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Best Rings for Brides
Getting engaged? Bridal rings are a must. There is hardly a country or culture across the world that doesn’t follow the engagement ring tradition. Giving the ring may be mandated but the style of engagement ring and wedding ring is absolutely your choice. A bridal ring is a term used to denote either an engagement ring or wedding ring or sometimes both. Bridal rings can be plain and simple or flashy and fabulous.
There are many styles of bridal rings. The solitaire engagement ring may still be the most popular type of ring around, however, rings with sides diamonds are definitely in the vogue. Check out the 2 Row Pave-Set Solitaire Diamond Ring in 4 Prong Setting, shown here, all those small diamonds give off loads of extra sparkle which means a ton of dazzle. Absolutely fantastic. Bridal rings with side diamonds are often thought of as being a bit pricey. The truth is they will often cost more than a solitaire band, however, selecting a lower carat weight for the center stone can more than compensate.
Diamond Shape
Using different diamond shapes will change the appearance of your bridal ring. The round shape is the most popular choice because it’s the best for maximizing light return. The oval, marquise and pear shaped diamonds will make your fingers appear longer. Check out the classic princess cut engagement ring shown here. The princess is a square shaped diamond with sharp corners and straight lines. It’s actually the second most popular shape around, probably because it has such a glamorous appearance.
The prong setting is loved so much for bridal rings because of its simplicity; it takes no attention for itself and instead directs all focus to the all important central diamond. The gaps between the prongs allow maximum light to enter the diamond resulting in a breathtaking light display. An alternative option is the bezel setting shown here in the Round Brilliant Cut Solitaire Diamond Ring Twisted Band Open Bezel Setting. The diamond is framed with metal, obstructing the light but adding elegance and glamour. An added bonus is that it’s an extra safe setting, ideal for an active woman. For something different consider the tension setting or channel setting.
Bridal rings for weddings differ from engagement rings in that the diamonds are usually a lot smaller and are often burnished set. This setting ensures the diamonds looks flush with the band with added sparkle and shine. Take a look at the wedding ring shown on the left; an really elegant option. The diamonds blend in with the white gold band and provide some fantastic sparkle.
The Type of Band
For a good quality bridal ring, it’s got to be either platinum or gold. Platinum is the more exclusive but less popular option. Gold bands can be one of three colors, either; yellow, white, or pink gold. Each are fantastic choices; yellow gold is the classic choice, white gold is the modern and elegant, and pink is the most contemporary option. Each contains an equal amount of real gold, the various colors are a result of the alloy that the gold is mixed with. Pure gold is actually too soft and malleable for making jewelry and so 18K gold is used for any good quality diamond jewelry.
The Quality of the Diamond
A good quality diamond is essential if you are after a ring that fires and sparkles. A diamond’s quality is measured by the 4C’s, diamond cut, diamond clarity, diamond color and diamond carat weight. Diamond cut is by far the most important. An excellent cut diamond will amaze and dazzle, so upgrade the cut before any other quality.
Buying Bridal Rings
Whatever type of bridal ring you are looking for, contemporary or classic, we aim to help you create your own style. We suggest 5 steps: 1. Setting a Budget 2. Choosing a Setting 3. Finding the Right Diamond 4. Selecting Band Color 5. Certification.
To make it easy we have created an engagement ring buying guide, where you can run through these 5 steps in detail.
Learn more about engagement ring prices
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