Traditionally the engagement ring usually is included with a matching wedding band.  Though, in some cases, you may want to buy just the engagement ring and then select a set of matching wedding bands.  Keep in mind that the wedding band is worn beneath the engagement ring.  Try both rings on to make sure they fit comfortably and are complimentary to each other.

While an engagement ring is not a crucial requirement, the wedding band plays an integral part of the ceremony.  Both the bride and groom should go together to select the wedding bands.  This will be a special piece of sentimental jewelry that you both will want to wear everyday for the rest of your lives. 

If you choose bands that are intricately cut or set with diamonds, then the bride may wear the wedding band on her left hand and the engagement ring on her right hand. 

Gold is the most popular of the precious wedding bands; you will encounter three labels on gold jewelry:

1. Solid Gold - 100% gold and not hollow
2. Gold Filled - A solid outer layer of gold-colored metal that is injected with gold; weighs 12 karats
3. Gold Plated - A layer of metal covered by a layer of golf; weighs 10 karats

Silver is another popular precious metal used.  Sterling silver is a combination of 7.5% copper and 92.5% silver.  Silver is 75% less expensive than 14 karat gold.  Another white metal that has gained popularity is platinum.  This precious metal is 50% more expensive than 14 karat gold.

Whatever your preference, remember that the exchange of the wedding bands is an important part of the ceremony and your rings should reflect your style but more importantly, your commitment to each other.

It used to be when a man wanted to get married, he would give his intended's family something of great value as a sign of his wish to marry her. If the woman accepted his gift, it signified their pledge to marry and it was considered a legally binding contract. In ancient times, the betrothal gift was of a more practical nature, usually livestock, fabrics, herbs, spices, arid land; something the family could actually use. The Greeks are credited with beginning the tradition of the betrothal (or engagement) ring. The groom-to-be presented a ring to his intended as a promise of marriage.

Early Roman engagement rings were simple bands with a carved key. There are two theories surrounding this particular style. The romantic version states that the key was to "unlock" her husband's heart. The more practical version was that the key represented the wife's ownership of her husband's estate. When a Roman woman married, she received half of her husband's wealth,

In 860 A.D., Pope Nicholas I ordained that an engagement ring was a requirement as a statement of nuptial intent. He insisted that they be made of gold to show financial sacrifice on the part of the prospective husband,

In Renaissance Italy, silver became a popular metal for engagement and wedding rings. These rings were often very ornate and inlaid with niello, a method of decorating metal objects with engraving techniques. An alloy of silver, copper, lead and sulfur is rubbed into an engraved pattern on silver or gold and then fired. Darkened areas remained in the crevices after the object is polished.

Elaborate engagement rings of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other precious gems became commonplace among the wealthy. Many rings would feature a group of stones to spell out a sentimental word. For example, if one wanted to spell out LOVE on their ring, they would use Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Verde Antique and Emerald, Some husbands-to-be would have a ring fashioned featuring his and his fiance's birthstones. Since the color blue symbolized purity and fidelity, Sapphire engagement rings were quite popular, especially during the Victorian era.

The ancient Greeks believed the fire of the diamond reflected the flame of love, while the Romans thought diamonds to be splinters from falling stars that tipped the arrows of Eros, the god of love. In the Middle Ages, these gems were looked upon as charms that had the power to enhance the love between a husband and a wife. However, diamonds were quite rare and only the wealthy could afford them.

The tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring began in 1477 with the Archduke Maximilllan of Austria, who presented his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy, with a simple gold band with a diamond. Since diamonds are the hardest, natural substance in nature, it was considered an appropriate symbol of enduring love. From that time forward, the royal tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring began to be embraced by people around the world,

In the 1939, a brilliant: advertising campaign by the De Beers Company, the world's largest miner and marketer of diamonds, made the diamond THE engagement ring to have and the only socially correct option.

The circular ring, symbolizing undying and unending love, is traditionally worn on the third finger on the left, hand. This finger was chosen based on the Greek belief that the artery from that finger flows directly to the heart. Placing the ring on the vena amoris, or love vein, thereby joined the couple's destiny. Early Christians are believed to have chosen the third finger on the left hand because when you touch the ring to three fingers while repeating, "In the name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Ghost", it lands on the third finger.

Another theory as to why the wedding ring is worn on the left hand is that when the groom faces his bride and reaches out with his right hand (as most people are right-handed), he naturally touches her left hand. During the Elizabethan era, wedding rings were placed on the third finger of the left hand at the marriage ceremony and then moved to the thumb after the ceremony, In India, wedding rings were only worn for a few days after the ceremony. Since a wedding ring was considered a luxury, it was often only worn a short time and then melted down to make something more useful.

