Platinum diamond rings are considered by many to be the most luxurious and elegant of all diamond rings.  This is because platinum is one of the rarest precious metals in use for diamond rings today.  With its lustrous white finish and beautiful reflective shine, platinum diamond rings are believed to be the perfect combination of sparkle and shine that come together to make one of the most perfect diamond rings.  Of course, the fact that platinum is as rare as it is, tends to make platinum diamond rings some of the most costly diamond rings on the market as well.  This price point tends to be the primary downside to platinum diamond rings.

 On the other hand, platinum diamond rings offer a durable and long lasting finish which is fairly resistant to dents and scratches.   A platinum diamond ring is also less likely to lose metal than a gold diamond ring and most dents or scratches can be easily buffed out of a platinum diamond ring by a professional jeweller.  This makes platinum diamond rings very appealing to individuals with more active lifestyles whose diamond rings may be subject to heavier wear than others.

The platinum used for diamond rings is naturally white and, therefore, does not require the same re-coating as a white gold diamond ring may.  A platinum diamond ring will, however, develop a patina over time which gives the platinum diamond ring a slightly milkier appearance.  This patina is actually very desirable and considered a benefit of a platinum diamond ring that makes it more appealing over time.

If you like the idea of a platinum diamond ring, but tend to shy away from the price point associated with it, then stay tuned as we explore a unique alternative.

If you’re looking for a gemstone and diamond ring combination to make everyone green with envy everywhere you go, then look no further than emerald and diamond rings. With their beautiful, rich green tones, emeralds make the perfect pairing with crisp, white diamonds. Perfect for anyone with a fondness for the colour green or those lucky enough to have emeralds as their birthstone thanks to a birthday in May, emerald and diamond rings make an ideal choice for eternity rings, engagement rings, or even gemstone and diamond wedding rings. Of course, emerald and diamond rings are also perfect for use as dress or cocktail diamond rings.

If purple is her colour then consider the beautiful pairing of amethysts and diamonds in a gemstone and diamond ring. With shades ranging from pale lavender to deep purple in appearance, amethysts provide a rich, striking contrast when used against white diamonds in gemstone and diamond rings. The traditional birthstone of February, amethyst are also the perfect addition to a birthstone and diamond ring. Amethysts and diamond rings also have a decidedly regal factor to them, as amethysts were quite popular with royal families around the globe.

On the other hand, if you like the general look of ruby and diamond rings but want a slighter richer tone, then garnet and diamond rings may be the perfect choice for you. With their rich burgundy hues, garnets make beautiful companions to diamonds in gemstone and diamond rings. If you’re lucky enough to celebrate a January birthday and have garnets as your traditional birthstone, or simply love the contrast that garnets provide in gemstone and diamond rings, then a stunning garnet and diamond ring is just what you need.

While we’ve covered a number of gemstone and diamond rings already, there are still a number of combinations remaining that we will be taking a look at shortly.

Nothing is more regal or rich than the combination created in ruby and diamond rings. The beautiful and royal red tones of the rubies sit perfectly next to the sparkling clarity of the diamonds in this particular gemstone and diamond ring combination. While ruby and diamonds rings make the perfect gift for anyone with a fond affection towards the colour red, they are also particularly close to the heart for anyone born in the month of July, whose traditionally accepted birthstone if the ruby. Ruby and diamonds rings are available in a variety of styles and setting types. Ruby and diamond rings can also be found in a number of different precious metals, including white gold, yellow gold, and platinum.

Another great choice for gemstone and diamond rings can be found in sapphires. These rich blue stones create a beautiful companion to the stark white diamonds in a gemstone and diamond ring. Many consumers find the striking combination of the deep blue sapphires with precious metals and diamonds the perfect combination. Sapphire and diamond rings are not only perfect for anyone with a love of all things blue, they also make the perfect present anyone with a birthday in September. Like ruby and diamond rings, sapphire and diamond rings come in a wide range of setting and designs styles, as well as a number of precious metal choices, such as platinum, white gold, and yellow gold.

While both ruby and sapphires in diamond rings do seem to make beautiful pairings, that is only the beginning when it comes to the beauty of gemstone and diamond rings. Stay tuned as we continue to explore some popular gemstone and diamond ring combinations………

Some of the most popular cuts for diamond engagement rings this season include Marquise Cut and Trillion Cut diamonds. While both of these unique cuts have often taken backstage to other more traditional cuts for diamond engagement rings, more and more consumers are seeking centre stones for their diamond engagement rings that stand out from the rest of the crowd. This means that more abstract cuts such as the Marquise and Trillion Cuts are getting their turn in the spotlight when it comes to this season’s hottest diamond engagement rings. Because of their unique shapes, these cuts are often used in solitaire diamond engagement rings as they often work better on their own than they do in diamond engagement ring settings where an emphasis is also placed on a bevy of accent stones.

