement ring actually makes a huge difference to the way it presents, so choose your setting wisely. For example, a bezel design (where a thin band of metal is wrapped around the stone) can make the diamond appear larger.
6. Learn About the Different Metals
Depending on your color preference, platinum and gold are generally the most popular choices when it comes to engagement rings. Just be aware that platinum is more expensive both to purchase & to maintain, although it is very durable, while gold carries a more traditional look and feel. White gold is a great choice for people wanting a platinum look on a gold budget.
7. Pay Attention to the Details
It’s not just about the stone and the metal and the setting and the size of the band. Depending on your style and budget, you might want an extra personal touch, such as extra side stones, engraving, etc. More and more people these days are even working with jewelry stores to design one-of-a-kind pieces!
8. Put Practicality Above All Else
What’s the point of investing a large amount of money in an absolutely stunning engagement ring if your fiancée isn’t going to wear it all the time? When choosing an engagement ring, think about your better half’s lifestyle, including her hobbies and daily activities, as well as her personal style. Does she spend a lot of time outdoors? Is she the type to wear a flashy ring?
9. Have Your Wedding in Mind (Even Though She Hasn’t Said Yes)
Don’t forget that the style of the engagement ring you choose could potentially impact on the style of wedding bands the both of you get later on down the road. Will you be able to match it with a pair of wedding bands that the both of you will love?
10. Take out an Insurance Policy
Finally, if you’ve gone all out and bought the engagement ring of your girlfriend’s dreams, don’t forget to take out an insurance policy on it to protect yourself against loss or theft. Fingers crossed you’ll never need to submit a claim, but the peace of mind is well worth it.
Engagement Rings
6 Questions to Ask Before You Go Engagement Ring Shopping as a Couple
Your wedding rings are a constant reminder of the important vows taken at the beginning of your marriage. They’re wearable symbols of your love and commitment to one another. And they (especially your engagement ring!) also happen to be gorgeous pieces of jewelry you get to look at every day. For these and so many other reasons, you want to make the right choice. Traditionally, the groom picks out the engagement ring and surprises his bride-to-be with a proposal. But these days, more and more couples are going ring shopping together. Is it the right choice for you? Here are six questions to help you figure that out.
What are the pros of ring shopping together?
“First, it’s super fun to try on engagement rings!” says WeddingWire Trend Expert Anne Chertoff. It’s a great way to see what different styles look like on your hand and find out if you agree on what looks best. This is an especially good idea if neither one of you really knows what you’re looking for. As Chertoff explains, there are almost innumerable variations — different options for the band material, the cut of the stone, the karat weight and side stones — that it makes a lot of sense to do the research and perusing together.
Also, you’ll get a better-shared grasp of the costs associated with engagement rings, Chertoff says. And because it’s such an expensive purchase, you want to get the right ring as a lifelong investment, one that you’ll be happy with for decades to come. The same goes for any significant financial investment. If you share, or plan to share, bank accounts and living costs, it’s only logical that you discuss how much you’d like to spend on a ring and determine together what’s affordable.
Moreover, you can do a custom ring if you’re both there to make the big decisions, says Jamie Chang of Passport to Joy. There’s far less risk if two of you are weighing in on the design and selection process. “It’s also a good practice for marriage, coming together and figuring out what makes sense for the two of you, including everything from the budget to the style,” Chang adds.
What are the cons?
For obvious reasons, shopping for a ring together may take away some of the surprise of the proposal. But, Chertoff says that there can still be some elements of mystery as long as you don’t know the specific proposal plans, like when and where and how it’s going to all take place.
Relying your spouse-to-be to pick out the ring of your dreams could also backfire if he unknowingly goes over budget or has trouble choosing between so many different options, says Chang. It’s rarely a sure thing when one person is left to their own devices.
How do you figure out if shopping together is right for you?
“Everything is about communicating,” Chertoff says. “If you’ve discussed getting married, discussing the ring — style, costs and shopping together — should be the next conversation.” That said, if you know you want some sort of surprise, then make that crystal clear to your significant other, who can consult with your friends and family along the way.
It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing situation. If you want to look together then go ahead and do that, but consider narrowing down the field to two or three rings and then having your future fiance make the final decision and purchase.
How should you go about shopping?
“Looking online — whether a jewelry website or even the Instagram accounts of jewelry brands and designers, are a great place to start to get an idea of what you like and don’t like,” Chertoff suggests. Once you’ve figured out what you want to try on and how much you’re willing to spend, then you can look into store visits and whether you need to make appointments or can just walk in. Be sure to call ahead and ask if their rings fit your budget. “Be honest about what you can spend,” Chertoff says. “You don’t want to waste your time or be upset if you find out the store you went to is way over your budget.”
How can it be a romantic experience and not too transactional?
Instead of adding ring shopping to your mundane “to do” list, make the trip a special occasion. Chertoff recommends having a leisurely brunch before going to a few jewelry stores, or going out to a romantic dinner afterwards. You might also want to ask what engagement ring shopping services are offered at the stores you plan to visit. Some offer private appointments with champagne, Chertoff notes.
What if the bride wants to shop together, but the groom doesn’t, or vice versa?
This is where compromise comes into play. If your groom doesn’t like the idea of you shopping with him, then start dropping heavy hints with family and friends, and then ask your guy to check in with them. “Or create a Pinterest board with your favorite rings, or populate your Instagram feed or snap a few engagement ring photos that he’s bound to come across,” says Chertoff. The same goes for if you’re the one resisting. Give him some clues so he’s set up for success.
Santayana Jewelry Store Coral Gables