The practice of men wearing wedding rings did not become popular until World War II. Up until this time, only the bride wore a wedding ring. Many couples married in anticipation of a long separation and wedding bands, one for each partner, were considered critical to the war effort. They represented comfort to the lonely soldier and as a reminder to the bride of her husband.

The wedding ring has a long and rich history. The Egyptians are credited for beginning the tradition of the wedding ring around 3,000 BC when an Egyptian Pharaoh gave his beloved a ring as a symbol of his love for her. In Egyptian hieroglyphics, the circle is the symbol of eternity because it has no beginning or end. The earliest wedding rings were made from braided reedy plants like hemp. These primitive rings generally did not last more than a year and had to be replaced often. Later leather, bone and ivory were crafted into rings as tokens of love.

The Romans used rings made of durable iron; however, the symbolism behind the use of the ring was not quite as romantic as the Egyptian's. To the Romans, the husband used a wedding ring to signify a binding, legal agreement of ownership and the ring was a token of purchase. In the third century, silver and gold replaced iron. Iron tended to rust and gold and silver had more aesthetic beauty. Gold or silver rings also symbolized the groom's faith that his betrothed was to be trusted with his valuable property.

Early Celtic rings were made of hair. The bride and groom would weave locks of their hair together into a braid and the bride would wear the ring as a token of their commitment to each other.

Puzzle rings, called a Gimmel, were popular engagement/wedding rings in the 15th century. The Gimmel ring consisted of two or more interlocking rings, joined by a pivot, so they could slide together to form one ring (symbolizing the union of two lives). The most popular Gimmel ring depicted two hands and a heart, which symbolized faith, trust or plighted troth. When all three rings were joined, the hands clasped over the heart. This variation of the Gimmel ring was called a Fede (Italian for faith) ring. One part of the ring was given to the bride as her engagement ring, the groom-to-be and the witness of the engagement ceremony kept the second and third parts of the ring. At the marriage ceremony, all three parts would be reunited on the bride's finger.

The Claddagh ring, a version of a Fede ring, became popular in 17th century Ireland and remains popular to this day. It depicts two hands holding a crowned heart, symbolizing "Let love and friendship reign". The Claddagh ring is considered the traditional Irish wedding band.

During the Renaissance and throughout the 18th century, sterling silver poesy rings were popular wedding bands. Poesy rings were engraved with mottoes or verses, mostly with a religious or romantic overtone.

At the same time poesy rings were popular, the Puritans were renouncing wedding bands, because they considered jewelry frivolous. Colonial Americans often exchanged thimbles during the wedding ceremony, Thimbles were acceptable to the Puritans because they were viewed as a practical item. After the wedding, the women would slice off the bottom of the thimble and created a wedding band.

During the Victorian and Edwardian eras, wedding bands were engraved with intertwined hearts, flowers, intricate leaves and delicate filigree. In the 1920's and 1930's, the art deco movement introduced styles focusing on bold colors and geometric shapes and became a popular wedding ring style.

Today, wedding rings can be made of gold, silver, platinum or a combination of two or more metals.

Superstitions

There are many superstitions associated with the wedding ring. Here are a few:

• It is unlucky to go shopping for wedding rings on a Friday, due to the bad luck associated with that day (Friday the 13th).
• It is unlucky for the bride or groom to wear their rings before the wedding ceremony, Once the wedding ring has been placed on the finger, it is considered bad luck to remove it. If the ring accidentally comes off, your spouse must replace it on your finger.
• Dropping the ring during the ceremony is an evil omen. Whoever dropped the ring would die first. If the ring rolls away from the alter and rested on a gravestone in the floor of the chapel, it would mean the bride would die first if the person buried there was a woman; the groom would die first if it was a man.
• A tight ring might point to painful jealousy or the stifling of one party by the other.
• Having the wedding ring(s) blessed by a clergyman is believed to give the ring the power to rid disease and guard the wearer from devils.
• A ring that is too loose could mean a parting of the ways through careless acts of forgetfulness.

Your wedding ring is more than a fashion statement. It is a symbol of everlasting love and commitment. So it goes without saying that insurance is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you glance down at the wedding ring on your finger. Insurance can never replace the sentimental value of a wedding ring, but it can give you some peace of mind in knowing that it would be covered if something ever happened to it.

Your renter's or homeowner's insurance probably offers coverage for the theft of jewelry. However, many policies have limitations and you should look into what your policy offers before purchasing insurance on your ring. Both will have a set limit for loss of jewelry. Your insurance coverage may or may not cover lost or damaged items. Be sure to read your policy cautiously and fully understand the coverage. You can always purchase extra coverage for your jewelry.

