When casually dating, you can try on different personalities, character traits, likes and dislikes with little to no harm inflicted on either party. But when you are looking for marriage, certain elements need to heed more attention than others. Goals, values and morals are as important as ambition, responsibility and accountability. Picking the right man to build and share a life with is the foundation for a wonderful relationship. Selecting a mens wedding band follows the same line of thinking implemented when selecting a suitable partner for marriage.
When you are in the market for a mens wedding band, you must consider his style, his build, and more importantly, the demeanor in which he portrays himself. First you'll want to assess his build. Does he have a large frame, medium or small build? If he's tall and fairly broad, a substantial ring with a wider, heavier band such as a tungsten carbide ring in the 7-10mm range would be ideal. A more slender man or one who is of short to medium height, would be better suited in a slimmer band, like a 3-6mm width.
Once you know the right width, you can then narrow your choices down further by identifying the type of mens wedding band that best suits his personality. If he is a sophisticated man that values quality and has the best TV, car, sunglasses and clothes, then selecting a wedding ring that caters to his desire for the best is top of list. You will most certainly want to look at mens wedding bands that are substantial in weight, keep a lustrous shine and possibly even embellished with diamonds or other gemstones. Tungsten carbide rings are quite popular among this group, as they feel and appear luxurious and with the nearly indestructible quality they are known for. Mens wedding bands made from tungsten carbide will certainly exude confidence, class and most importantly, quality. If on the other hand your guy is lighthearted, values a sense of humor, carefree and spontaneous a lightweight titanium ring may be more suitable for him. Titanium rings are ultra light yet incredibly strong. They can be simple in design or carry a creative and stylish flare.
Style can also be determined by his noting his preference of metal. There are many popular metals that range in price, durability and appearance. Platinum rings are quite expensive and often times selected purely for the assumed prestige. On the other hand, a man who values quality over prestige may be more pleased with a tungsten ring. Far less expensive than platinum rings, tungsten weddings bands portray that same luster and shine as platinum, but have far more resilience to damage and destruction. They are a bit heavier as well, which is ideal for a man who likes a solid weight. Titanium rings are nearly as durable as tungsten rings but are significantly lighter in weight, hypoallergenic and offer a lighter grey color, or they can be shined to an almost reflective tone.
Another popular choice involves enhancing metals with other metals or gemstones. Titanium can be combined with white gold, yellow gold or platinum to create a more elaborate look. Diamonds, sapphires and other gemstones can add a unique touch for the refined gentleman.
Knowing your man, his likes, favorite pastimes and even the kind of friends he has can make shopping for a mens wedding band more productive and enjoyable. Taking into consideration what he does, both for business and pleasure can pinpoint a ring style that blends well with his lifestyle.
The History of Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands
These days, many people take wedding bands and engagement rings for granted, and although they give these beautiful items of jewellery with integrity and love, they are often given with no real knowledge of the meaning behind them.
Both wedding bands and engagement rings are very special items of jewellery; in fact, they are more than just jewellery - they are the symbols of many emotions and promises such as:
Love
Commitment
Fidelity
Eternity
Honour
But where - and why - did these popular and sentimental pieces of jewellery stem from?
The History Of Wedding Bands
These items of jewellery have a history that spans many centuries and passes through many countries from all around the planet. Below, you will find a brief history of the wedding and engagement ring, as reported from country to country.
EGYPTIANS
The now-famous wedding band is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt, where it is said that plant sections were fashioned in to circles to signify never-ending and immortal love. It was thought that the fourth finger (which we now know as the ring finger) contained a special vein that was connected directly to the heart, and therefore this became the official finger for the wedding band.
ROMANS
The Romans also agreed with the Egyptians with regards to the wedding ring finger and its meaning, but rather than offering wedding bands as a symbol of love, they awarded them as a symbol of ownership. Roman men would "claim" their woman with the giving of a ring.
ASIANS / ARABS
Puzzle rings were a complex type of jewellery that were once popular in Asia, and these jewels had the charming knack of being able to fall apart and put back together again - if you knew how to do this, of course. Wealthy Middle Eastern men then began to use these rings as wedding bands for their wives, who were often forced to wear a puzzle ring when their husband was away. The husband would know upon his return whether any of his wives had been disloyal by removing the ring whilst he was away, because the ring was designed to collapse upon removal and could only be put together again if you had the skill and knowledge required.
EUROPEANS
Several centuries ago, the Europeans became rather taken with what we would class as an engagement ring, but was then called a Poesy Ring. This ring was given to a loved one as a form of promise, and signified fidelity and love. The Poesy Ring was offered as a pledge of eternal togetherness, much as today's engagement rings are offered as a promise of eternal marriage.
AMERICANS
During Colonial times, all items of jewellery in America were prohibited due to their apparent moral worthlessness. Instead, a more practical thimble was given as a token of love and as a pledge of eternal togetherness. However, after they were married, the women tended to remove the bottom of their "engagement thimble" to form a type of ring.
History Of Engagement Rings
The engagement ring of today also has its own varied and interesting history, some of which is explored below. Engagement rings have been known by many different names, have symbolised a variety of different things and have not always been made of precious metals and stunning gems!
GREEKS
The ancient Greeks are thought to have been the forerunners in the rising of the traditional engagement ring. Given as a token of care and affection, the rings used by the Greeks were known as betrothal rings and were given before marriage. However, the giving of these rings was not always a pre-requisite to marriage and was often given in the same way as a friendship ring might be given today.
ROMANS
As seen by their use of the wedding ring, ancient Romans weren't the most sentimental of people, and the early version of their "engagement ring" were thought to have carved keys on them. It has been debated that this could have been to symbolise the woman's right to access and own half of everything following marriage. However, the more sentimental like to think that the key may have been a key to her husband's heart.
ROYALTY AND THE AFFLUENT
Engagement rings as we know them today - stunning gems encased in precious metals - became popular in around the fourteenth or fifteenth century, when the affluent and the royals began to exchange and wear these jewels. However, these items were so expensive that nobody other than the royals and the rich could afford to exchange them. It was to be many centuries before these engagement rings would become more popular or traditional.
Why a ring?
The purpose of engagement rings and wedding bands is to convey deep emotions of eternal love, eternal happiness, eternal commitment, and eternal togetherness. In fact, these rings signify eternity - between the giver and the recipient. A ring, of course, is a complete circle with no break and no end or beginning, which means that it just goes on and on - it is eternal.
And, since folklore has it that the fourth finger of the left hand has a vein leading directly to the heart, it is only natural that both engagement and wedding rings would be worn on this particular finger, which was once reputed to be a direct route to the heart.
Summary
In short, it is clear that the giving of a ring in honour of a union, betrothal, and marriage has been going on since ancient times, and although it may not always have been as glamorous and romantic as it is today, it was still a way of exchanging a contract of betrothal or marriage.
Thankfully, today's wedding bands and engagement rings are not made of hair, grass, plants or twine as they may have been in ancient times, but of beautiful metals set with stunning gems, such as platinum, titanium, white gold, gold, sapphires, diamonds, rubies and emeralds. These incredible items of jewellery are likely to remain as popular as ever as the centuries go by, and even as the rest of the world advances in to a futuristic and technological age, it's hard to imagine a day where a beautiful diamond engagement ring doesn't melt the heart of its recipient.
Both wedding bands and engagement rings are very special items of jewellery; in fact, they are more than just jewellery - they are the symbols of many emotions and promises such as:
Love
Commitment
Fidelity
Eternity
Honour
But where - and why - did these popular and sentimental pieces of jewellery stem from?
