Engagement rings - the ultimate object of desire

The very mention of its name can send pulses racing and expectations soaring and to be perfectly honest it's plain to see why. Aside from being a worthy addition to any jewellery collection these exquisite items signify the start of a romantic journey. It's no accident that the ring is worn on the 4th finger of the left hand as this finger has long been accepted to have a direct link to ones heart. The significance of incorporating expensive metals and gemstones into the band is to further confirm your heartfelt commitment to your loved one and by investing a large part of your income in its purchase you are making an unprecedented statement of intent. Engagement rings as we now recognise them were seemingly introduced in the late 15th century by the Archduke Maximillian who presented one such band to his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy.

Before this date it was traditional to present a plain gold or silver band to your intended but the diamond and other precious stones soon became an integral part of the betrothal band. Nowadays of course it's all but expected of course to see a solitaire or multiples diamonds in the betrothal band and how much you want to spend is entirely up to you, dependant on your budget of course! Modern bands are traditionally crafted in yellow, rose or white gold, platinum or titanium and the choice of gemstone and cut is truly staggering! These days' diamond engagement rings are graded according to the quality of the stone by specialist diamond grading institutes and with their certification you will be able to determine just how good the stone actually is. To make the perfect betrothal band you need to marry a fine metal like platinum with a well cut stone and the way it is set has a lot to do with the overall look achieved.

We are all influenced by what we see celebrities wearing in magazines and to some extent this dictates the popularity of particular designs. Heart shaped diamonds are an increasingly popular cut, unsurprising really as when a pink diamond is cut into this shape it has to be one of the most romantic gestures anyone can make. Even to the untrained eye modern engagement rings containing real diamonds are easy to distinguish from the most professional of copies, as nothing mankind can manufacture can truly replicate the fire and brilliance that is the creation of Mother Nature herself! Words fail to describe in an acceptable fashion the dazzling light omitted by a gemstone with provenance, seeing truly is believing! As with anything you buy the more you spend the greater the quality and purchasing a piece of jewellery at the top of your budget really does make a lot of sense. It's a once in a lifetime investment and whilst you may be not as well stationed in life as the Archduke Maximillian there is no reason why you shouldn't present your loved one with a dazzling specimen.