Here are some questions you will need to ask your agent about this type of coverage:

1. Is there a deductible? If yes, how much? How does raising or lowering the
   deductible affect the cost of your policy?
2. Is an appraisal required? Are there only certain types of appraisers whose reports
   are accepted?
3. Are the items covered no matter where they are, such as during domestic and
   international travel?
4. Are the items covered for full replacement cost? Must you replace them or can
   you get a cash settlement?
5. Does the policy cover repairs to jewelry that is damaged?

There are many things you can do to prevent damage to your wedding ring. Be sure to have a jeweler periodically check your ring for loose prongs, worn mountings, etc. Periodic inspections are usually part of the stores warranty any way. so it will be inexpensive, if not free. Whenever you take off your ring, always put it in the same place. That way, you won't ever forget where you put it. If you remove your ring to wash your hands, be careful not to leave it by the sink where it can accidentally fall down the drain. Be careful while cleaning or doing household chores. Harsh chemicals can damage precious stones and metals, and a rough blow can easily knock a stone from its setting. Be careful not to lose your ring when you go for a swim, especially if your fingers are already slippery from sunscreen.

You are ultimately responsible for protecting your fine jewelry. Treat your wedding rings like the treasures they are and take good care of them.

Buying an engagement and/or wedding ring will be one of the most important decisions you will make. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be offering you tips on what to look for when shopping for an engagement ring. Keep in mind what your fiancé likes and buy accordingly.

An engagement ring does not have to be a diamond, but it is the most widely purchased stone for an engagement ring. In fact, it wasn't until 1939 that the diamond engagement ring became popular. The DeBeers Company, the world's largest miner and marketer of diamonds, created a brilliant advertising campaign that made the diamond the stone to have in an engagement ring. Before the diamond became popular, Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald were popular stone choices for engagement rings. Whatever stone you choose, it can be set in traditional gold, white gold, the ever popular platinum, and even silver.

It is not uncommon now days for a couple to go together and shop for an engagement ring. Having her input when picking out the ring ensures she gets what she likes in an engagement ring. Of course if you want to be traditional and surprise her, there are other ways to begin shopping for the ring. Ask your married or engaged friends where they got their engagement rings, ask your future fiancé's mother or best friend for her input. Don't be pressured into buying a ring from an expensive jewelry store. These Stores often mark up their jewelry 300%. You can find the same quality engagement rings at gold and diamond outlet stores as you will in those high priced jewelry stores at the mall. If you are on a budget don't be afraid to shop the sales. Just because the ring is marked down doesn't mean there's something wrong with it. Be on the lookout for stores carrying the American Gem Corporation (AGC) sign to ensure quality gemstones.

What to look for when shopping for a diamond:

When shopping for a diamond, look for the Four C's: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat.

Cut - Refers to the angles and proportions a skilled craftsman makes when transforming a rough diamond into a polished diamond. A well-cut diamond will reflect light internally from one mirror-like facet to another, dispersing it through the top of the stone. In a poorly cut diamond, the light that enters through the table reaches the facets and then 'leaks' out from the sides or bottom of the diamond rather than reflecting back to the eye. Less light reflected back to the eye means less brilliance. Many people confuse the 'cut' of a diamond with the 'shape' of the diamond. Shape refers to the general outward appearance of the stone (round, square, emerald, marquise, etc.) whereas the cut refers to the reflective quality of the diamond,

Color - Colorless is the most desirable and the most difficult to find. Most diamonds on the market will have hints of color. Diamonds are graded on a color scale established by the Gemological Institute of American (GIA) ranging from D (colorless) to Z (the worst). Grades D-F are considered "colorless"; G-I "near colorless"; J-M have a yellow tint that is considered a 'warm' glow. You should never buy a diamond below an M, Almost all diamonds show a trace of fire. Fire is the diamonds ability to refract and disperse white light into all colors of the rainbow.

GIA Code:	Appearance:
D	Colorless
E - H	Almost no color
I - J	Very dull color
K - L	Slight color
M - R	Progressive color
S - Z	A lot of color

Clarity - A term that refers to the measurement of the diamond's flaws, or inclusions that are seen in the diamond. These tiny flaws are formed by minerals, air bubbles, scratches or fractures while the diamond is forming in the earth. The less inclusions a diamond has, the more valuable and beautiful it is. Clarity levels begin with Flawless and move down to Included:

• Flawless (F) - no Internal or external inclusions.
• Internally Flawless (IF) - no internal inclusions, slight external inclusions.
• Very Very Slightly Included (WS1 & WS2) - minute inclusions that are very difficult to detect under a 10x magnification, even by an experienced diamond grader.
• Very Slightly Included (VS1 & VS2) - minute inclusions that are invisible to the naked eye and seen only with difficulty under lOx magnification.
• Slightly Included (SI1 & SI2) - invisible to the naked eye, yet easily seen by an experienced diamond grader under 10x magnification.
• Included (I1-I3) - inclusions are visible to the naked eye and affect brilliance.