The History Of Wedding Bands
These items of jewellery have a history that spans many centuries and passes through many countries from all around the planet. Below, you will find a brief history of the wedding and engagement ring, as reported from country to country.
EGYPTIANS
The now-famous wedding band is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt, where it is said that plant sections were fashioned in to circles to signify never-ending and immortal love. It was thought that the fourth finger (which we now know as the ring finger) contained a special vein that was connected directly to the heart, and therefore this became the official finger for the wedding band.
ROMANS
The Romans also agreed with the Egyptians with regards to the wedding ring finger and its meaning, but rather than offering wedding bands as a symbol of love, they awarded them as a symbol of ownership. Roman men would "claim" their woman with the giving of a ring.
ASIANS / ARABS
Puzzle rings were a complex type of jewellery that were once popular in Asia, and these jewels had the charming knack of being able to fall apart and put back together again - if you knew how to do this, of course. Wealthy Middle Eastern men then began to use these rings as wedding bands for their wives, who were often forced to wear a puzzle ring when their husband was away. The husband would know upon his return whether any of his wives had been disloyal by removing the ring whilst he was away, because the ring was designed to collapse upon removal and could only be put together again if you had the skill and knowledge required.
EUROPEANS
Several centuries ago, the Europeans became rather taken with what we would class as an engagement ring, but was then called a Poesy Ring. This ring was given to a loved one as a form of promise, and signified fidelity and love. The Poesy Ring was offered as a pledge of eternal togetherness, much as today's engagement rings are offered as a promise of eternal marriage.
AMERICANS
During Colonial times, all items of jewellery in America were prohibited due to their apparent moral worthlessness. Instead, a more practical thimble was given as a token of love and as a pledge of eternal togetherness. However, after they were married, the women tended to remove the bottom of their "engagement thimble" to form a type of ring.
History Of Engagement Rings
The engagement ring of today also has its own varied and interesting history, some of which is explored below. Engagement rings have been known by many different names, have symbolised a variety of different things and have not always been made of precious metals and stunning gems!
GREEKS
The ancient Greeks are thought to have been the forerunners in the rising of the traditional engagement ring. Given as a token of care and affection, the rings used by the Greeks were known as betrothal rings and were given before marriage. However, the giving of these rings was not always a pre-requisite to marriage and was often given in the same way as a friendship ring might be given today.
ROMANS
As seen by their use of the wedding ring, ancient Romans weren't the most sentimental of people, and the early version of their "engagement ring" were thought to have carved keys on them. It has been debated that this could have been to symbolise the woman's right to access and own half of everything following marriage. However, the more sentimental like to think that the key may have been a key to her husband's heart.
ROYALTY AND THE AFFLUENT
Engagement rings as we know them today - stunning gems encased in precious metals - became popular in around the fourteenth or fifteenth century, when the affluent and the royals began to exchange and wear these jewels. However, these items were so expensive that nobody other than the royals and the rich could afford to exchange them. It was to be many centuries before these engagement rings would become more popular or traditional.
Why a ring?
The purpose of engagement rings and wedding bands is to convey deep emotions of eternal love, eternal happiness, eternal commitment, and eternal togetherness. In fact, these rings signify eternity - between the giver and the recipient. A ring, of course, is a complete circle with no break and no end or beginning, which means that it just goes on and on - it is eternal.
And, since folklore has it that the fourth finger of the left hand has a vein leading directly to the heart, it is only natural that both engagement and wedding rings would be worn on this particular finger, which was once reputed to be a direct route to the heart.
Summary
In short, it is clear that the giving of a ring in honour of a union, betrothal, and marriage has been going on since ancient times, and although it may not always have been as glamorous and romantic as it is today, it was still a way of exchanging a contract of betrothal or marriage.
Thankfully, today's wedding bands and engagement rings are not made of hair, grass, plants or twine as they may have been in ancient times, but of beautiful metals set with stunning gems, such as platinum, titanium, white gold, gold, sapphires, diamonds, rubies and emeralds. These incredible items of jewellery are likely to remain as popular as ever as the centuries go by, and even as the rest of the world advances in to a futuristic and technological age, it's hard to imagine a day where a beautiful diamond engagement ring doesn't melt the heart of its recipient.
Men's Platinum Wedding Bands
Platinum is a rare, extremely long wearing, natural white luster metal. However, it can be used in its purest form when used in jewelry. Platinum does not require being rhodium plated like white gold. One advantage of platinum rings is that they can be cut-off the finger in the event of an emergency.
Since platinum is a very dense, heavy metal, so a platinum ring is usually heavier than an 18ct gold ring. Platinum is also more durable than gold and so is more preferred for wedding bands. However, because of all these positive characteristics of platinum, it is significantly more expensive than gold, approximately twice the price of an 18ct white gold ring. Platinum provides an excellent backdrop for diamonds but is equally elegant alone. Most men prefer platinum wedding bands, if they can afford it, because of its streamlined beauty, and hypoallergenic proprieties.
Taking into account it's rarity and cost, the selection of men's platinum wedding rings is obviously smaller than the ranges available for gold and titanium rings.
Most men, when choosing a platinum wedding band, tend to opt for the simpler version, even though platinum allows for maximum versatility. A simple platinum men's wedding band can be bought for as much as about $145 with no specific higher range. Most platinum rings are made on a thick extruded blank. It is suggested to ask the vendors to clearly display the thickness and the weigh of the rings. Platinum rings can be made with a comfort-fit also for more comfortable wearing. Platinum rings can be set with precious stones, like Rubies or Blue Sapphires, instead of diamonds, or a combination of precious stones and diamonds.
Mens Wedding Bands provides detailed information about men's wedding bands, men's diamond wedding bands, men's gold wedding bands and more. Mens Wedding Bands is affiliated with Moissanite Rings.
Since platinum is a very dense, heavy metal, so a platinum ring is usually heavier than an 18ct gold ring. Platinum is also more durable than gold and so is more preferred for wedding bands. However, because of all these positive characteristics of platinum, it is significantly more expensive than gold, approximately twice the price of an 18ct white gold ring. Platinum provides an excellent backdrop for diamonds but is equally elegant alone. Most men prefer platinum wedding bands, if they can afford it, because of its streamlined beauty, and hypoallergenic proprieties.
Taking into account it's rarity and cost, the selection of men's platinum wedding rings is obviously smaller than the ranges available for gold and titanium rings.
Most men, when choosing a platinum wedding band, tend to opt for the simpler version, even though platinum allows for maximum versatility. A simple platinum men's wedding band can be bought for as much as about $145 with no specific higher range. Most platinum rings are made on a thick extruded blank. It is suggested to ask the vendors to clearly display the thickness and the weigh of the rings. Platinum rings can be made with a comfort-fit also for more comfortable wearing. Platinum rings can be set with precious stones, like Rubies or Blue Sapphires, instead of diamonds, or a combination of precious stones and diamonds.
Mens Wedding Bands provides detailed information about men's wedding bands, men's diamond wedding bands, men's gold wedding bands and more. Mens Wedding Bands is affiliated with Moissanite Rings.
Celtic Wedding Bands: The Perfect Touch to Traditional Irish Weddings
There are many Irish brides who long for the conventional Irish wedding, especially those who are no longer living in their homeland. This is because many of them would want a ceremony that would honor not only her country but also the ancestry of her family as well. Because of the mystical and ancient traditions that come with them, having a traditional Irish wedding and attending one can be very heartwarming. So, if you are one of the brides who long to have an Irish wedding, then it is also wise if you will decide on having Celtic wedding bands as well. This will add a perfect touch to your wedding and make it more Irish than most, aside from the usual dancing, conventional poetry, and songs.
