Celtic Engagement Rings for Marriage Proposals

Are you finally ready to take that next step closer towards getting married? If you hesitated till now, it's quite normal. Getting married is a huge milestone in people's lives and knowing that you have chosen the right life partner is crucial to one's well-being and life success.

Buying the perfect engagement ring is a critical first step in the proposal planning process. It may seem like the tradition of proposing with a diamond engagement ring goes back several centuries. In fact, it is a fairly recent tradition. Betrothal rings were a custom inherited from the Romans and during the 13th century, became an increasingly common part of Christian marriage ceremonies with the first known diamond engagement ring commissioned by the Archduke Maximilian of Austria in 1477 for Mary of Burgundy. Before the late 19th century, the prices of diamonds were still quite high and therefore out of the reach for many Americans. The discovery of mines in South Africa in the late 1800s drove the prices of diamonds down. The affordability of these precious diamond gemstones drove demand and Americans began to give diamond engagement rings more freely. The use of diamonds in engagement rings and wedding rings didn't become really popular until the 1930s, when the De Beers diamond company decided to go on a full-on marketing campaign to target the American public. The use of diamond engagement rings and diamond wedding rings also increased in response to the need for a symbol of financial commitment from the groom. While largely budget dependent, many women consider an engagement ring is an outward symbol of your desire to marry your partner. Going cheap on an engagement ring is definitely not advisable.

When determining what kind of engagement rings to buy from the plethora of options available, one should consider four factors which contribute to the overall cost of the diamond engagement ring. They are:

1. Ring Design

2. Any Deep Meaning in the Ring Design

3. Precious Metal Used

4. Carat Size of Diamond

There are lots of ring designs to choose from. You may choose contemporary ring designs which are the fashionable ring designs of the day or the time-tested ring designs of the past. Modern ring designs offer the trend-seeker an avenue to express themselves with the latest designs. Time-tested ring designs of the past like Celtic rings ensure that the ring will transcend many generations and be passed down without losing its luster and attractiveness. Celtic engagement rings are growing increasingly popular due to the deep meanings associated with its ring designs. Celtic ring designs are inspired by ancient manuscripts and have stood the test of time.

The third factor to consider in an engagement ring is the precious metal used. Yellow gold is the timeless favorite but white gold is also very popular today because it resembles platinum which is more expensive. White gold engagement rings are also very easy to match with any fashion ensemble compared to yellow gold engagement jewelry.

Fourth, the carat size of the diamond. Budget constraints will most likely be tested here. According to the Diamond Information Center (DIC) the typical diamond engagement ring had an average ticket price of $3,200 in 2006. Again, going cheap is not an option if you can afford it. While most people marry out of love, it is important to note that financial capability of the partner (in particular the male) is still a consideration in marriages despite gender equality. The carat size of the diamond is one of the symbols of stature used in society and a larger carat diamond simply says to the woman of your dreams that you are able to take care of her financially after the wedding.

By Tim O'Malley for Shanore.com For a large selection of Celtic engagement rings and Celtic wedding rings, be sure to browse their inventory of Celtic jewelry. Every ring is custom handcrafted and if there is a specific design you want that you do not see, be sure to request a quote. They offer free FedEx shipping on all orders.

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