5 common mistakes men make when choosing an engagement ring

Engagement rings - what are the mysteries of jewelry and how to wear it correctly

Now no one will say exactly when the tradition of giving engagement rings began, but everyone will confidently answer that this ritual arose a long time ago. This ceremony is imbued with the spirit of romanticism, love and fidelity.

It consists of the following: a man in love gives his “muse” an expensive ring and confesses his sincere intentions to start a family with her. If a girl accepts this gift, it means that she agrees to become the wife of this young (or not so young) man.

If the girl is not interested in the giver of the ring, then she refuses to accept the gift, thereby indicating her answer. This was captured in the historical memoirs of authors from various times.

Currently, becoming especially popular, the fact of giving engagement rings is gaining new momentum. Sometimes it happens that girls accept gifts, but after torturing the giver considerably, they still do not become their other halves.

Photos of engagement rings from the “scene”

The most striking and memorable will be the shot from the “scene” when your engagement ring sparkles on your hand. Photos taken at the moment when you have just received your cherished proposal are the most lively, natural and touching. It is these kinds of shots that remain in the memory forever and truly catch your eye.

Photo at the moment of proposal

If your beloved guy proposed to you in some special place, capture this moment in a photo. Your engagement ring sparkling on your finger against the backdrop of some place that is significant to you or just romantic will be a wonderful shot that reflects the soul of the event. Over time, looking at such photographs, you will mentally return to the happiest day of your life.

Shot of putting a ring on a finger

Often guys themselves are not averse to capturing this important and joyful event, appearing in the frame. Thanks to this, we get very sweet and touching shots that, at one glance, take us to the world of love and romance. This photo will be a great and unusual way to share the news of your engagement with your loved ones.

A photo in which your future spouse puts a ring on your hand will be very sensual and beautiful. Such a photo, taken during the engagement, will perfectly convey the subtlety and tenderness of this happy moment.

A little history

So, let’s try to understand the historical facts that have come down to our times and outline the main directions of the ritual of giving engagement rings.

The history of Russia records the fact that young lovers exchanged rings made of reeds. In Egypt, rings were more durable and were made of metal.

By the way, similar rings are given in this country to this day. The Italians borrowed the tradition of gifting metal rings from the Egyptians and introduced their own innovations.

They began decorating their engagement rings with precious diamonds. And precious rings were given not to brides, but to their parents, as confirmation of the intention of the young man’s desires and his wealth.

Engagement rings have always carried a mysterious energy. Such rings were never chosen together with the girl.
This process was performed only by a man. When choosing a ring, he mentally imagined his lover. Therefore, the rings were chosen to be elegant, delicate, beautiful and often very expensive. If the answer is positive, the ring was kept in the family as an heirloom and passed on from generation to generation.

How do you know what kind of rings a girl likes?

First, you need to understand that numerous jewelry stores and boutiques offer a variety of styles and designs of rings. Your task is to find the option that will appeal not so much to you as to your chosen one. How to do it:

• ask advice from her close people, friend, mother, sister;
• pay attention to the rings already on her fingers;
• take into account her clothing style, appearance and image;
• go shopping for jewelry together and pay attention to what arouses her interest and admiration;
• Consult an experienced jeweler about different metals, stones, cuts and more.

You can unobtrusively slip a girl a magazine with jewelry, and when she flips through it, pay attention to which options will be especially interesting to her.

How and when they give

Engagement rings are significantly different from wedding rings.

There are several understandable differences:

1. The ring is bought secretly without the bride. The meaning of its purpose is to learn about self-love from the bride and to express the groom’s intentions to marry the chosen girl.

2. The ring itself has a gemstone. It is several times more expensive than an engagement ring. This ring is generally not worn after the wedding, but is kept as an important historical fact of the development of family ties.

3. The ring is elegant, it does not resemble a ring. This gift is a symbol of the purity and purity of a young girl.
4. The engagement ring is only given to the bride. Although there have been historical cases when a gift was given from the bride to the groom. But at the moment this fact has not been continued and has not taken root. When buying a ring for a bride, a man can buy a ring for himself, symbolically calling it an engagement ring.

This gift is given to the future wife on the day of engagement. That is, before tying their destinies together, the newlyweds receive the blessing of their parents in the bride’s house.

On this day, the wedding date and other family issues are agreed upon. The ring is presented to a narrow circle of people present (mainly parents). This ritual is considered a sacrament and is hidden from prying eyes.

In some countries, the ritual of giving an engagement ring is more important than the wedding itself. Breaking the engagement is considered a terrible sin and does not bode well for both young people.