Celtic Wedding Bands as Part of Your Wedding Jewelry
Now, if you really want to be seen as a conventional Irish bride, then it is best that you wear Celtic jewelry. The most important jewelry that you would have to wear on your wedding day is, of course, the wedding ring. Conventional Irish wedding bands like silver or gold Celtic wedding bands add more meaning to your wedding day because they hold great symbolisms that are very much fitting for your blessed union. These Celtic wedding bands hold particular representations like love, commitment, loyalty, friendship, eternity, and everlasting life.
There are many styles and designs of Celtic wedding rings like the Claddagh wedding bands that hold much tradition and history that would be perfect for you and your husband to be. The Claddagh wedding ring bears the symbol of joined hands holding a crowned heart while most of the other Celtic wedding bands bear the Trinity knot or the Triskele. Now, while there are a great number of choices of Celtic wedding bands for the bride, there are a variety of choices for the groom as well. Whether he will go for the gold or silver Celtic wedding bands, he will surely be able to get one that fits his preference.
Finding the Perfect Celtic Wedding Bands
Couples looking for Celtic wedding bands nowadays won't really have that much difficulty in finding a shop that sells them. This is because there are now a great number of offline and online shops that sell Celtic jewelry including wedding rings.
If you don't have much time to go around the mall looking for the best shop that offers the rings that you like, then the best thing that you can do is go for online shopping. The great thing about looking for Celtic wedding bands this way is that you are able to view a great number of choices in lesser time. You can choose from silver or gold Celtic wedding bands that may or may not be inlaid with precious stones like diamonds, sapphires, or emeralds. If you will view the offerings of online shops, you will be able to see the most simple to the grandest wedding bands in just a few minutes and perhaps be able to make your choice in a much lesser time than it would take if you were at the mall.
So visit Irish Indeed! now and look into their offerings of Celtic wedding bands. You will not only be able to find the Celtic ring that you have in mind here but you will also be able to find prices that are within your budget.
Celtic Wedding Bands: the truly Irish collections at http://www.irishindeed.com/
Celtic Wedding Bands as Part of Your Wedding Jewelry
Now, if you really want to be seen as a conventional Irish bride, then it is best that you wear Celtic jewelry. The most important jewelry that you would have to wear on your wedding day is, of course, the wedding ring. Conventional Irish wedding bands like silver or gold Celtic wedding bands add more meaning to your wedding day because they hold great symbolisms that are very much fitting for your blessed union. These Celtic wedding bands hold particular representations like love, commitment, loyalty, friendship, eternity, and everlasting life.
There are many styles and designs of Celtic wedding rings like the Claddagh wedding bands that hold much tradition and history that would be perfect for you and your husband to be. The Claddagh wedding ring bears the symbol of joined hands holding a crowned heart while most of the other Celtic wedding bands bear the Trinity knot or the Triskele. Now, while there are a great number of choices of Celtic wedding bands for the bride, there are a variety of choices for the groom as well. Whether he will go for the gold or silver Celtic wedding bands, he will surely be able to get one that fits his preference.
Finding the Perfect Celtic Wedding Bands
Couples looking for Celtic wedding bands nowadays won't really have that much difficulty in finding a shop that sells them. This is because there are now a great number of offline and online shops that sell Celtic jewelry including wedding rings.
If you don't have much time to go around the mall looking for the best shop that offers the rings that you like, then the best thing that you can do is go for online shopping. The great thing about looking for Celtic wedding bands this way is that you are able to view a great number of choices in lesser time. You can choose from silver or gold Celtic wedding bands that may or may not be inlaid with precious stones like diamonds, sapphires, or emeralds. If you will view the offerings of online shops, you will be able to see the most simple to the grandest wedding bands in just a few minutes and perhaps be able to make your choice in a much lesser time than it would take if you were at the mall.
So visit Irish Indeed! now and look into their offerings of Celtic wedding bands. You will not only be able to find the Celtic ring that you have in mind here but you will also be able to find prices that are within your budget.
Celtic Wedding Bands: the truly Irish collections at http://www.irishindeed.com/
Wedding Band, Understanding Your Wedding Band
Wedding Band, What You Should Know About Your Wedding Band.
Most people would know what a wedding band is and how it looks. A wedding band could be worn by males and females. Most wedding band designs would be simple and suitable for men and ladies. A wedding is a solemn occassion that brings together two individuals for the rest of their lives. It is now getting increasingly popular for couples to wear similar wedding bands, these are referred to as wedding band pairs. Such wedding bands would have a similar design but differ in ring size and dimension. It is quite obvious that a wedding band would be expected to be strong and sturdy and last for a long time. In this article, we will provide information and suggestions that would help you choose your wedding band. Most of the information would be relevant to all good quality jewels and not just wedding bands, so do spend some time reading the information.
Dimensions of the wedding band: This would include the band width and the ring size of your ring. Most men's wedding bands would have a width of around 8mm to 12mm, ladies would prefer their wedding band to have a width of around 5mm to 7mm. The choice is largely based on personal preference but, there is one feature that needs to be considered. This is the metal weight of your wedding band, a large wedding band with low metal weight cannot be sturdy. It is better to go for a narrow wedding band with good weight rather than, a wide wedding band with low weight. Low weight would mean low thickness of the metal, this will make your wedding band bend or deform easily.
Gemstone choice and mounting: A wedding band could be a plain simple ring without any gemstones or diamonds. You can also have a wedding band with a gemstone or diamond in the ring. A wedding band with many small gems or diamonds needs to have a healthy metal weight. This is required for firm mounting of the diamonds and gems in the ring. Remember to consider the gemstone when choosing the design for your wedding band. Certain gems like rubies, sapphires, emeralds and tanzanite can be very expensive in large sizes. A wedding band with a moderate size for the gemstone would be suitable in such cases. The type of mounting used for the gemstone in your wedding band will also influence the durability of the ring. Flimsy prongs can open up and loosen the gemstone or diamond. A firm mounting with metal all around would be ideal, this will however require the wedding band to have a good metal weight.
Silver or gold: There is no hard and fast rule regarding the metal choice for a wedding band. You could choose a gold or silver wedding band depending on your likes and budget. If you are thinking of a silver wedding band, make sure that your jeweller is willing to provide you with good design options, good craftsmanship and good gemstone options. There is no reason why you should accept, inferior quality material and craftsmanship for a sterling silver wedding band. For a gold wedding band with many gems or diamonds, or a wedding band with an intricate design 14k gold offers better hardness as compared to 18k gold. Jewellers promise anti-tarnish treatments for silver rings, do not believe this as any plating on silver will wear off over time. The rate at which the plating on your silver wedding band will wear off depends on the climate, water composition, environment etc. A good jeweller would offer similar design and gemstone options for gold and silver rings. This works to your advantage as a silver wedding band would be priced lower than a gold wedding band.
Enhance the meaning: Since a wedding band is a special occassion jewel, you could consider including features that would increase the meaning of the ring. Etchings inside or outside the band, including a birthstone or exchanging birthstones would be good options. There is another very interesting way in which more meaning could be added to your wedding band. This involves etching or creating forms all around the wedding band. For example, a musician could have musical notes created all around the band. You could also choose to order a pair of celtic wedding bands, or a claddagh wedding band.
Remember that a wedding band is about you and your spouse. Look at various options, think of various ideas and then discuss them with your jeweller. If your jeweller is only interested in working with a small set of standard moulds that he has, find another jeweller. A personalized wedding band increases the bond between the couple, this makes a tremendous impact when the couple is geographically apart. A perfect example is for men working with the armed forces, their duty could take them far away from home for long durations. On such occassions, a carefully selected pair of wedding bands can strengthen bonds between the couple despite the physical distance.