As you can see, the diamond engagement rings market is hotter than ever and this season will feature some refreshing takes on the timeless classic design of the diamond engagement ring.

about to hit the Holiday markets. After all, Holiday engagements seem to be all the rage these days so you might as well have a diamond engagement ring that all the rage as well.

One hot trend that’s carrying through across all the diamond jewellery markets is alternative finishes for precious metals. Both satin and matte finishes on diamond engagement rings are extremely popular this year. The satin and matte finishes provide a frosted appearance to yellow gold diamond engagement rings, as well as an array of silver coloured diamond engagement rings, including palladium, platinum and white gold. While some say that the traditional high gloss finish of a diamond engagement ring adds an extra reflective capacity to the stones in the diamond engagement rings, others feel the new demand for satin and matte finishes creates a better contrasted background to place the dazzling diamonds upon. If you’re looking for a bit more texture to your finish on your diamond engagement ring, looked for a brushed finish diamond engagement rings which gives a slightly more textured look than basic satin and matte finished diamond engagement rings.

When it comes to settings for diamond engagement rings, the sky is the limit. In other words, the higher above the band the stones in the diamond engagement rings are set, the better. While lower set stones do make for more practical diamond engagement rings, particularly for women with highly active lifestyles, this season its more about high fashion than high practicality. Many diamond engagement ring designers are placing a greater emphasis on the design of the settings for their rings, including more elaborate detailing in the visible sides of the higher settings as well. Diamond engagement rings with these high fashion settings are in great demand, especially since many of them look just as stunning when viewed from the sides as they do when viewed from the top. This particular trend in general has contributed to a greater movement towards diamond engagement rings that take their overall beauty from the entire ring, not just the stone or stones set within it.

While three stone rings were originally intended for use as anniversary gifts, they continue to be in high demand for use as diamond engagement rings. Three stone diamond engagement rings feature a larger centre stone which is then flanked on wither side by a slightly smaller diamond. The three stones in this style of diamond engagement ring are used to symbolize the past, present, and future of the couple’s relationship, adding a great deal of sentiment to the diamond engagement ring as well as beauty. Three stone diamond engagement rings work well with a variety of diamond cuts, although Princess Cut and Emerald Cut stones are particularly popular for this style of diamond engagement ring. Some three stone diamond engagement rings can also be found with a small number of shoulder stones which help extend the dazzle of the diamonds across a larger portion of the band on either side of the three central stones.

If three stones still isn’t enough for you, then how about five? Five stone diamond engagement rings follow the same basic style of the three stone diamond engagement rings with the addition of an additional stone on each side. The stones on each side of the centre stone in this diamond engagement ring style can either be graduated slowly down in size from one another or have a uniform size. While some women prefer all five stones be uniform in size in this diamond engagement ring, creating a bolder and wider look, others prefer the tapered look that is presented with slightly shrinking diamonds. Five stone diamond engagement rings are, of course, offered in both styles to cater to your individual needs.

Stay tuned as we take a look at the diamond engagement rings designed for maximum sparkle and shine…..

When it comes to 2012′s top diamond eternity rings, size definitely does matter, however, not in the way that you may think. That’s because next year’s top trend in diamond eternity rings is predicted to be all about stacking those diamond eternity rings as high as you can get them. The more is going to be the merrier for sure as diamond eternity rings slim down to new levels to allow women to wear even more dazzling slim diamond eternity rings at once.

While standard stacking diamond eternity rings typically allow you to wear around three diamond eternity rings at once, next year’s super slim diamond eternity rings should be able to be worn four or five at a time. This not only gives the diamond eternity rings a reinvented look, it also greatly increases their versatility. Mixing and matching slimmer diamond eternity rings will be easier than ever and the greater quantities will allow for even more potential combinations than ever before.

When it comes to mixing and matching stacking diamond eternity rings the number of diamond eternity rings being worn at once won’t be the only thing increasing the number of possible style combinations. Mixing and matching the precious metals of your diamond eternity rings is believed to be another fashion trend for the coming year. Throwing in a variety of precious metal finishes of your diamond eternity rings will also help stir things up a bit as well.

Stay tuned as we look at how the new slimmer eternity rings will affect their use in bridal jewellery sets for 2012…..

In today’s trend centered society, celebrity engagements rings are often the talk of the town. Ironically enough, certain engagement rings worn by celebrities that were considered unique became the driving factor behind the latest trends and can now be seen nearly everywhere. Aside from the overall carat weight of celebrities’ engagement rings, the next aspect people tend to focus on is the shape of the diamond itself. Over the years, celebrity’s have been seen with a wide variety of engagement rings in many styles and shapes.