But in America, for example, this ritual is considered conditional. The engagement usually takes place in some restaurant during dinner. It is here that the bride is given the treasured ring.

How to wear

According to tradition, a given engagement ring is worn by the girl herself (and not by the man, as at a wedding). The place for the engagement ring is the ring finger of the right hand.

If a ring appears on the bride’s finger, it means that she is “busy” and will have a wedding soon. After the wedding, the ring is replaced with an engagement ring and stored in a box.

Although at the moment, with an abundance of jewelry to choose from, you can choose rings that will go perfectly with your engagement ring. These rings have a similar design and are approximately the same in thickness. In this case, both rings are worn on the girl's finger.

What should a ring be like?

The main thing to remember is the size of the decoration. Yes, if you make a mistake, the ring can be reduced or, conversely, stretched a little. But not always: the inlay and complex design do not allow you to change the size, so you will have to spy on your other half.

We’ll tell you how to find out the size of the ring without anyone guessing, a little later, and now that your attention is fully attracted, a little information about where to buy amazingly beautiful jewelry, sure to include precious stones, and at the same time inexpensively. There is a wedding ahead, the purchase of wedding rings (these are different, don’t confuse them!), as well as a honeymoon and a mortgage, so you need to get used to saving now.

An engagement ring is traditionally more beautiful and/or more expensive than a wedding ring. Therefore, it is important to calculate your financial capabilities - in case the budget is not too large, you can focus on creativity: good design in our time is more expensive than diamonds.

Although who are we kidding, only a few diamonds are more expensive than diamonds. If you have the financial strength to bear the purchase of a ring with a good, clean, large diamond, feel free to accept this decision as the best one. It is impossible to make a mistake and give the wrong diamond, but to be refused for such beauty and your generosity of care is unlikely.

It just so happens that a diamond is just one of the stones that is among the ten most expensive. Don’t worry, the rarest red Australian diamond, priced at over a million dollars per carat, is in first place forever. We’ll probably cross out engagement rings with it, although the stone is truly incredibly beautiful. But the diamond has better PR.

In addition to diamonds, rings are decorated with sapphires, rubies, emeralds, amethysts, tourmalines, peridots, citrines, corundums and other beautiful stones. Don’t forget about an ensemble of several – it looks luxurious, avant-garde in places, bold, definitely not stereotyped, but most likely not intended for everyday wear. Well, perhaps, for the first time, to get a good look at each line of the graceful cut of the stones. And then - to the replenished family treasury.

Choosing a ring for a man

With the choice of rings for women, everything is more or less clear; it is huge. But what to buy if the proposal is made to a man? The stronger sex is not particularly fond of all these beautiful things, there is no desire to give a simple ring, and the classic signets are already quite tired. And they can hardly be considered a decent tone in secular society.

Not certainly in that way. Signets are beautiful. Of course, we are not talking about those “inflated” copies, a symbol of the dashing 90s. Modern jewelry designers offer an endless amount of truly stylish, elegant jewelry, but at the same time with a pronounced masculine character.

"Wow! - the girl will say, “I would wear those too!” Jewelers have absolutely nothing against it and recommend not focusing on rings made of the usual gold or platinum. Although, this is also very beautiful, a classic, and will always remain so.

But progress does not stand still, and rings made of titanium alloys, silver and even tungsten carbide are increasingly appearing on the shelves of jewelry stores and at shows of new unisex collections (photo No. 2). There is nothing precious in this material, it is just a very strong chemical compound of carbon, refractory tungsten and ceramics. With such a ring you can go to the mountains or attack. But it would be dishonest not to mention this trend among others. Rings that do not need to be taken care of, they do not tarnish, do not scratch, do not require polishing - this is about those who like to go on extreme hikes and about those for whom eternal time pressure has become the main problem of the digital era.

Once again about the engagement ring

Let's not repeat that an engagement ring is different from a wedding ring and has its own function. Let's take a closer look at what an ideal engagement ring looks like.

Traditional engagement rings are made of white gold and set with diamonds. There are no specific standards for these categories of rings.

It can be smooth, embossed, wide or thin... Basically, an engagement ring is a thin strip of gold with a large (or not very large) diamond.

Some modern grooms are moving away from the accepted tradition of giving a ring with a mandatory diamond. They rely on the taste and preferences of their bride.

Instead of a diamond, rings with emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, rubies, and so on are chosen. You can also opt for jewelry with a large colored stone or a scattering of small precious stones. In any case, the gift is not cheap.

