Diamond jewellery symbolizes wealth, sophistication, and even your personality. Diamond engagement rings are favoured by people all over the world, with stunning examples like the mind blowing solitaire Krupp diamond owned by Elizabeth Taylor.
The Krupp Diamond
The practice of giving a diamond engagement ring as a token of love is not a new thing; in fact
you may be surprised to know that this practice dates back to 2nd century BC, during the Roman Empire.
The diamond engagement ring symbolizes purity, strength and sheer devotion to your partner. It is called the 'king of gems' and rightly so, as it dazzles and sparkles its way to the top of all other ornamental materials. The word diamond fills the mind with a multitude of concepts and colorful images.
This wondrous stone is formed in the interior of the earth and shot to the surface by volcanoes. It is exotic, extremely valuable, and it is the hardest surface known to man. No wonder they say, A diamond is forever. Diamonds are largely found in Kimberly, South Africa but have also been found in India and South America. They have always been popular all over the world. Diamonds and other gemstones are measured in carats which is a unit of weight. 142 carats is equal to one ounce. The Krupp diamond shown above weighs 33.19 carats. Gold is measured in karats which is a unit used to specify the proportion of pure gold in an alloy on a scale of 1 to 24. For example, 24 K gold means that 24 of the 24 parts of the metal are gold. 18 K means that 18 parts of the 24 are pure gold.
A diamond engagement ring is composed of two parts, a diamond and a setting. Choosing the right ring setting is as important as choosing the right diamond. The setting must do two important things. Firstly it must hold the diamond securely, and secondly it must allow enough light to pass through the diamond. The choice of setting is really a matter of taste.
A bezel set diamond engagement ring can make the simplest band and modest metals look extraordinary, and show off the other design elements in the ring (color, line, contrast, texture). For example, you may set a princess-cut diamond in platinum for a clean, streamlined, very modern look, you could also set an oval or marquise diamond in pink gold for a romantic "cameo" look, or set a heart-shaped diamond in yellow gold for a sunny valentine feel. A bold design element such as a bezel setting can also complement shapes of hands and fingers that are big, square or large jointed. A modern design can refine the look of the fingers and de-emphasize big hands, and make them seem more graceful and feminine.
So when all is said and done, choosing a diamond engagement ring is more to do with a personal feeling of closeness and belonging than any thought of showing-off. The perfect choice which suits both the bride and the groom will make that special day of your life even more special, and the betrothal ring will sparkle, glitter and dazzle all through your life.