Round Cut Diamond Engagement Rings

Round cuts are often considered the most traditional cut of stone to be used in engagement rings. This cut signifies a sense of classic style and beauty. It’s no surprise that celebrities such as Angie Harmon and Ali Landry both chose round diamond cuts for their engagement rings. Music stars Christina Aguilera and Mary J.Blige also selected round cuts for the sizable diamonds they had set in their engagement rings. One of Pamela Anderson’s many engagement rings was a massive 4 carat round cut diamond set in simple yellow gold band. When engagement rings contain that large of a stone, a more simplistic band makes sense. Carmen Electra opted for a simple banded, substantial stone engagement ring as well, but went with platinum as opposed to yellow gold.

Asscher Cut Diamond Engagement Rings

One of the newer trends to hit the jewelry market, the asscher cut stone became a popular choice for engagements rings shortly after it appeared on Sex in the City. Although the cut existed since the beginning 1900s, it was never widely used in engagement rings until recent years. Reese Witherspoon chose a 4.5 carat asscher cut classic while Kate Hudson opted for a 5 carat stone set in an art deco style for their engagement rings. Actress Kate Beckinsale also chose to have her engagement ring set with an asscher cut stone.

Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Rings

A cushion cut stone has a rounded top surface as opposed to a traditional flat surface allowing for more facets to be cut into the surface of the stone. Also called a pillow cut, it is fast becoming another popular choice for engagement rings. Ashley Judd, Kim Stewart, and Nicolette Sheridan all chose cushion cut stones to be set into their diamond engagement rings. Debra Messing opted for a cushion cut as well. However, her engagement ring was set with a stunning canary diamond. Pop singer Pink and actress Brooke Shields both chose engagement rings set with cushion cut stones.

Emerald Cut Diamond Engagement Rings

The emerald cut is essentially a rectangular stone with cut corners, a very classic choice for diamond engagement rings. Former best friends Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie both chose emerald cut stones for their diamond engagement rings. Melania Trump and royalty bound Camilla Bowles both chose diamond engagements rings with emerald cut stones as well.

Oval Cut Diamond Engagement Rings

While it wouldn’t seem an oval cut would be popular for an engagement ring, some of the top celebrities have opted for this simple cut. Katie Holmes’ infamous engagement to Tom Cruise was sealed with the presenting of her oval cut diamond engagement ring, Heidi Klum received an oval diamond engagement ring from singer Seal, and pop star Gwen Stefani proudly wears her stunning oval cut dimaond engagement ring as well. Victoria Beckham’s and Rebecca Romijn’s diamond engagement rings both bear oval stones.

Marquise Diamond Engagement Rings

Traci Bingham and Catherine Zeta Jones did stray slightly from the mainstream and selected marquise cut diamonds for their engagement rings.

Radiant Cut Diamond Engagement Rings

Last but not least, one of the most notorious engagement rings of all time was the massive 9 carat radiant cut pink diamond engagement ring given to singer Jennifer Lopez by former fiance and actor Ben Affleck. While their relationship may not have lasted, the engagement ring help give birth to the craze for colored diamond engagement rings worldwide.

While white and yellow gold, sometimes even silver during times of hardship, once ruled the market on wedding rings, a new trend is beginning to emerge, primarily in the United Kingdom, but quickly spreading to the rest of the world as well. Long known as one of the fashion capitals of the world, its easy to see why a UK trend would be so likely to create a worldwide sensation. The latest craze to come out of the European mecca is palladium wedding rings. Even platinum, an emerging favorite over the past several years for wedding rings is taking a back seat to this new, more affordable metal.

What Is Palladium

Palladium is the metal of choice in the UK currently for wedding rings. Essentially, palladium is a more durable and more affordable alternative to platinum, the last major trend in precious metals. In composition terms, palladium is still considered a member of the elemental group of platinum metals, along with rhodium, iridium, and platinum itself, to name a few. The metal itself was discovered by William Wollaston in 1803 and named for Pallas, an asteroid as well as a character in Greek mythology who was slain by the goddess Athena.

History of Palladium

In the past, palladium prices were significantly higher than platinum. As the popularity of platinum grew however, its price rose significantly while palladium continued to drop. Up until just a few years ago, palladium was primarily used as an addition to white gold wedding rings to provide added strength and durability. As the cost of platinum and gold rose, jewelers in China began experimenting with pure palladium as the primary metal used in wedding ring manufacturing. The trend made its way to the UK shortly after and exploded from there.