Emma Stone

The world learned about the relationship between Emma Stone and Saturday Night Live director Dave McCary from the latter’s Instagram: in December 2021, he posted a photo with his beloved, on whose ring finger there is a neat engagement ring with a pearl. Made from 18-karat gold with Japanese akoya pearls framed by 0.37 carats of diamonds, it was made by Tokyo jewelry designer Yoshinobu Kataoka and purchased from New York jewelry store Catbird.

View on Instagram

How to guess the ring size of your chosen one

An engagement ring is given without warning, that is, unexpectedly. Therefore, it is important to guess the size of his owner’s finger. Of course, you can ask directly, but then one of the important elements of delivery (surprise) will be lost.

Take a few tips in this case:

1. Casually ask the bride herself under abstract circumstances. 2. Check the size of the ring with a friend or sister (but there is a possibility that the secret will be revealed earlier than planned). 3. Discreetly take one of the girl’s rings for the day and find out its size at the jewelry store (there is a risk that the ring is not from the ring finger). 4. Put the girl’s ring on your finger. Measure at what distance the ring stops on your finger. Use this measure to look for a ring. 5. Unbeknownst to the girl, outline the inner circumference of the ring on a piece of paper. Please know that rings purchased in jewelry stores cannot be exchanged or returned. Even if you didn’t guess the size of your ring finger, the girl will definitely appreciate the gift and will wear the ring on the appropriate finger. After all, the true meaning of the gift will not change.

Wedding rings

The closed model of the ring, which has neither beginning nor end, represents infinity, unity and eternal love, it is for this reason that this type of jewelry has become an integral attribute of all lovers. When you put a ring on your companion’s finger, you wordlessly tell him that now you and him are one whole, indivisible.

According to archaeological excavations, wedding rings were worn in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece. Moreover, people of the lower classes wore rings made of simple, base metals and materials, while more aristocratic couples wore rings made of gold. Gold rings not only testified to the immortal love of the spouses, but also confirmed their high material status. The tradition of wearing wedding rings dates back several millennia; only the design of this type of jewelry changes.

The poet Vladimir Mayakovsky had one of the most unusual wedding rings. On it were the initials of his beloved Liya Yuryevna Brik - L.Yu.B. If you turned the ring, you could read “L.Y.B.L.Y.”

As a rule, modern wedding rings have a simple shape and can be:

• perfectly smooth;
• inlaid with small crystals around the entire circumference;
• inlaid with one small crystal placed directly into the metal;
• decorated with engraving and inscriptions on the reverse side of the ring.

The bride and groom exchange wedding rings on their wedding day. find out how to choose the right wedding ring in our article .

A little about prices

As already mentioned, the gift will not be cheap. The price of the ring will depend on the metal, stone and size.

1. Even if you choose a regular gold ring (with a thin bezel and a cubic zirconia or zirconium stone), the ring will cost at least 10,000 rubles.

Let's focus like this:

• weight of 375 gold – from 2000 rubles per gram;
• 585 sample – from 2700 rubles per gram;
• 750 standard - from 3500 rubles and so on.

The higher the gold standard, the more expensive the ring.

2. A ring made of white gold will be more expensive than one made of yellow.

3. A stone in a ring is an important piece of jewelry. Basically, engagement rings focus on it.

4. The size of a diamond is calculated in carats. The price of 0.1 carat is approximately equal to 10,000 rubles. A ring with a small diamond will cost at least 25,000 rubles. The approximate price of a ring with an average beautiful stone is about 100,000 rubles.

5. You can opt for a ring with diamond dust. Here you can invest 15-20 thousand rubles.

6. A ring with semi-precious stones will approximately cost at least 40-50 thousand rubles.

What engagement rings are in fashion right now?

The standard solitaire on a simple bezel is no longer as wildly popular as it once was. Designers are trying to make the shape of the headband more streamlined, using different geometries, and include expressive details, creating unique asymmetrical jewelry. Therefore, models with a wavy or bent rim shape, with several stones, and original inserts are becoming fashionable.

