Jewellery - Fine

RING THE CHANGES

A ring, an unbroken circle, is a symbol of never-ending love and, in many cases, the giving and receiving of a ring is a key part of the marriage ceremony. But before the wedding ring comes the all-important engagement ring. While many traditions may have disappeared, there are still aspiring grooms prepared to surprise a girlfriend with an engagement ring, sometimes even when down on one knee! While wildly romantic, this is not a tactic for the faint-hearted. There are practical pitfalls, such as the ring not fitting, or, more disastrously, not being to the girlfriend’s taste. If at all possible, the boyfriend braving this route should try to estimate the ring size and check what the ring looks like on someone’s hand, which can be quite different from how it looks on display. The good news is that, unless it has been specially made, most jewellers will usually exchange a ring.

The safer option is definitely to choose the engagement ring together and you will find plenty to select from. Diamonds are definitely still a girl’s best friend and remain the most popular stone. Diamonds are available in a variety of size, colour and clarity, which means that most budgets can be catered for. An alternative to the single or “solitaire” diamond, is a diamond cluster or a row with other gem stones. The advantage of the colourless diamond is that it looks good with any outfit, which suits the bride who likes to wear her engagement ring all the time. Diamonds are also very hard-wearing. Many other stones are available, including sapphires, emeralds and rubies, and some brides like to choose their birthstone.

When it comes to the wedding ring, or rings, there is now much more choice than a traditional plain, gold band for both the bride and groom. As with the engagement ring, there are different metals to choose from. Platinum is both fashionable and guaranteed to endure for many years. It is the hardest metal so will not wear thin, but is more expensive than gold. Another contemporary metal is titanium. For aesthetic and practical reasons the engagement ....