Pave diamond engagement rings
An engagement ring is a symbol of eternal love. It also symbolizes emotions of commitment, fidelity, eternity and honor. Generally an engagement ring is worn on the left hand ring finger indicating that the lady is going to be married. It is considered a gift by the man to his would-be bride. In United States, it is called as promise ring, that a women gives her partner during the engagement.
History of Engagement Ring:
Though today the engagement ring is popular and a set standard of giving a diamond ring for engagement is being followed. During earlier days these rings were known by different names and were made of different material.
Greeks called this ring the betrothal ring and was not a perquisite during engagement. It was given as a token of care and affection by the man to his bride. The Romans give rings with carved keys on them. It was thought to be the key to the man?s heart. In western culture, the woman wears the engagement ring on her left hand ring finger indicating that she is engaged and would be married off soon. Nowadays the ring denotes the formal agreement to marriage. The tradition of giving a ring during marriage was started by Pope Innocent III in 1215. These rings were plain gold, silver or iron bands. Gems were added to the ring only by the elite in the society. Even laws were passed to avoid usage of gems by common man. As days passed laws were relaxed and gems began being used by Middle Class also.
At one point of time the engagement rings contained gems and precious stones. One tradition was to mount six gems to celebrate the joining of two families. Six Gems means the birthstone of the bride?s and grooms parents (both the father and the mother) and the couple?s own birthstones were mounted on the ring. The other pattern was a four stone ring, where the birthstone?s of the parent?s anniversary and the couple?s birthstones were mounted.
The Victorian tradition the initials of the gems spelled regards and the other rings where the initials spelled dearest.
Material and Designs
In historic times the wedding band and engagement rings were made of different material like gold, silver etc. There has been a clear transition in the type of material used and also in the designs. Today?s engagement ring is made of gold, silver and platinum or titanium mounted with a single diamond. The diamond engagement ring is now standardized in western culture; this is a result of successful marketing campaign by DeBeers in the 1940s. It said, Diamonds are forever, therefore the sanctity of marriage through the engagement is forever.
First Recorded Diamond Engagement Ring:
The first ever recorded diamond engagement ring was given by Archduke Maxmillan to Mary of Burgundy during their betrothal in 1477.
Pave Setting Engagement Ring:
What is pave setting?
The word pave comes from the word pavement meaning stones lay close together. In pave setting the tiny diamonds are laid close together, these clusters can produce great brilliance and the prices are also reasonable as very small diamonds are not very expensive. With the band of the ring pave with diamonds the centre is raised princess cut center stone.
The Designs
There are three basic designs for pave setting:
1. A thin band with a single row of diamonds. The width of the band if equal to the width of the diamonds and the band appears to be made of diamonds alone.
2. Next are three dimensional wider bands. In addition to the single row which supports the center stone, the other rows are at an angle from the center row. The same design without the center stone is used as a male engagement ring.
3. The third design is a simple band without center stone, the band can also be curved or in a wave these rings are gaining popularity as engagement rings.
With the above designs there can be variations in the pave like full pave and half pave designs which are more preferred by the modern brides.
Cost:
The pave setting engagement rings can be very expensive or very affordable, it all depends on the stone used. The smaller stones are less expensive and the quality of stones also need not be very high. In recessed setting, the flaws are not visible and used of white fold and platinum will improve the color of the stones.
Couples with a tight budget can go for colored gemstone, imitation diamonds or cubic zironia instead of natural stones.
The cost of ring is calculated according to the total carat weight. Solitaire diamonds are costlier than small diamonds. Though the type and quality of stone are important factors that affect price, the other factors include the type of metal used for band, whether the rings are customized or designed. Price also increases in case there are additional accents or embellishments like filigree beneath the center stone.
How to maintain pave setting engagement rings?
1. Do not use the ring during heavy physical activity or while using harsh chemical or cleaners.
2. Require frequent cleanings as there are more crevices and nooks.
3. Soak the ring in water with a mild soap
4. Never scrub the metal as this will scratch the metal and loosen the gems.
Lost Stones:
As the pave settings use indentations rather than secure prongs the stones may fall out occasionally. After cleaning or repairs inspection by qualified jewelers help in detecting loose stones or other potential hazards. Some jewelers also offer replacement of lost stones for a minimum amount.
How to wear the rings?
Pace settings should not be worn one on top of the other as the rings will rub against each other and scratch the metal or damage the settings. The best way is to wear plain wedding bands along with the rings. The other option is to purchase two pave settings as an integrated set to avoid problems of two individual rings being worn together.
Full pave settings cannot be resized as the design itself requires precision craftsmanship. Whereas partial settings can be resized, it is better to determine the correct size before ordering pave settings.
These pave setting engagement rings are a romantic choice for couples heading for engagement. It is the best ways for a man to express his love as the rings itself are made with specialized care and attention. The expense of procuring such a beautiful piece would naturally set the stage for eternality in marriage like the rings itself.
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