Today, the following engagement jewelry is in great demand:

1. Precious stones in baguette, rose, and pear cuts. The standard round shape is still relevant, but not as popular as it was a few years ago.
2. Vintage jewelry. Recently, the most popular models are in the Art Deco style with unusual patterns. Such jewelry not only looks gentle and sophisticated, but also supports the good tradition of passing on family values ​​(rings of grandmothers and great-grandmothers).
3. Jewelry with multiple stones. Today, Halo models are in demand, in which one diamond is surrounded by miniature crystals, making it look even larger and more refined. Jewelry with two stones is also very popular, and not always of the same shape and size. It is non-standard jewelry that leads among fashionistas, as it allows them to emphasize the individual taste of a girl. And, of course, a more traditional option is a ring with three precious stones (with one larger one in the center and two complementary ones on the sides).
4. Colored rings. Rings with different minerals, which many brides really like, are becoming increasingly popular.
5. Micro-pavé jewelry, which involves placing many small stones throughout the band. This ring will definitely make a lasting impression on every bride.

Also among the latest trends are a combination of different materials, asymmetrical design, various decorative inserts, etc.

An exclusive engagement ring, made to order with individual engraving, which carries its own meaning and will become a significant decoration in a girl’s life, deserves special attention.

This is interesting!

One of the most expensive engagement rings is on the finger of actress Jessica Alba, who received a 5-carat diamond worth 100,000 (one hundred thousand) dollars as a gift from Cash Warren.

Jessica Biel's ring is even more expensive. Her fiancé gave her a ring made of white gold and black radon for 130,000 (one hundred and thirty) dollars. In addition to the 18-carat diamond decoration, two aquamarines are delicately placed on the ring.

Victoria Beckham wears a ring worth 250,000 (two hundred and fifty) thousand dollars.

Jennifer Garner – 500,000 (five hundred) thousand dollars.
But Elizabeth Taylor received from her husband a product of more than 33 carats for 880,000 (eight hundred eighty) thousand dollars.

Among Russian celebrities,
Anna Kournikova is the lucky one. In 2004, her fiance Enrique Iglesias made a gift of 6,000,000 (six million) dollars. The ring is gracefully decorated with an 11-carat pink diamond.

For Nikolai Baskov, the ring presented to Oksana Fedorova at the time of engagement cost $100,000. And although the star couple is not together, the fact of an expensive gift went down in history.
The story of the distant Austrian Duke Maximilian also became a historical fact. Allegedly, in 1477, he fell in love with the daughter of the King of France, the famous Mary of Burgundy.

Maria was a rich heiress and many suitors offered her their hand and heart. Maximilian thought for a long time about how to express his feelings and decided to give the princess an expensive ring with a large diamond. As soon as Maria saw the ring, she said with delight: “Yes!”

How to present

We bring to your attention 5 options for how to propose marriage in an unusual and romantic way:

1. Romance on the roof. Renting a cover for a party or a romantic evening today will not be difficult, but it looks much more unusual than going to a restaurant;

2. On the air balloon. If you want romance to border on extreme sensations, then propose while flying in a hot air balloon. The bride will definitely not forget such a day!;
3. Proposal by the sea. An interesting and original option would be a romantic evening, smoothly flowing into a marriage proposal, which you arrange on the seashore or even the ocean. If you can afford it, then why not?;
4. Surprise for the holiday. For some, a marriage proposal is something personal, something that should only be between a man and a woman, while others, on the contrary, want to shout to the whole world about their feelings and intentions. If you consider yourself to be the second type, then why not offer your heart to a girl for New Year or her birthday? After all, she will certainly be pleased to hear the “most important words” that you will say in front of all your friends and relatives, perhaps this is exactly what she dreams of?;
5. In a homely atmosphere. You don’t have to fly overseas to say the most important words to your beloved; you can propose at home. To do this, you need to stock up on candles, rose petals, buy champagne or wine and a box of her favorite chocolates. Then everything is simple, go to bed as usual, and wake up in the middle of the night (the main thing here is not to wake the girl up ahead of time). You prepare everything (put a candle, wine on the table, open candy), lay candles on the floor, scatter rose petals everywhere, prepare a ring and rehearse your speech. When everything is ready, you can wake up your girlfriend and say “those words.”

And finally...

There are no strict rules regarding giving engagement rings to your brides in Russia.
But the fact that every girl secretly expects this wonderful custom is an undeniable fact! A gift from a loved one in the form of jewelry (even if not too expensive) is an unforgettable attribute that reminds of tenderness and care.

According to the precepts of the West, before the wedding ceremony, the ring helps to express one’s firmest decisions regarding the chosen girl or woman.

This is a sure sign of “outperforming the competition” in love and reserving the right of ownership. Currently, facts of civil marriages have become more and more common. It became possible to exchange vows of fidelity without a wedding.

An engagement ring comes in handy here! I gave it to you and it’s yours! A joke, of course, but in every joke... find the right answer for yourself and act according to your conscience.