You can see a classic collection of wedding bands at this link. Get a few ideas, use your imagination and then work with a jeweller that you feel comfortable with.
http://www.weddingband.kaijewels.com
Thanks and God Bless.
Ms.Tuk
Most people would know what a wedding band is and how it looks. A wedding band could be worn by males and females. Most wedding band designs would be simple and suitable for men and ladies. A wedding is a solemn occassion that brings together two individuals for the rest of their lives. It is now getting increasingly popular for couples to wear similar wedding bands, these are referred to as wedding band pairs. Such wedding bands would have a similar design but differ in ring size and dimension. It is quite obvious that a wedding band would be expected to be strong and sturdy and last for a long time. In this article, we will provide information and suggestions that would help you choose your wedding band. Most of the information would be relevant to all good quality jewels and not just wedding bands, so do spend some time reading the information.
Dimensions of the wedding band: This would include the band width and the ring size of your ring. Most men's wedding bands would have a width of around 8mm to 12mm, ladies would prefer their wedding band to have a width of around 5mm to 7mm. The choice is largely based on personal preference but, there is one feature that needs to be considered. This is the metal weight of your wedding band, a large wedding band with low metal weight cannot be sturdy. It is better to go for a narrow wedding band with good weight rather than, a wide wedding band with low weight. Low weight would mean low thickness of the metal, this will make your wedding band bend or deform easily.
Gemstone choice and mounting: A wedding band could be a plain simple ring without any gemstones or diamonds. You can also have a wedding band with a gemstone or diamond in the ring. A wedding band with many small gems or diamonds needs to have a healthy metal weight. This is required for firm mounting of the diamonds and gems in the ring. Remember to consider the gemstone when choosing the design for your wedding band. Certain gems like rubies, sapphires, emeralds and tanzanite can be very expensive in large sizes. A wedding band with a moderate size for the gemstone would be suitable in such cases. The type of mounting used for the gemstone in your wedding band will also influence the durability of the ring. Flimsy prongs can open up and loosen the gemstone or diamond. A firm mounting with metal all around would be ideal, this will however require the wedding band to have a good metal weight.
Silver or gold: There is no hard and fast rule regarding the metal choice for a wedding band. You could choose a gold or silver wedding band depending on your likes and budget. If you are thinking of a silver wedding band, make sure that your jeweller is willing to provide you with good design options, good craftsmanship and good gemstone options. There is no reason why you should accept, inferior quality material and craftsmanship for a sterling silver wedding band. For a gold wedding band with many gems or diamonds, or a wedding band with an intricate design 14k gold offers better hardness as compared to 18k gold. Jewellers promise anti-tarnish treatments for silver rings, do not believe this as any plating on silver will wear off over time. The rate at which the plating on your silver wedding band will wear off depends on the climate, water composition, environment etc. A good jeweller would offer similar design and gemstone options for gold and silver rings. This works to your advantage as a silver wedding band would be priced lower than a gold wedding band.
Enhance the meaning: Since a wedding band is a special occassion jewel, you could consider including features that would increase the meaning of the ring. Etchings inside or outside the band, including a birthstone or exchanging birthstones would be good options. There is another very interesting way in which more meaning could be added to your wedding band. This involves etching or creating forms all around the wedding band. For example, a musician could have musical notes created all around the band. You could also choose to order a pair of celtic wedding bands, or a claddagh wedding band.
Remember that a wedding band is about you and your spouse. Look at various options, think of various ideas and then discuss them with your jeweller. If your jeweller is only interested in working with a small set of standard moulds that he has, find another jeweller. A personalized wedding band increases the bond between the couple, this makes a tremendous impact when the couple is geographically apart. A perfect example is for men working with the armed forces, their duty could take them far away from home for long durations. On such occassions, a carefully selected pair of wedding bands can strengthen bonds between the couple despite the physical distance.
You can see a classic collection of wedding bands at this link. Get a few ideas, use your imagination and then work with a jeweller that you feel comfortable with.
http://www.weddingband.kaijewels.com
Thanks and God Bless.
Ms.Tuk
Choosing Platinum For Your Wedding Bands or Wedding Rings
A wedding is the most unforgettable event in every couples life. This might only happen once in a lifetime. Where a man and a woman are pronounced as husband and wife after sliding of their wedding rings or wedding bands in each others fingers. Wedding rings plays an important part in a wedding and an important role in every couples relationship. Most couples prefers to have a wedding rings that will truly last for a lifetime. Of course, they were bind by wedding rings to live together. “For richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do they partâ€. That is a promise of a lifetime commitment between a man and a woman and a lasting wedding band is important. For an original wedding ring given can never be replaced even if it's of the same kind. The sentimental value matter most. When it comes to metal bands used for wedding rings, there's actually a lot of choices and decision to make before considering the perfect one. You can go with the most popular bands for wedding rings, yellow and white gold, titanium, silver and platinum. If you are looking for a metal band that will truly last long, then platinum is a must. It is the hardest and the most durable metal. This type of band is great for persons who do hard labor. For it doesn't affects or changes the color and clarity no matter how many times you soak it in liquids, soap and in any chemicals. Some people have allergies with other metal bands like the gold and silver. Platinum is sensitive to mans skin, it doesn't really irritates and cost allergies to human skin. Platinum is as trendy and modern as with other metal bands. Any choices of stones amazingly looks elegant. It does not cost as much or as expensive as gold. You can start purchasing a platinum ring with a limited budget. Though quality and beauty of rings depends on the cost of it. The greater the quality is, the higher the value. Platinum goes well with any kinds of gemstones. The most popular is diamond. It can be cut into princess cut, tiffany cut and the most popular cut for engagement rings, the three- stoned diamond cut design. It might cost expensive once you choose diamonds as stone for your wedding ring but it's worth it to keep. A simple wedding band with the sprinkled of diamonds totally matches with a woman's diamond wedding ring. A platinum wedding band is perfect for men who only wears ring to display it's status for it last for a lifetime. Other gemstones to consider are sapphire, emerald, topaz, turquoise and pearl for women's wedding rings. So if you want to have a wedding ring that will both keep your relationship as old as forever, better go for platinum wedding rings. I assure you, you will never regret choosing platinum as metal band for you and your bride's to be wedding rings.
Latoya Jones is a writer and webmaster of Rokstok.com. She is engaged in composing articles related to Engagement" target="_blank">www.rokstok.com">Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings , rings, wedding bands and diamond rings.
Gold Wedding Band Information
Wedding bands can be created out of 14k or 18k gold but there are specific issues that you need to realize before you decide on the type of gold you want for your wedding band. 14k gold is harder compared to 18k gold and this will make an impact in terms of the long term sturdiness of your wedding band. In it's purest state, gold is extremely soft and should not be used for jewelry making. It is commonly mixed with other metals such as copper or silver to make it more hard and better suited to holding up in the process of jewelry production. 14 karat gold will have at least 58 parts of pure gold for every 100. The remaining 42% would be made of the other metals that have been added to make it harder. To create 18k gold, the metals added to the pure gold would consist of 25% of the piece, whereas 75% would be pure gold. You would think that 18k would be a good choice for all wedding bands since it is more precious than 14k. This is not always the case, however.
Before moving forward with this discussion, it is important to emphasize that both yellow and white gold have exactly the same hardness. As explained previously, the hardness of gold depends on what karat the gold is, since 14k gold being harder than 18k gold. When you are deciding between yellow or white gold for your wedding band you should also think about the color of the gems (if any) that will be set in the ring. Some gemstones, such as rubies, topaz, emeralds, and citrine etc look fine in either white or yellow gold band rings. However, for the darker gemstones such as dark blue sapphires, white gold tends to enhance the color contrast between the white of the gold and the darkness of the gemstone. This will causes the dark sapphire to look even darker and sometimes black in many cases. If you are not sure about what stone looks good with your choice of gold color, you might want to ask a friend for their advice.