Carat - Refers to the weight of the stone. Most people confuse carat with the size of the stone, when it is actually a measure of the weight of the stone. True the bigger the weight usually the bigger the stone, but don't be confused when you think of carats you need to think weight. The cut of a diamond can make it appear much larger or smaller than its actual weight. While some value carat above all, others prefer a small ring regardless of budget. If you're buying a ring as a surprise for someone, consider their taste in jewelry and buy accordingly. If they're not someone who wears a lot of designer labels or big jewelry, perhaps you'll want to opt for a smaller stone.

There are a few factors to consider when shopping for an engagement: ring. One of the first being will her engagement ring be used in conjunction with her wedding ring? Most engagement rings are worn with the wedding ring so you will want to keep this in mind when selecting a style of ring. You'll want to buy something that can fit to a wedding band since most women have their engagement ring and wedding bands soldered together. Most jewelry stores offer a selection of bridal sets which include an engagement ring and a wedding band that is made to fit together.

The second thing to consider when purchasing the ring is the cost involved. We have all seen the infamous advertisement suggesting two months salary should be spent on his fiance's ring but, as much as we would like that to happen, it is not always realistic. Remember, the engagement ring you are purchasing for your bride is a symbol of your love and your long-term commitment toward her. Keep in mind the amount of money you spend or the size of the stone does not equate to the strength of your love, Basically, do not go overboard and buy a ring that you will still be paying for when your first child is beginning college!

There is nothing wrong with bargain shopping or shopping around for a ring or a stone because the standard markup on a diamond is 300%. Depending on where you live, it could be more. That means the jeweler may have purchased the stone for $1,000.00 but is selling the stone for $3,000.00, It is important to be aware of this fact because it gives you a little bargaining power if you decide to purchase a ring or stone from someone other than a "mall" jewelry store. Mall jewelry stores are limited by corporate policy on the amount they are able to discount their product.

You can buy a "lemon" diamond as easily as you can buy a "lemon" car. The most widely recognized system of grading and classifying diamonds in the U.S. is the system set forth by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Make sure your jeweler uses this classification system for grading diamonds. If your jeweler does not use this designation system, make sure you ask them to translate their grading system into the standards set forth by the GIA. What this means for the buyer is that there is a standard that each individual appraiser or gemologist that is GIA certified should grade the diamond by exactly the same standards as someone else. This will help you establish a baseline for comparison as to how much a particular stone within the same GIA specifications should cost when compared to a like stone with the same specifications.

Diamonds are weighed in terms of full carats and fractions of carats and are priced accordingly after all other areas are factored, for example: a diamond with a weight of .48 is slightly under 1/2 carat and a diamond weighing 1.2 carat is slightly over 1 carat. It is important to know that if a diamond is on the fringe of being a full carat, .85, .93, .97 etc. a jeweler will round the price up to the full carat weight. This can translate into more money you will have to spend. If you are buying between a one and two carat diamond, you should stay away from anything with a weight greater than 1.75, by doing so, this can save you a lot of money.

Clouds and feathers sound like soft and romantic terms but when buying a diamond they are not nice words. Professional jewelers rate the clarity of a stone by the number of these naturally occurring elements within a particular diamond. Errors when the diamond was cut, carbon spots, nitrogen bubbles, and cracks in the stone are all considered to be inclusions. The clarity scale according to the GIA begins with an "FL" meaning flawless which contains no imperfections, to "VVS" meaning very, very small spots, "VS" meaning very small spots, all the way down to an "I3" rating, which means the stone has obvious inclusions that can be seen with the naked eye. If you have plenty of cash to spend on an engagement ring, you will want to go with an "FL" grade diamond. Most people can only afford "VVS1" or "VS2" graded diamonds.

