Three Stone Custom Trellis Engagement Ring

By Guest Blogger Whiteflash.com

There are some things in life a man should never compromise; his values, his scotch, his leading lady and the diamond he will present to her when he proposes. While we would be happy to talk to you about fine scotches, this piece isn’t about booze-it ‘s about bling- so pour yourself a glass, sit back and  read up because we’ve done the research and are going to show you how to buy a diamond that will rock her world.

MAKE A BUDGET

These tough economic times have left many men worried they simply can’t afford to get engaged but contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to sell a piece of your liver or hawk Great Edna’s china to impress your bride-to-be.  “Setting a budget is an essential first step as is being informed.  For example, many men do not know that buying just under the carat weight will save them money,” says Bob Hoskins, Master Gemologist for Whiteflash.com

SAVE THE SAPPHIRES

Women have been dreaming about diamond engagement rings since the Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring while proposing marriage in 1477.  As the centuries have passed, trends have come and gone but the now-classic diamond remains the gold standard in engagement rings. The bottom line: Save the sapphires, rubies and emeralds for the many birthdays and anniversaries you’ll be celebrating together.

STAY A CUT ABOVE THE REST

Most of us are aware of the four-C scale: Cut, which refers to how well the diamond is shaped and not the style, (i.e. cushion cut), color, clarity, which determines how many flaws are in the stone, and carat.  While the other C’s get the most press (and are the easiest for most consumers to understand) Hoskins says that paying up for a perfectly clear stone is less important than finding one that is shaped well.   “A lot of buyers focus on size and carat weight but it’s important to remember that the cut of the stone is the most important factor when purchasing a diamond since the cut is what determines its brilliance,” he says.  What this means is that  when a stone is cut with perfect precision (see Hearts & Arrows) it allows the maximum amount of light to enter and pass through it. This is what causes the sparkle your fiancée-and her girlfriends- love so much.

LEFT - Princess Cut Pave Diamond Engagement Ring RIGHT - Jennifer Diamond Engagement Ring

GET HER SOMETHING SHE WILL ACTUALLY WANT TO WEAR

Many men will try to convince themselves that a woman should like any ring given to her if she’s saying “yes” for the right reasons but the reality is that most of us aren’t that interested in wearing things that don’t vibe with our style.  Think about that reindeer sweater your grandmother gave you.  Do you want to wear that sweater every day for the rest of your life and show it off to friends just because you love your nana?  We didn’t think so.  So, how does one avoid making his fiancé force smiles as she shows off a ring she hopes to “lose”?  Find out what her preferences are before you go shopping advises Hoskins. “Wander into a jewelry store together and pay attention to her reaction to different stones.  Does she toward classic or contemporary designs? Knowing the answer will make ring shopping a lot easier and more fun,” he says.

ENLIST THE TROOPS

Yes, fella’s, the rumors are true; most women have at least one friend or relative with whom they have shared the details of their ideal engagement ring, and she did this, in part, to ensure that when this day presented itself, you’d have some help.  We know, that was very thoughtful of her.  Just be careful about who you go blabbing your plans to.  It’s hard to believe but some women can’t keep secrets.

Jennifer Diamond Engagement Ring

Many modern couples are forgoing tradition for the chance to bond by building a ring together so if one of the reasons you love your girl is that she’s so hands-on, let her have a say in the ring she’ll be wearing.   Propose with a stand-in ring, pour a couple of glasses of champagne and a spend some time designing a ring together using Whiteflash’s unique custom design option.  “Some of our happiest female clients had a hand in designing their ‘dream ring’,” says Sheerah Koloroutis, a Whiteflash Creative Designer Specialist who notes that collaboration has replaced tradition in many aspects of wedding-planning, including the ring design.   “Most couples discuss marriage possibilities and plans for the future ahead of time so it’s not uncommon for them to work together to create the symbol of their love as well,” she says.

RELAX

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend but you’re the love of her life and though the ring might sparkle (and it will because you got one that was cut well), the reason she squeals is because she’s just been asked to spend the rest of her life with you.

About WhiteFlash
WhiteFlash.com is the first company in the U.S. to offer an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows diamond and bring the sheer beauty of “super ideal cut” to the Internet. Debi Wexler, founded WhiteFlash.com in 2000 bringing an expansive selection of loose diamonds to the Internet, including an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows diamonds. WhiteFlash A Cut Above ® is unmatched in its brilliance, fire and sparkle and remains the only Hearts & Arrows diamond sold online with advertised standards and a “true patterning” guarantee. Hailed as Lord of the Rings on Line, by Kiplinger’s Magazine, Whiteflash.com also offers original, handcrafted platinum and gold settings, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, custom designs and specialty jewelry.

For more information, log on to www.WhiteFlash.com or call 877.612.6770 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 877.612.6770 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

By Bridal Expert Alison Rowe

Searching for the perfect anniversary gift doesn’t have to be a stressful process. Whether it’s an inexpensive, romantic token or an elegant gift that she will wear and treasure every day for the rest of her life, the key is to keep it meaningful.