Before moving forward with this discussion, it is important to emphasize that both yellow and white gold have exactly the same hardness. As explained previously, the hardness of gold depends on what karat the gold is, since 14k gold being harder than 18k gold. When you are deciding between yellow or white gold for your wedding band you should also think about the color of the gems (if any) that will be set in the ring. Some gemstones, such as rubies, topaz, emeralds, and citrine etc look fine in either white or yellow gold band rings. However, for the darker gemstones such as dark blue sapphires, white gold tends to enhance the color contrast between the white of the gold and the darkness of the gemstone. This will causes the dark sapphire to look even darker and sometimes black in many cases. If you are not sure about what stone looks good with your choice of gold color, you might want to ask a friend for their advice.
Lori writes articles about wedding band and coffee table info.
Wedding Band, Information and History Of Wedding Bands
History and Meaning Of Wedding Bands:
The wedding band has been worn as a symbol of marriage for many centuries. Few people know that it was not always a silver or gold wedding band that was worn, the earliest wedding bands were made of the stem from a plant. The Egyptians are credited with creating and wearing the first wedding band and this was cut out from the stem of a plant. The circular shape of the Eyptian wedding band was supposed to represent, never ending love. The Romans gave the same meaning to their wedding bands, but gave it to their lady with the aim of staking their 'claim' or 'ownership' to her. Wedding bands gained popularity in ancient Asia too and in the Middle East, puzzle ring wedding bands were worn by ladies to prove faithfulness to their husband. A puzzle wedding band is actually made up of many rings that, when worn correctly fit together to form a band ring. A lady who wore a wedding band showed to the world, that she was married and would be faithful to her husband. If she ever took the ring off her finger, it would be very difficult for her to get the puzzle rings correctly together again and the husband would know that his wife had been unfaithful. In colonial America, jewelry was considered to have no moral value and was largely prohibited. Ladies wore thimbles as engagement or promise rings, after marriage the bottom portion of the thimble was taken off leaving just the top portion on the finger. This looked quite like a wedding band and the tradition carried on for many years.
Marriage is a solemn commitment between two individuals to stay together in good times and bad. The wedding band has gradually evolved from the original plant stem and people today wear wedding bands made from precious metals like gold, silver and platinum. Extravagant wedding bands studded with precious gemstones and diamonds are now quite common. You could wear a simple wedding band made from gold or silver or go for a stunning diamond set wedding band, but the meaning and significance of your wedding band will remain the same. It requires an earnest commitment from the husband and wife to make a marriage work and the relationhip flourish, a wedding band is a symbol of marriage and just one part of the institution of marriage.
Wedding Band, Gold Options:
The gold option for wedding bands would include the consideration of 14k or 18k gold for your wedding band. Another aspect would be the selection of yellow or white gold for the ring and also include the option for a two tone wedding band that combines white and yellow gold in the same ring. The main difference between 14k and 18k gold is the gold content in the two, 14k gold has around 58% pure gold and 42% of an alloy of other metals. 18K gold has 75% of pure gold and 25% of other metal alloys. From this comparison it would appear that, 18k gold with a higher content of pure gold would always be better for making jewelry. However the important fact is that 14k gold is much harder than 18k gold and hardness is important in many jewels. For example, in the case of men's wedding bands or large rings and even wedding bands with many gemstones or diamonds, good hardness is required to make the wedding band sturdy and also keep the gemstones and diamonds firmly mounted. The choice of a 14k wedding band or an 18k wedding band would depend on the size of the ring, the frequency with which the wedding band would be worn, the number of gems and diamonds in the ring and also the conditions in which the ring would be worn.
The choice of a white gold wedding band or a wedding band in yellow gold would largely depend on personal likes and dislikes. Both yellow and white gold wedding bands will have the same degree of hardness. There is one important consideration when choosing the gold color for your wedding band, a dark colored gemstone would appear even darker when set in white gold. This is because of the stark color contrast between the white gold and the dark colored gemstone.
The two tone wedding band offers an interesting option especially in cases where plain wedding bands are made without gemstones or diamonds. You can choose to have a white gold wedding band with only the edges made in yellow gold or vice versa. Even simple diamond wedding bands can be made with the two tone gold option to add a touch of elegance to the ring.
Choosing The Finishing For Your Wedding Band:
The finishing of wedding bands can change the overall look and feel of your ring. There are three main types of finishing used in rings. The first type is the high polish finish which is also the most common. The second type is a dull or brushed finish that is produced by a process referred to as 'sand blasting'. White gold wedding bands with diamonds are quite often made with the dull finish, as this gives the ring a sophisticated and expensive look. It is also possible to combine finish types in the same wedding band. For example, a two tone wedding band could have the entire ring in a dull finish leaving just the edges with a high polish look. The third type of finish is not very common and provides a hammered look to the wedding band. The outside of the ring is created with an uneven surface and is more suited for a man wedding band.
Gemstone Wedding Bands:
Wedding bands with gemstones are getting to be quite popular and the design selections are huge. However, you need to select the right type of gemstone depending on the design of your wedding band. A large gemstone wedding band will make it necessary to create a large band width for the ring and this might not be to your liking. You can also increase the meaning and significance of a wedding band by setting a birthstone in the ring. Some gemstones need special care when jewelry is worn or stored so make sure that your jeweller keeps you well informed. You can check your birthstone from our detailed birthstone charts at this link www.kaisilver.com/birth-chart-stone.htm. Another important thing about a gem stone wedding band is the way the gem stone is set in the ring. Prong type of settings tend to stick in pockets and other places, this causes the gemstone to loosen as the prongs gradually open up. Thin prongs can also poke or scratch delicate skin. A good option for setting the gemstone in your gem stone wedding band is to border the entire gemstone with gold. If the design of your wedding band requires the gem stone to be set using prongs, ensure that the prongs are sturdy and do not include any sharp edges.
Diamond Wedding Band:
Wedding bands with diamonds can be made with a diamond as the main stone of the ring or with diamonds as the side stones. Diamonds are quite expensive especially in larger sizes and this causes the price tag of a diamond wedding band to be quite stiff. There is one important aspect that you should know before buying diamond wedding bands and that is about the appearance of the diamonds. Cheap quality diamonds are available but look awful, these diamonds will be opaque and have a powdery look. When you think of a diamond wedding band you will imagine the glitter and glamour of diamonds on your finger, so make sure that the diamonds in the ring will look gorgeous at least to the naked eye. Such diamonds will not be the best quality but a wedding band with these would look awesome and yet not cost you a fortune. Most jewellers will not want to tell you this as, all they wait want is to push the best diamond at a massive price and reap huge profit margins from a single sale! Diamond wedding bands are generally made in white gold and combined with a dull finish look simply stunning.
Round diamonds are the most common shape and wedding bands with round diamonds are therefore very popular. Next is the square or princess cut diamond that is a good choice for a diamond wedding band. Fancy shaped diamonds include heart shape diamonds, pear shaped diamonds and even trillion shaped diamonds. A wedding band with a fancy shape diamond would carry a premium price tag as fancy shaped diamonds are quite rare and therefore quite expensive.
