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Will you marry me

“Will you marry me”- when you hear or read this sentence, you will unconsciously visualize a beautiful piece of jewel caught in the claws of a ring. Slowly it is then slid into the fourth finger of the left hand and consequently, the engaged symbol starts shining in the ring finger.The significant circular shape of the ring gives an abstract symbolism of continuity, eternity, and undeviating unity. As a circle has no beginning and no end, the ancient cultures transmitted its nature to the ever lasting ‘sun’ and the ‘full moon’ which is also in circular shape.

Ring has been the symbol of love, eternity, and affiliation ever since human has civilized. The cavemen used rushes of leaves and leather and tied them to his woman’s feet, so that she could not escape. Then the Roman culture came about later and started engagement rings, a simple iron hoop, followed by a plain gold band some centuries later.

“Proposing with a ring is a westernized concept, but still it is so romantic that every girl will love to be treated like that. I was in tears when my best friend proposed me by putting a ring into my finger. I had a lump in my throat. All I did was smile and we hugged each other.” Confesses, Yasmin Kanchwala an editor in a magazine.
For the Romans the ring’s acceptance by a young lady was a binding, legal agreement and the girl was no longer free. In early Egypt, the ring was linked with the supernatural. The sparkling jewels of the engagement ring were originally believed to ward off evil spirits, who may be jealous of the happiness of a couple in love.

The tradition of placing both the engagement ring and wedding band on the fourth finger of the left hand stems from a Greek belief and also according to Macrobius, a 5th century Roman writer, that a certain vein in that finger, the vena amoris, runs directly to the heart. To this day, the centuries-old custom of wearing an engagement ring in this way has endured.
“Though we had an arranged marriage, but as our relationship grew, my husband proposed to me in a western style, kneeling down with a ring in his hands. That was very romantic and I will never forget that day.” Proclaims, Pooja Jain, a house wife.

The posy rings, which are inscribed with love poems and messages, were popular betrothal rings from the Middle Ages until Victorian times. Hearts were favorite motifs for engagement and wedding rings during the 17th and 18th centuries. These rings were made of rubies (signifying love) and diamonds (signifying eternity). Coloured stones were the gem of choice for engagement rings in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Tiffany, or solitaire, setting was introduced in the late 19th century.

The "princess ring," sporting three to five large diamonds in a row across the top, was fashionable in the United States in the early 20th century. The three-stone style is extremely popular today. In the early part of the 20th century, platinum was the metal of choice for engagement rings because of its strength and durability in holding a diamond.

During the past 10 years, platinum has made a dramatic comeback. With the come back of platinum in the metal, diamonds have also got its popularity in the engagement ring market. While buying a diamond ring, you should be aware of a few basic points regarding how diamonds are valued. The properties of a diamond are measured using the 4Cs. That is, Cut Clarity, Colour and Carat.

“It is very important to look at the carat and the kind of cut that the diamond has before paying for the jewel. There are lots of low quality diamonds available in the market at very affordable prices. If you are looking for quality, then keep the clarity, cut, and carats on your mind.” Affirms Mitesh Jain, a wholesale jeweller.

“I like the ring that Sushmita Sen wears on her ring finger. The rock is really big and beautiful. I wish I could get such a ring for myself.” expresses Ruchi Parmar a prospect bride looking for a bridegroom.

Trilogy diamond engagement rings are said to represent your past, present and future. You can choose a contemporary three stone ring design, princess cut diamond trilogy ring or rubover diamond three stone ring.

rings to reflect your sense of style - from the enduring traditional classic engagement ring to the unusual and unique diamond rings, amethyst, aquamarine, ruby or sapphire engagement rings.

Few most popular engagement rings

• A diamond cluster ring in the shape of a long pointed oval was popular as an engagement ring during the time of Louis XVI (1754-1793), and remained fashionable for 150 years afterward.
• Queen Victoria wore an engagement ring in the shape of a serpent, a popular nineteenth century motif whose coils symbolized eternity.
• Prince Charles gave Lady Diana Spencer a sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
• Actor Mandira Bedi wears a Solitaire of 1.1 carat. The single diamond is set in a raised setting. Mandira was delighted that her husband Raj knew her mind so well, for the surprise ring was exactly the kind she wanted.
  
  
• The Indian ace designer, Neeta Lulla’s wedding-cum- engagement ring is a gold band with a big solitaire with tiny diamonds attached to the big stone; it signifies her blissful wedded life of 21 years.
• The charming Indian model and wife of fashion designer Lascelles Symons is from Bangalore. Pallavi wears a solitaire of 0.3 carat. Inside the ring there is an inscription of "Love You Forever".
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Jennifer Lopez sported one of her recent engagement rings. The six-carat pink diamond solitaire Affleck had been custom made by Harry Winston.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Prince Andrew presented Sarah Ferguson with a ruby and diamond ring.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Antique engagement rings have been poised on the fingers of many modern-day starlets, including Madonna, Kate Hudson, Reese Witherspoon and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
  Ring a Ring - about the Rings…
• In the Middle Ages, men often kept a betrothal ring suspended from the band of their hats, ready to give it to their chosen maid.
• A popular engagement ring style during the Renaissance was called the "Gimmel," or twin, ring. The ring was typically made of two (or three) interlocking rings: one worn by the bride-to-be, and another by the groom-to-be (and sometimes a third worn by a witness). All three parts were reunited into one to become the wedding ring on the day of marriage.
• The smallest engagement ring (on record) was given to a two-year-old Prince Mary, daughter of Henry VIII, on the event of her betrothal to the infant Dauphin of France, son of King Francis I, in 1518. Mary's tiny gold ring was set with a diamond.
• The famous "A Diamond is Forever" campaign established many of todays standards for diamond engagement rings, including the "two months' salary" guideline - which basically says that a prospective groom should plan to spend two months' salary on an engagement ring for his bride-to-be.

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