If you are still newlyweds, or watching the purse strings, be inspired by what you used to do when you were first dating. Perhaps make her a playlist—today’s equivalent of a mixed tape–of the songs you danced to at your wedding reception, or cook her a meal inspired by your wedding reception’s menu. If cooking isn’t your thing, try channeling your inner Shakespeare and write her a love letter full of reasons why she’s “the one”-just like men used to before the days of email and texting!

Tacori Platinum Ring - $2,950

Another perfect option is a beautiful piece of platinum and diamond jewelry. Platinum mirrors the qualities she is looking for in her marriage as it’s the most durable of all the precious metals, the rarest and the most enduring. Pair that with a diamond, the strongest gemstone (the word diamond comes from the Greek word adamas, which means ‘unconquerable’), and your gift will be one she can wear forever. It’s no wonder platinum and diamond jewelry has become synonymous with love! If you want some inspiration on styles, check out the design gallery on PreciousPlatinum.com.

Or, why not opt for the quintessential, breathtaking anniversary gift that makes every woman’s heart skip a beat: A diamond eternity band. This is definitely something she’ll be proud to wear everyday for the rest of her life, right alongside her engagement ring and wedding band. Whether you decide on a channel or prong setting, platinum is the perfect option as it will not only hold the diamonds more securely than any other metal, but allow them to give off their maximum brilliance, too.

Whatever gift you choose, your significant other will appreciate it because it is coming from her man.

By Guest Blogger BrilliantEarth.com

So you’ve found the right girl, secured an engagement ring, proposed to her, selected wedding rings, and helped plan every last detail of the wedding down to the DJ’s vegetarian dinner. The long-awaited event is just around the corner. If you’re thinking to yourself that now is the time to relax and get ready to enjoy the festivities, think again. There’s one small detail you may have overlooked: an extra gift of jewelry for the bride.

For the bride? After the long road you’ve traveled, the idea that your bride now needs an extra jewelry gift may sound a bit bizarre.  Buck up, weary wedding traveler. Yes, the whole wedding has been designed to please your woman, but that doesn’t mean that as the wedding approaches, a small gift of jewelry, given as a surprise, isn’t a good idea. In fact, such a gift could pay you enormous, enormous dividends.

It’s perfectly normal for the bride and groom to feel some jitters in anticipation of the wedding. A pre-wedding jewelry gift is the perfect way to calm her nerves—yours too. She’ll be enthralled by your thoughtfulness and you’ll receive the pleasure of thinking about what a thoughtful guy you are. The benefits don’t stop there.  Over the long-term, she’ll have one more piece of jewelry that she associates with magic of your wedding, not to mention your rock-solid romantic credentials. Last but not least, she may actually need some earrings or a pendant to wear on your wedding day and in the years to come.

Deciding to get your bride a piece of jewelry in advance of the wedding is really a no-brainer. The harder challenge is selecting a piece that she’ll like. Fortunately, when it comes to pre-wedding jewelry gifts, you need look no further than Brilliant Earth.  All of our jewelry is meticulously crafted, conflict-free, and sourced according to the highest ethical standards. And, we offer a range of earrings, pendants, and rings that make perfect gifts for your bride.

A good option is always to go with something classic—such as diamonds.  Girls like diamonds not just because of their radiance and beauty but because diamonds go with just about anything. For instance, she’s sure to love our Platinum Four-Prong Diamond Pendant, featuring a ½ carat round diamond mounted into a four-pronged setting. She’ll also go nuts for our 18K Gold Round Diamond Stud Earrings, made from a beautifully matched pair of Canadian round brilliant diamonds. A more budget-conscious option is our Silver Heart Pendant, a heart-shaped silver pendant studded with a single sparkling, conflict-free diamond.

Some brides are looking for earrings or pendants to match an engagement or wedding ring. If her ring has sapphires, you can help her achieve a stunning look by showering her with more blue sapphires. Take a look at our 18K White Gold Sapphire Stud Earrings or our 18K White Gold Sapphire Halo Diamond Pendant. A less expensive option is our Silver Wave Pendant, featuring a small blue sapphire attached to the crest of a wave.

If she already has “something blue”, try something green! We recommend either our Green Emerald Halo Diamond Pendant or our budget-friendly Green Sapphire Leaf Pendant, both featuring exquisite, ethically-sourced green gems.

When it comes to jewelry and girls, sometimes more truly is better. Sure, you could get her a diamond pendant, but why not get her one with a center diamond surrounded by—more diamonds? Our 18K White Gold Diamond Halo Necklace features a 1/3 carat diamond surrounded by pavé-set diamond accents.

OK, so she’s already gotten two rings out of this wedding, but isn’t three is the perfect number? For her right hand, or the one without the wedding and engagement rings, we recommend our 18K White Gold Flora Ring, an intricately detailed ring with diamond-accented leaves and buds. Or, add splendor to the rings on her left hand by stacking alongside them our 18K White Gold Pavé Diamond Eternity Ring, one of the most elegant rings in our collection.