Most diamonds that we talk of are white diamonds which are actually colorless. You will however notice that quite a few diamond wedding bands have diamonds that are yellow, blue, green or a few other colors. For colored diamonds you have two options, the first option is to use natural colored diamonds which are terribly expensive. The next option is more affordable as, white diamonds are treated to enhance and change color and then available as colored diamonds. You should remember that a diamond that is color enhanced has the same hardness as compared to a naturally white diamond. Colored diamonds are a good choice for wedding bands where diamonds are used as side stones to add accent to the center gem stone. For example, a blue sapphire wedding band could have a prominent blue sapphire in the center with small blue diamonds on either side.
Wedding Band Pair:
Since marriage is a commitment of two individuals staying together for the rest of their lives, a pair of wedding bands symbolises the feeling of togetherness and unity. A wedding band pair is basically two wedding bands with a similar design, one for the bride and the other for the bridegroom. The difference between the rings could be just the size of the wedding band or a difference in gemstones set in the pair of wedding bands. In general, it is expected that, the men's wedding band would have a slightly wider band width as compared to the wedding band worn by the lady. In cases where a wedding band pair is made with birthstones, each ring could have the birthstone of the person wearing the ring. It is now becoming a popular trend to wear wedding band pairs where, the husband and wife exchange their birthstone in each others rings. These rings can be worn as white gold wedding band pairs or as as a pair of wedding bands in yellow gold.
Wedding Bands and Long Term Durability:
This is perhaps the most important issue concerning wedding bands, it is also the issue that is down played the most by sellers and jewellers. As a symbol of life long commitment for two individuals to live together forever, a wedding band should be strong and long lasting. This would mean that wedding bands would be made with good gold weight, good design and gemstones that are durable and well mounted. As expected, buyers are impressed by the design of wedding bands and the price tag! Sellers are aware of this and flood markets with merchandise that is light and flimsy and bearing a 'friendly' price tag. The main point to understand is that these low priced wedding bands are cheap only in the short term. In the long run, you will end up paying expensive repairs and modification costs and this will add up to the final cost of owning the wedding band. In some cases, low gold weight could also mean badly mounted gemstones and diamonds, this could result in the stones dropping off! For stones like diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and even tanzanite, the cost of gemstone could easily exceed the value of the gold in your wedding band. Replacing such a stone would burn ! a deep hole in your wallet.
Custom Wedding Band:
It is not very difficult to find readymade wedding bands as most jewellers would stock a selection of these rings. However, given the meaning and significance of a wedding band, most buyers would like to have a wedding band that is personalized to their liking and preference. You might come across a wedding band with a stunning design, but the gemstone might not be what you wanted. The gemstone that you prefer may be set in a wedding band that has a lousy design! A custom wedding band can be made with a design of your choice and include the gemstone or diamond that you need. The gold color, ring size, finish type can all be handled as you please. Another important thing to note is that, most readymade wedding bands would be made with the intention of attracting mass markets. This also means that they will compromise on gold weight and also gemstone quality inorder to keep the price tag attractive. For a ring that is as important as a wedding band, you will be better off ordering a custom wedding band where you are not expected to compromise on anything.
You can find a complete report on wedding bands at this link: http://www.weddingband.kaijewels.com/wedding-band-information-kj-01.htm you will also see good examples of how wedding bands should be.
Will be back with more interesting information regarding gemstones and jewelry.
Thanks and God Bless.
Ms.Tuk
http://www.kaisilver.com
The wedding band has been worn as a symbol of marriage for many centuries. Few people know that it was not always a silver or gold wedding band that was worn, the earliest wedding bands were made of the stem from a plant. The Egyptians are credited with creating and wearing the first wedding band and this was cut out from the stem of a plant. The circular shape of the Eyptian wedding band was supposed to represent, never ending love. The Romans gave the same meaning to their wedding bands, but gave it to their lady with the aim of staking their 'claim' or 'ownership' to her. Wedding bands gained popularity in ancient Asia too and in the Middle East, puzzle ring wedding bands were worn by ladies to prove faithfulness to their husband. A puzzle wedding band is actually made up of many rings that, when worn correctly fit together to form a band ring. A lady who wore a wedding band showed to the world, that she was married and would be faithful to her husband. If she ever took the ring off her finger, it would be very difficult for her to get the puzzle rings correctly together again and the husband would know that his wife had been unfaithful. In colonial America, jewelry was considered to have no moral value and was largely prohibited. Ladies wore thimbles as engagement or promise rings, after marriage the bottom portion of the thimble was taken off leaving just the top portion on the finger. This looked quite like a wedding band and the tradition carried on for many years.
Marriage is a solemn commitment between two individuals to stay together in good times and bad. The wedding band has gradually evolved from the original plant stem and people today wear wedding bands made from precious metals like gold, silver and platinum. Extravagant wedding bands studded with precious gemstones and diamonds are now quite common. You could wear a simple wedding band made from gold or silver or go for a stunning diamond set wedding band, but the meaning and significance of your wedding band will remain the same. It requires an earnest commitment from the husband and wife to make a marriage work and the relationhip flourish, a wedding band is a symbol of marriage and just one part of the institution of marriage.
Wedding Band, Gold Options:
The gold option for wedding bands would include the consideration of 14k or 18k gold for your wedding band. Another aspect would be the selection of yellow or white gold for the ring and also include the option for a two tone wedding band that combines white and yellow gold in the same ring. The main difference between 14k and 18k gold is the gold content in the two, 14k gold has around 58% pure gold and 42% of an alloy of other metals. 18K gold has 75% of pure gold and 25% of other metal alloys. From this comparison it would appear that, 18k gold with a higher content of pure gold would always be better for making jewelry. However the important fact is that 14k gold is much harder than 18k gold and hardness is important in many jewels. For example, in the case of men's wedding bands or large rings and even wedding bands with many gemstones or diamonds, good hardness is required to make the wedding band sturdy and also keep the gemstones and diamonds firmly mounted. The choice of a 14k wedding band or an 18k wedding band would depend on the size of the ring, the frequency with which the wedding band would be worn, the number of gems and diamonds in the ring and also the conditions in which the ring would be worn.
The choice of a white gold wedding band or a wedding band in yellow gold would largely depend on personal likes and dislikes. Both yellow and white gold wedding bands will have the same degree of hardness. There is one important consideration when choosing the gold color for your wedding band, a dark colored gemstone would appear even darker when set in white gold. This is because of the stark color contrast between the white gold and the dark colored gemstone.
The two tone wedding band offers an interesting option especially in cases where plain wedding bands are made without gemstones or diamonds. You can choose to have a white gold wedding band with only the edges made in yellow gold or vice versa. Even simple diamond wedding bands can be made with the two tone gold option to add a touch of elegance to the ring.
Choosing The Finishing For Your Wedding Band:
The finishing of wedding bands can change the overall look and feel of your ring. There are three main types of finishing used in rings. The first type is the high polish finish which is also the most common. The second type is a dull or brushed finish that is produced by a process referred to as 'sand blasting'. White gold wedding bands with diamonds are quite often made with the dull finish, as this gives the ring a sophisticated and expensive look. It is also possible to combine finish types in the same wedding band. For example, a two tone wedding band could have the entire ring in a dull finish leaving just the edges with a high polish look. The third type of finish is not very common and provides a hammered look to the wedding band. The outside of the ring is created with an uneven surface and is more suited for a man wedding band.
