Picking up an Engagement Ring
Today, I’m supposed to help a friend to pick up an engagement ring for his fiancée. With the sheer width of choices, I thought it would be a good idea to do some research.
Apparently, the custom of using engagement rings was first propagated by Pope Innocent III in the early 13th century, to accompany a declaration of a longer waiting time between betrothal and marriage. These engagement rings, made of plain gold, silver or iron, were much ordinary (and I suppose affordable) as compared to the diamond engagement rings that we see today. We have the Romans to thank for the introduction of diamond engagement rings. But unlike us, their reasons for using diamond rings had more to do with diamonds’ supernatural powers than their beauty; apparently diamonds make one immune to poison, insanity and many fears.
Nowadays, of course, we have a much wider choice, depending on our interest and budget. While diamond engagement rings are still the most popular, platinum engagement rings are preferred by people who have sensitive skin; apparently, platinum is hypoallergenic, and hence ideal for people with skin allergies. Also, platinum is known to be very resilient and retains its original white color forever. As such, a platinum engagement ring with engraved diamonds seems to be the ideal choice.
Engagement rings are also classified chronologically. Engagement rings from before 1930 are called antique engagement rings. These rings are characterized by rose-cut diamonds and pearls in platinum latticework. Vintage engagement rings are from 1930s – 1950s. These include filigree rings in platinum or white gold. Rubies are also common in these vintage engagement rings. While these chronological are helpful, I’m not sure how stringent they are.
There is another variety called unique engagement rings – these unusual engagement rings, as the name suggests, are designer rings that are custom designed according to clients’ specifications.
Amidst all these fancy rings, there are thankfully some cheap engagement rings for those, not unlike my friend, who have a budgetary constraint. One way to go is to buy ones with synthetic diamonds instead of real ones. Other options are ruby, sapphire or even semi-precious stones. Also, non-traditional metals such as silver or titanium can also save you a lot of money. The idea, I suppose, is to plan well and do one’s research.