If you’ve gotten this far into the wedding process, you know that it never hurts to ask for help from all those wedding people who know weddings inside out. Don’t forget that our own fashion experts are there to assist you in selecting the ideal piece of jewelry to give her in advance of the wedding. With our help, she’ll be going bonkers for you as the big day approaches. So be the groom who goes the extra mile. While we can’t promise that a jewelry gift at this point will endear you to her for every second of every day once the wedding is over, you’ll have one more tool in your arsenal—and in her jewelry box—to add a sparkle to your lives together.

disclosure: sponsored post

What do Mr. Big, Javier Bardem and Dax Shepard have in common? They all proposed to their brides with engagement rings featuring stunning colored gemstones.

Photos from left to right: Carrie Underwood, Penélope Cruz and Carmen Electra wearing their platinum and colored gemstone engagement rings.

“Whether it’s black, yellow or blue, colored engagement rings set in platinum are becoming increasingly popular since they are non-traditional and very eye-catching,” says jewelry and style expert Michael O’Connor. “In fact, Prince William is reportedly expected to present Kate Middleton with his mother’s platinum, 18-karat blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring.”

Platinum is the favored engagement and wedding ring setting for Hollywood stars and royalty. Not only does the durable metal hold gemstones securely, but because it’s a naturally white metal (unlike white gold which is naturally yellow), platinum also maximizes the brilliance of colored stones. You don’t need a celebrity’s budget to afford the high quality of platinum. Nowadays, designers are offering platinum engagement rings with colored stones in a variety of styles and prices to fit most budgets. Below are examples of the latest celebrity ring styles in platinum for under $5,000.

For more information on platinum rings, check out Precious Platinum.

Carrie Underwood’s platinum and yellow diamond ring is estimated at $800,000. Above is a platinum and yellow sapphire ring from Simon G. Jewelry priced at $3,970 including the center stone.

Penélope Cruz wears a platinum and blue sapphire ring valued at $40,000. Above is a platinum and blue sapphire ring from Beladora.com priced at $3,650 including the center stone.

Carmen Electra sports a platinum and black diamond ring valued at $70,000. Above is a platinum and natural rough black diamond ring from Diamond In The Rough priced at $3,500 including the center stone.

—-

disclosure: platinum guild is a sponsor of the man registry’s groomsadvice blog

Pop the question with platinum and you'll feel like a rock star.

By Jewelry and Style Expert Michael O’Connor

Performing your platinum-hit-single to a stadium full of screaming fans or proposing to your girlfriend, both take nerves of steel. But many rock stars have done both successfully. Look at “Fall Out Boy” bassist Pete Wentz who proposed to Ashlee Simpson with a whopping 4-carat rock set into platinum, valued at over $100,000.00. Or look at guitarist Rob Patterson who proposed to Carmen Electra with an unusual black diamond set into platinum.  So you think you’re a rock star just cause you’ve decided to ask her? Well your performance hasn’t even begun! You’ve got to buy the ring of her dreams in a setting that matches her style and you’ve got to pick the right time and place to propose. You’ve got lots to do before you get your standing ovation.

Don’t worry! You can still propose like a rock star and you don’t have to have a chart-topping single or a sold-out European tour to afford it.

Jean Dousset $2,550 Platinum Engagement Ring (left). Michael C. Fina $1,690 Platinum Engagement Ring (right)

Let’s look at the costs of an engagement ring. I’m sure you’ve heard of the “two-month salary” guideline – two months salary is an appropriate amount to spend on an engagement ring. Well, let that go!  You’ve got to set a budget that’s comfortable for you but, more importantly it’s how you allot that budget. I suggest this. Assign approximately 80% to the diamond but, as important, apply approximately 20% to the setting. Too many people get caught up in the diamond without realizing that it’s the setting that should be concentrated on. The setting is what gives the ring meaning, it’s chosen in a style that’s right for her, it can be engraved with a message to commemorate the occasion and more importantly it needs to hold the investment you’re making in a diamond securely forever. Start with the setting first and work into the diamond. It’s easier!

Gelin Abaci - $3,375 Platinum Engagement Ring

Your setting needs to do a variety of things; express her style; be the symbol of your love and lifelong commitment; protect and hold your diamond investment and ensure that the diamond will continue to sparkle and shine. Therefore, it needs to be wear-resistant, never fade in color or cast it’s own color into the diamond.  It needs to be durable enough to be worn daily and pure enough to ensure that she never develops an allergy to the metal it’s comprised of. To meet all these needs, only one metal, delivers – Platinum. Platinum wears down at a slower rate than other precious metals making it perfect for protecting a diamond and wearing daily. It’s purity means that it’s hypoallergenic. Its natural white color (unlike gold which is really yellow) won’t add color to your colorless diamond and almost every quality jewelry designer creates rings in platinum, some even starting at under $1000, making it easy to find something that will work with her style and fit within almost every budget. So now that you’ve chosen your rock-star setting, choosing a diamond is easier. Make sure you go to a trusted jeweler and tell him your 80% budget. Ask him to show you a range of diamonds that will work within that price point. Choose the perfect one then simply have him mount it into your perfect setting.

OK, time to put what you’ve learned into practice. I think I hear your warm-up band playing so get out there and go platinum!