One of the next decisions to make is what shape you want the diamond to be. The most popular shapes are:

• Brilliant Cut Round - This shape is considered the standard for all other diamond shapes and accounts for more than 75% of diamonds sold today. Its 58-facet cut, divided among its crown (top), girdle (widest part) and pavilion (base), is calibrated through a precise formula to achieve the maximum in fire and brilliance.
• Oval - An even, perfectly symmetrical design popular among women with small hands or short fingers. Its elongated shape gives a flattering illusion of length to the hand.
• Marquise - An elongated shape with pointed ends. Legend has it that the shape was inspired by the fetching smile of the Marquise de Pompadour and commissioned by France's Louis XIV, who wanted a diamond to match it. It is gorgeous when used as a solitaire or when enhanced by smaller side diamonds.
• Pear - Also known as the teardrop; it is a hybrid cut, combining the best of the oval and the marquise. It is shaped like a sparkling teardrop. It also belongs to that category of diamond whose design most compliments a hand with small or average length fingers.
• Heart - This ultimate symbol of romance is essentially a pear-shaped diamond with a cleft at the top. The skill of the cutter determines the beauty of the cut. Look for a stone with an even shape and a well-defined outline.
• Emerald - A rectangular-shaped stone with round cut corners. It is known as a step cut because of its concentric broad, flat planes resemble stair steps. Since inclusions and inferior color are more pronounced in this particular cut, you should take extra steps to select a stone of superior clarity and color.
• Princess - A square or rectangular cut with numerous sparkling facets. It is a relatively new cut and often chosen for a solitaire engagement ring. This shape is flattering for a hand with long fingers. Because of its design, this shape requires more weight to be directed toward the diamond's depth in order to maximize brilliance.
• Radiant - This square or rectangular cut combines the elegance of the emerald shape diamond with the brilliance of the round and its 70 facets maximize the effect of its color refraction. Due to its design, this shape requires more weight to be directed toward the diamond's depth in order to maximize brilliance.
• Cushion - An antique style of cut that looks like a cross between an Old Mine Cut (a deep cut with large facets that was common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries) and a modern oval cut.

The cut of a stone or the number of facets a stone has determines the amount of light that can be reflected by the stone therefore giving the stone its sparkling appearance. A diamond that is cut with a larger table appears larger but it may lose some of its sparkle because the underside is not as faceted and deep. It is important to compare several stones with the same shape to make an informed decision.

When you have reached the point in your relationship that you are much happier with this woman in your life than you were before you met her and you cannot see yourself without this person in your life, it is time to buy the ring.

If you do not already know your bride-to-be's ring size, there are two methods to find out; the stealthy and the not-so-stealthy methods.

Let's discuss the stealthy method. If you are planning to pop the big question as a surprise, do not ask her ring size in casual conversation. One of the reasons why you are marrying her is that she is a bright woman of the world, and will immediately be wise to what you are planning, Your cover will be blown!

Instead, ask her mother, sister, close friend, or call one of her close co-workers to enlist their help in your sneaky endeavors. If all of these people are unsure, you can ask them to casually bring up the conversation of rings and ring size to find out her precise size. People can be quite creative in coming up with ways to find out information they want or need to know. Make sure whoever you ask for help is fully aware that this is a SECRET SURPRISE!

If you are feeling a bit unsure whether or not your bride-to-be will like your selection, keep in mind that she is sure to love anything you buy for her. Remember, it is a symbol of the love you have for her. You are now armed with the information you need and she's none the wiser.

A not so stealthy method is to propose without the ring. Some bride's do not like surprises. Although most may trust your taste and judgment implicitly, keep in mind that she will be wearing the ring for the duration of your lives together and may like some say in the matter.

You can still make this a bit of a surprise by taking your fiance out for the evening and at a romantic point in the evening, you can say something to this effect, "I know I will never be the person I could be without you in my life forever, I was planning on surprising you with a ring but I want you to be a part in helping me chose a ring that I know you will love as much as you love me". You are creative, you can come up with something to say but be sure you have a specific date in mind that you want to go ring shopping and tell her the date that evening.

You can also surprise your bride-to-be by purchasing a loose stone and dropping it in a glass of champagne. Be sure she sees the stone before she has a sip, then you can propose! By going this route, it shows you have taken the time to purchase the ring, or at least in part, and you are asking for her hand in marriage. The two of you can then set a date to see your jeweler to select a setting that you will both be pleased and happy with your selection. She will still be as equally surprised and delighted by your romantic gesture.

Another suggestion to proposing without the ring is to attend a sporting event with your favorite girl but pre-arrange for the arena to pop the question between innings or at half-time on the score board. Sports arenas are generally very accommodating and willing to work with you because it usually makes the news and that means free advertising for them. This is a really fun way to ask her to marry you and it is certainly a surprise. You can then go ring shopping together.

You are now ready to go shopping. The first thing to remember is it doesn't hurt to ask questions, and a reputable jeweler is not going to be "put off" by your questions. You are making a very important purchase that is intended to last a lifetime, so don't be intimidated. You are the customer. Happy Shopping and Good Luck!