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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Romantic Proposals - Surprise Her With A Beautiful Engagement Ring

I've sold thousands of engagement rings during my 20 year career in the jewelry business and with that I've gained intimate knowledge of what works when creating a memorable proposal. Most men think that a women's only concern is the ring - how big it is, what shape, precious metal type, etc. While every woman wants their engagement ring to be something they'll always cherish, they do want a proposal story to tell their grandchildren. After you propose, your girlfriend's family and friends will ask two questions - "Can I see the ring?" & "How did he propose?" Now that's pressure but it doesn't need to be if you follow some rules of engagement, no pun intended.

Surprise Her

Men have a hard time picking an engagement ring for their future fiancé and rightfully so. After all, how many times in your life have you purchased an engagement ring? With that being said, 50% of guys thinking about popping the question will bring their girlfriends with them to help pick the engagement ring. This can be helpful in finding out what she really is hoping for but sometimes it really hurts the romanticism of the event. The women that are most excited always seem to be the ones that were completely surprised when receiving the ring. There's no substitute for getting down on one knee in front of your unsuspecting bride and presenting a ring that you've selected on your own. It shows that you're excited enough about getting married to do it without help and that you want it to be a special time for her.

It's not always easy for you to decide which ring is the one she'll fall in love with but you can get the job done a lot easier than you think. First thing you should know is that there's tons of information at your fingertips and you don't even know it. Look to her lifestyle choices, clothing, and her shopping habits to determine what she would like for a ring. Ring styles are created with the wearer in mind just like clothing; some people are bold and outgoing and prefer clothing & jewelry that matches.

This type of person would hope for a ring that's a unique style and has a bold fresh look. You can get ideas for ring styles at www.rokstok.com. An active person would want a ring that won't be obtrusive or get caught on things. Traditional women tend to choose classic designs like round solitaire engagement rings.

If you still can't decide what she would like then ask her friends or family for their help. Women spend time discussing jewelry choices with one another, especially when people in their circle of influence become engaged. Another good approach is to look for opportune times to discuss the ring without tipping her off. When you see an advertisement in a magazine, the internet, or on television; comment on the rings and then ask her for what she thinks about them. Women's magazines are a wonderful tool to do this because there many jewelry advertisements in them.

Style Choices:

Classic/Traditional

Round Solitaire

Tiffany Style

3 Stone Settings

Bold/Contemporary

Tension Set

Thicker Settings with Multiple Diamonds

Designer Diamond Shapes

You'll also need her ring size before going to the jewelry store to begin shopping. There are a couple of things you can do to get her size without tipping her off. First, find a ring that she wears on her ring finger and bring it with you to the jewelry store. The jeweler can measure the size of the ring to determine the right fit for her engagement ring. If you're concerned that she'll become upset because her ring is missing, then you can trace the inside of the ring with a pen and take the inside measurement to the jeweler. In some cases you won't get the perfect fit on the first try, so be sure to ask the jeweler if the ring you choose can be sized in case it doesn't fit properly.

Your engagement will be magical and memorable if you take the time to prepare for the engagement ring purchase. Take it from someone who has worked with thousands of engaged couples, do it on your own for the most romantic proposal possible.

Andy Moquin has spent 20 years in the jewelry business buying and selling over $20,000,000 in diamonds, engagement rings and custom designed jewelry. He as traveled to Belgium and Israel to work with international diamond dealers and works as an advisor for DBC Diamonds an international consortium of diamond dealers. His experience in the jewelry business has become invaluable to consumers and business owners. He can be contacted at 716-630-7091, www.andrewsjewelers.com, learn about diamonds

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