Why Choose a Palladium Wedding Ring

The main difference between palladium and the other members of the platinum metals group is the fact that out of all the other metals, palladium has both the lowest density as well as the lowest melting point. This combination of characteristics makes palladium much lighter in weight than either white gold or platinum, lending to more comfortable wedding rings. It also makes palladium wedding rings much more durable, up to 12% stronger, than platinum wedding rings. With most wedding rings being subject to constant wear, the extra durability plays a key factor in deciding which metal to choose.

What most consumers don’t realize is that wedding rings made from white gold or platinum, the other two primary white finish precious metals, will tend to lose their luster over time and must be taken to a jeweler to be refinished. The refinishing process is nothing more than coating the white gold or platinum in a layer of rhodium, one of the other platinum metal group members. Palladium wedding rings however, do not require the frequent refinishing as their shine and luster will last much longer than either white gold or platinum.

Another main driver behind the increase in popularity of palladium in the UK was brought on by the fact that palladium wedding rings were significantly cheaper than wither white gold or platinum. The market for sterling silver jewelry has increased dramatically for the same reasons, but historically, people tend to stay away from sterling silver in wedding rings as it tends to require more effort with regular cleanings as well as a fairly low level of durability. While still popular for other types of jewelry, palladium, as opposed to silver, has become the metal of choice for wedding rings in the UK.

Palladium offers the look of white gold or platinum with less maintenance, a longer lasting finish, and a much lower price point for consumers who are able to take advantage of the low cost of palladium before the increased demand for the wedding ring metal of choice begins to raise its value again. From a more symbolic point of view, palladium wedding bands, unlike silver, white gold, and platinum versions, are comprised of pure palladium with no additional alloys added. This level of purity can carry significant meaning when used to relate to weddings rings which represent the eternal bonds of marriage.

Wedding, Engagement and Eternity Ring – Wear all 3 together? In what order? Does one replace another?
Most women have a hard enough time deciding which jewelry to wear on any given day. The last things she needs is a dilemma over the proper way to wear her engagement ring, her wedding ring, and her eternity ring. The first thing to do is examine the purpose of each ring as well as the occasion on which it is given.

The Engagement Ring

The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans were among the first to use rings as a symbol of commitment. A betrothal ring, or engagement ring, was designed to show a man’s intent to marry and marked the woman as taken by or connected to her future husband. Love, unfortunately, had little to do with engagements during this time as they were usually matters of business than emotions. As time passed, the Church made a ruling requiring a betrothal ring be given, both to show the man’s commitment as well as his financial status and ability to care for a family. Eventually, the plain band was replaced by gemstone rings and sometimes bared more intricate details. The first diamond engagement ring was not given until 1477. Archduke Maximillian of Austria presented it to his fiance, Mary of Burgundy. Since that day, diamond rings have become the standard for engagement rings.

The Wedding Band

The history of the wedding band dates back to the same period as the engagement ring. They served both as a symbol of love or as a symbol of ownership, depending on which culture you use as reference. Weddings bands have been made from all types of materials over the centuries including leather, brass, silver, lead, gold, and platinum. It is very common to find bridal sets tat include both the engagement ring as well as the matching band.

The Eternity Ring

An eternity ring can also be described as a dress or formal wedding band. It is a solid band, set with gemstones, traditionally diamonds. Traditionally, an eternity ring was given to celebrate an anniversary, with some dispute over which anniversary they should be presented on. While anniversaries such as the tenth and fortieth list gemstones as the traditional gifts, many people take this to mean that an eternity band with that particular gemstone is appropriate for that anniversary. The larger jewelry companies, however, are trying to persuade people that the first year anniversary is when an eternity ring should be presented, a very ingenious marketing technique. Eternity rings are also common gifts a husband gives to his wife to celebrate the birth of the couple’s first child.

How Do I Wear Them All?

Traditionally, when you already have both an engagement ring and a wedding ring, the wedding ring is worn on the ring finger of the left hand, closest to the bride’s heart, and the engagement ring is worn on the same finger placed second on top of the band. In some cases, when the engagement ring and the wedding band don’t match, a bride will wear her wedding band on her left hand and her engagement ring on her right hand ring finger.

When an eternity ring is presented, the proper way to wear all three rings isn’t as well defined. One suggested way to wear them is to wear your wedding band closest to the hand, followed by the engagement ring, and finally the eternity ring. Since some ring styles are somewhat wider than others, this method may become cumbersome. In that case, the eternity ring can either be worn on the left hand ring finger or the finger of the bride’s choice. Another suggested order is to wear your eternity ring in between your wedding ring and engagement ring. Some sources also suggest wearing your eternity ring first, then your wedding band, and then your engagement ring.

The bottom line is line is, the majority of people will wear all three rings. The order in which the rings are worn is essentially a matter of personal preference as well as what works best for the style of the rings in conjunction with each other. Essentially, there is no right or wrong way to wear them.