Gemstone Wedding Bands:
Wedding bands with gemstones are getting to be quite popular and the design selections are huge. However, you need to select the right type of gemstone depending on the design of your wedding band. A large gemstone wedding band will make it necessary to create a large band width for the ring and this might not be to your liking. You can also increase the meaning and significance of a wedding band by setting a birthstone in the ring. Some gemstones need special care when jewelry is worn or stored so make sure that your jeweller keeps you well informed. You can check your birthstone from our detailed birthstone charts at this link www.kaisilver.com/birth-chart-stone.htm. Another important thing about a gem stone wedding band is the way the gem stone is set in the ring. Prong type of settings tend to stick in pockets and other places, this causes the gemstone to loosen as the prongs gradually open up. Thin prongs can also poke or scratch delicate skin. A good option for setting the gemstone in your gem stone wedding band is to border the entire gemstone with gold. If the design of your wedding band requires the gem stone to be set using prongs, ensure that the prongs are sturdy and do not include any sharp edges.
Diamond Wedding Band:
Wedding bands with diamonds can be made with a diamond as the main stone of the ring or with diamonds as the side stones. Diamonds are quite expensive especially in larger sizes and this causes the price tag of a diamond wedding band to be quite stiff. There is one important aspect that you should know before buying diamond wedding bands and that is about the appearance of the diamonds. Cheap quality diamonds are available but look awful, these diamonds will be opaque and have a powdery look. When you think of a diamond wedding band you will imagine the glitter and glamour of diamonds on your finger, so make sure that the diamonds in the ring will look gorgeous at least to the naked eye. Such diamonds will not be the best quality but a wedding band with these would look awesome and yet not cost you a fortune. Most jewellers will not want to tell you this as, all they wait want is to push the best diamond at a massive price and reap huge profit margins from a single sale! Diamond wedding bands are generally made in white gold and combined with a dull finish look simply stunning.
Round diamonds are the most common shape and wedding bands with round diamonds are therefore very popular. Next is the square or princess cut diamond that is a good choice for a diamond wedding band. Fancy shaped diamonds include heart shape diamonds, pear shaped diamonds and even trillion shaped diamonds. A wedding band with a fancy shape diamond would carry a premium price tag as fancy shaped diamonds are quite rare and therefore quite expensive.
Most diamonds that we talk of are white diamonds which are actually colorless. You will however notice that quite a few diamond wedding bands have diamonds that are yellow, blue, green or a few other colors. For colored diamonds you have two options, the first option is to use natural colored diamonds which are terribly expensive. The next option is more affordable as, white diamonds are treated to enhance and change color and then available as colored diamonds. You should remember that a diamond that is color enhanced has the same hardness as compared to a naturally white diamond. Colored diamonds are a good choice for wedding bands where diamonds are used as side stones to add accent to the center gem stone. For example, a blue sapphire wedding band could have a prominent blue sapphire in the center with small blue diamonds on either side.
Wedding Band Pair:
Since marriage is a commitment of two individuals staying together for the rest of their lives, a pair of wedding bands symbolises the feeling of togetherness and unity. A wedding band pair is basically two wedding bands with a similar design, one for the bride and the other for the bridegroom. The difference between the rings could be just the size of the wedding band or a difference in gemstones set in the pair of wedding bands. In general, it is expected that, the men's wedding band would have a slightly wider band width as compared to the wedding band worn by the lady. In cases where a wedding band pair is made with birthstones, each ring could have the birthstone of the person wearing the ring. It is now becoming a popular trend to wear wedding band pairs where, the husband and wife exchange their birthstone in each others rings. These rings can be worn as white gold wedding band pairs or as as a pair of wedding bands in yellow gold.
Wedding Bands and Long Term Durability:
This is perhaps the most important issue concerning wedding bands, it is also the issue that is down played the most by sellers and jewellers. As a symbol of life long commitment for two individuals to live together forever, a wedding band should be strong and long lasting. This would mean that wedding bands would be made with good gold weight, good design and gemstones that are durable and well mounted. As expected, buyers are impressed by the design of wedding bands and the price tag! Sellers are aware of this and flood markets with merchandise that is light and flimsy and bearing a 'friendly' price tag. The main point to understand is that these low priced wedding bands are cheap only in the short term. In the long run, you will end up paying expensive repairs and modification costs and this will add up to the final cost of owning the wedding band. In some cases, low gold weight could also mean badly mounted gemstones and diamonds, this could result in the stones dropping off! For stones like diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and even tanzanite, the cost of gemstone could easily exceed the value of the gold in your wedding band. Replacing such a stone would burn ! a deep hole in your wallet.
Custom Wedding Band:
It is not very difficult to find readymade wedding bands as most jewellers would stock a selection of these rings. However, given the meaning and significance of a wedding band, most buyers would like to have a wedding band that is personalized to their liking and preference. You might come across a wedding band with a stunning design, but the gemstone might not be what you wanted. The gemstone that you prefer may be set in a wedding band that has a lousy design! A custom wedding band can be made with a design of your choice and include the gemstone or diamond that you need. The gold color, ring size, finish type can all be handled as you please. Another important thing to note is that, most readymade wedding bands would be made with the intention of attracting mass markets. This also means that they will compromise on gold weight and also gemstone quality inorder to keep the price tag attractive. For a ring that is as important as a wedding band, you will be better off ordering a custom wedding band where you are not expected to compromise on anything.
You can find a complete report on wedding bands at this link: http://www.weddingband.kaijewels.com/wedding-band-information-kj-01.htm you will also see good examples of how wedding bands should be.
Will be back with more interesting information regarding gemstones and jewelry.
Thanks and God Bless.
Ms.Tuk
http://www.kaisilver.com
A Retrospect On Men's Jewelry
The instinct to decorate the person has been common to all people at all times. Our ancestors have found ways to decorate any part of the human body from the head with wreaths and crowns, like the Etruscans, to the toes, like Indian noblewomen.
And if you think that only women like Cleopatra went gaga over pretty shiny things, you're sadly mistaken. During the 16th and 17th centuries, both men and women wore heavy long chains of gold, sometimes diagonally over the shoulder like a sword or belt. Some elaborate buckles were made for the waist like those used by Hungarian noblemen as jewelry. Celts were known to wear gold bracelets of plain twisted gold and Romans wore snake-shaped ones. Some Greeks, going into battle or for a nice walk to the Acropolis, sew gold repousse called bractea into their garments.
History has taught us that human adornment is not only the pure domain of the female but also of men who considered the process of wearing precious metals and stones as a sign of power and wealth.
Nowadays, media has given us the strong context that jewelry is a woman's thing. The Academy Awards is never complete without the usual rundown of who is wearing the Harry Winston diamonds or Bulgari rubies or who is covered from head to toe with Swarovski crystals. Have you ever heard of the presenters describing men's jewelry on the red carpet? No.
With the negative media that considers jewelry feminine, men are hard-pressed into not wearing any for fear that they might be considered less than masculine. But this is not the case. Men's jewelry is usually crafted into designs that speaks nothing but of masculinity. Men's jewelry, like women jewelry, comprise of rings, necklaces and bracelets.
The more popular choices for men are rings with designs including dragons, snakes or simple round bands with their loved ones name engraved on it. A whole range of precious and semi-precious stones can also be used in adorning men's rings. Because of its simplicity and pliability, silver is well-accepted. It can be made into intricate designs and can be incorporated into other metals or made into wedding rings or class rings. White and yellow gold are also much-coveted for men's jewelry. Precious stones like diamonds and sapphires can be integrated into the design. Semi-precious stones such as amethysts and opals are also great choices for rings.
Silver is also a popular option for making necklaces and pendants including the definitive masculine accessory called the dogtags which was originally used to identify soldiers. The dogtag has proven to be more than an ID and is now the 'it' thing in pendants.
The identification tags do not end in necklaces, but has also found a home in bracelets. Silver chain or ID bracelets are popular gifts given by girlfriends to their boyfriends. It is an unobtrusive piece of jewelry that, with the appropriate message can be quite a romantic present. Men's jewelry of today is no longer the trimmings of the rich and powerful but also meant as significant accessories of the ordinary man.
And if you think that only women like Cleopatra went gaga over pretty shiny things, you're sadly mistaken. During the 16th and 17th centuries, both men and women wore heavy long chains of gold, sometimes diagonally over the shoulder like a sword or belt. Some elaborate buckles were made for the waist like those used by Hungarian noblemen as jewelry. Celts were known to wear gold bracelets of plain twisted gold and Romans wore snake-shaped ones. Some Greeks, going into battle or for a nice walk to the Acropolis, sew gold repousse called bractea into their garments.
History has taught us that human adornment is not only the pure domain of the female but also of men who considered the process of wearing precious metals and stones as a sign of power and wealth.
Nowadays, media has given us the strong context that jewelry is a woman's thing. The Academy Awards is never complete without the usual rundown of who is wearing the Harry Winston diamonds or Bulgari rubies or who is covered from head to toe with Swarovski crystals. Have you ever heard of the presenters describing men's jewelry on the red carpet? No.
With the negative media that considers jewelry feminine, men are hard-pressed into not wearing any for fear that they might be considered less than masculine. But this is not the case. Men's jewelry is usually crafted into designs that speaks nothing but of masculinity. Men's jewelry, like women jewelry, comprise of rings, necklaces and bracelets.
The more popular choices for men are rings with designs including dragons, snakes or simple round bands with their loved ones name engraved on it. A whole range of precious and semi-precious stones can also be used in adorning men's rings. Because of its simplicity and pliability, silver is well-accepted. It can be made into intricate designs and can be incorporated into other metals or made into wedding rings or class rings. White and yellow gold are also much-coveted for men's jewelry. Precious stones like diamonds and sapphires can be integrated into the design. Semi-precious stones such as amethysts and opals are also great choices for rings.
Silver is also a popular option for making necklaces and pendants including the definitive masculine accessory called the dogtags which was originally used to identify soldiers. The dogtag has proven to be more than an ID and is now the 'it' thing in pendants.
The identification tags do not end in necklaces, but has also found a home in bracelets. Silver chain or ID bracelets are popular gifts given by girlfriends to their boyfriends. It is an unobtrusive piece of jewelry that, with the appropriate message can be quite a romantic present. Men's jewelry of today is no longer the trimmings of the rich and powerful but also meant as significant accessories of the ordinary man.
The Tradition Of The Diamond Engagement Ring
Most little girls grow up dreaming of the moment that their knight in shining armor gets down on one knee and proposes. It is a romantic gesture that is topped off with the perfect accessory, the engagement ring. Most little girls dream of that perfect diamond atop their ring finger, gleaming and bright. The engagement ring has a very old and interesting history that began thousands of years ago. The traditional diamond engagement ring that we know of today is actually a fairly recent custom.
In most traditions in the Western world, an engagement ring is worn by a woman on the third (ring) finger of her left hand, signifying that she is engaged to be married. The ring is usually presented by a man upon a proposal of marriage, and worn by the woman after she accepts his proposal. It signifies the agreement to marry, and is usually worn along with the wedding band (on the same finger) for the duration of the woman's life or the marriage, whichever ends first.
The tradition of the engagement ring can be traced back as far as Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The Ancient Romans held the belief that the Vena Amoris (Latin for "vein of love") was located in the ring finger of the left hand. It was believed that this vein ran directly from the finger to the heart. The circle of the engagement ring was also believed to represent the eternal bond of love, a romantic notion that is still largely believed even today.
The design and material of the engagement ring has changed quite a bit through the years. While in ancient times an engagement band was fashioned out of hemp, rope, or even lead (in Ancient Rome) and usually did not contain gemstones, today we traditionally see engagement rings fashioned out of precious metals such as platinum or gold, holding a single set stone, which is most commonly a diamond.
The diamond engagement ring seems to be the most common and accepted piece of its type due to its permanence, beauty, and expense. It is a reflection of the love felt between two people. That is probably why it is expected that a man plunk down tons of money for an engagement ring. The cost of the ring is ultimately up to the individual, and how much he wants (or can afford) to spend. Some guidelines assert that 2-3 months salary should be shelled out for the ring. That amount of money can purchase quite a diamond engagement ring!
Diamond engagement rings most commonly come with solitaire settings, and come in a variety of diamond shapes, such as pear, round, princess, heart, marquis, and square. Each shape showcases the brilliance of a diamond in a different way, and adds to the individuality of the piece. More often, you will find that diamond engagement rings are set with more than one stone, and even side stones. This can mean more smaller diamonds, or more large diamonds, depending on the whim (and the credit line) of the man doing the buying!
It is however, becoming more and more common to see engagement rings that either contain another type of gemstone besides a diamond, or contain other colored gemstones with a diamond. You often see solitaire set emeralds, rubies, or sapphires, or any of these stones set with smaller surrounding diamonds. This represents the taste and individuality of the woman who wears the ring, and often makes for a quite unique and beautiful ring to wear.
The diamond engagement ring (or an engagement ring containing other precious gems) is a representation of a promise of eternal love and devotion. The possibilities in rings are endless, and should be chosen with care to reflect the woman's taste, style, and personality. After all, she will be wearing the ring for a very long time to come.
In most traditions in the Western world, an engagement ring is worn by a woman on the third (ring) finger of her left hand, signifying that she is engaged to be married. The ring is usually presented by a man upon a proposal of marriage, and worn by the woman after she accepts his proposal. It signifies the agreement to marry, and is usually worn along with the wedding band (on the same finger) for the duration of the woman's life or the marriage, whichever ends first.
The tradition of the engagement ring can be traced back as far as Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The Ancient Romans held the belief that the Vena Amoris (Latin for "vein of love") was located in the ring finger of the left hand. It was believed that this vein ran directly from the finger to the heart. The circle of the engagement ring was also believed to represent the eternal bond of love, a romantic notion that is still largely believed even today.
The design and material of the engagement ring has changed quite a bit through the years. While in ancient times an engagement band was fashioned out of hemp, rope, or even lead (in Ancient Rome) and usually did not contain gemstones, today we traditionally see engagement rings fashioned out of precious metals such as platinum or gold, holding a single set stone, which is most commonly a diamond.
The diamond engagement ring seems to be the most common and accepted piece of its type due to its permanence, beauty, and expense. It is a reflection of the love felt between two people. That is probably why it is expected that a man plunk down tons of money for an engagement ring. The cost of the ring is ultimately up to the individual, and how much he wants (or can afford) to spend. Some guidelines assert that 2-3 months salary should be shelled out for the ring. That amount of money can purchase quite a diamond engagement ring!
Diamond engagement rings most commonly come with solitaire settings, and come in a variety of diamond shapes, such as pear, round, princess, heart, marquis, and square. Each shape showcases the brilliance of a diamond in a different way, and adds to the individuality of the piece. More often, you will find that diamond engagement rings are set with more than one stone, and even side stones. This can mean more smaller diamonds, or more large diamonds, depending on the whim (and the credit line) of the man doing the buying!
It is however, becoming more and more common to see engagement rings that either contain another type of gemstone besides a diamond, or contain other colored gemstones with a diamond. You often see solitaire set emeralds, rubies, or sapphires, or any of these stones set with smaller surrounding diamonds. This represents the taste and individuality of the woman who wears the ring, and often makes for a quite unique and beautiful ring to wear.
The diamond engagement ring (or an engagement ring containing other precious gems) is a representation of a promise of eternal love and devotion. The possibilities in rings are endless, and should be chosen with care to reflect the woman's taste, style, and personality. After all, she will be wearing the ring for a very long time to come.
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