How to choose an engagement ring? A guide that every Magpie should show to their future fiancées. Part 2
What to look for when choosing a ring with colored stones?
You know why most frequently chosen engagement ring is the diamond one? Or where did the belief that it should cost two or three salaries came from?
The idea to buy a model with this stone has been created in the advertising campaign of De Beers diamond group in the thirties of the 20th century, when the brand was experiencing the largest sales crisis. Advertising message was addressed mainly to young bachelors, for whom spending such a sum was associated with demonstrating the partner their readiness and financial responsibility during a romantic moment of engagement.
However, not every woman dreams of a ring with a large diamond. Fortunately, the choice and availability of colored stones is very large. But before you choose it, I’ll tell you what to pay attention to on the example of two stones: ruby and emerald.
- origin and color: Siam rubies are reddish-brown and red-violet ones are from the island of Ceylon. Let me tell you that the crystals of color of blood (the so-called pigeon blood red) are mined in Burma. These are considered the most valuable. Poorer quality deposits of rubies come from Thailand and Tanzania. You will read more in the article by our Editor Ania Szewczyk here: <link>
- hardness: Did you know that emerald is more delicate stone than diamond? The presence of inclusions also has its drawbacks. The stone is more fragile, vulnerable to mechanical damage. You need to know that this is quite a challenge for the lapidary to get the highest weight of the polished stone without losses on the overall weight of the raw material. If you plan to buy a ring with emerald, remember to whisper to “the wearer” to treat it with special care. You will read more in the article by our Editor Ania Szewczyk here: <link>
How to choose the right size and not to spoil the surprise at the same time?
Have you found the perfect ring, but don’t know the size of her finger? While the wedding rings will be chosen and tried on together, then an engagement ring should be a surprise for her. Therefore, now I will give you some tips…
- If you have a loved one’s ring:
Do you have a loved one’s ring? Cool! That’s half the battle, because you can measure it! But before you bring it into the shop, note on which finger the borrowed ring was worn (because if the partner was wearing it on the thumb or little finger, it doesn’t even make sense to measure it), because eventually it will go on the ring finger of her right hand.
It is also important that the borrowed ring is close to a round shape, because the ring of fancy, irregular shape will not reflect the dimensions of the classic ring with a standard rail and allow determining of the correct size.
- Homemade ways to measure:
To measure you can use a caliper, or ruler and thin strips of paper. Remember never to measure the finger directly with caliper, because the skin bends under the pressure and the measuring result is not objective.
It is best to wrap around her finger (in the place where the ring will be worn) a thin strip of paper (which is better than tape because it does not stretch) and select the appropriate length, or circumference of a finger, and only then measure it with a measuring tape.
Finger circumference measured this way needs to be divided by the number Pi (3.14), and the result rounded up. This is, of course, the diameter of a finger in millimeters, which you can compare with table of sizes at the jeweler’s to find a specific size.
- If you want to surprise her:
I will tell you that most women dream about engagement being the most romantic surprise in their life …and blimey! don’t make fun of us women for watching too many romantic comedies – because it is a big simplification! Just understand that the structure of women’s emotions is different than yours – we are more sensitive, empathetic and have softer hearts.
It is, therefore, important for her to try and fulfill her dream of romantic engagement. I have for you some proven ideas on what to do to know the size of her finger in such a way that she wouldn’t have guessed…
- Ask a trusted person (sister, friend), to exchange rings with your chosen one to compare sizes. Rest assured, women know what they are doing here.
- Then kidnap the ring for a few hours (but it makes sense only if she wears it on the ring finger) – put it then on your own finger and see how far the rail goes, then mark this place with a line and then just measure your finger in that place.
- Or you can try to e.g. exchange “for fun” plastic rings with your Valentine. Then compare your sizes. This way you’ll learn something about her!
- The effect of temperature and time of year on the size:
The ring should go over the joint (knuckle) with a slight resistance. It is worth remembering that our fingers react to stress and the ambient temperature among other things. High temperature causes a slight swelling of the hand, while the low temperature causes the slight contraction. At high temperatures the measure should be tighter. The error is approx. 1/2 mm. The most objective measurement you can get at the moment when her hand is of natural body temperature.
I’ll tell you again that at the low atmospheric pressure fingers can swell. Yes, this is that moment when, just after waking up in the morning we have a problem with putting on rings! Woman’s fingers also swell during pregnancy and then the ring selected earlier may be too tight. Therefore, wedding rings should not be tried on or bought during pregnancy.
- Measure the size together: Engagement is a conscious decision of two mature people to spend their life together (because we are in Poland, and not after a wild night with boozing in Las Vegas). Therefore, for me personally, all the ways to “discretely measure the beloved finger” – and by that I mean the stories of measuring her finger while she is sleeping, all conspiracy with her friend straight from a soap opera or taking plaster casts of hand. Clever, right?
Therefore, the easiest way is to take your partner to a trusted jeweler or the shop while shopping. Because your partner at some point knows that she is ready to “be called dips on” and measuring the finger will not spoil the romantic surprise. Moreover, she will be very pleased that you approach it consciously and have thought about it. Because she still doesn’t have any idea when or how you’ll do it and what trinket she’ll find in the box.
However, if your partner is skittish, the engagement subject is taboo in your relationship and you are planning to take her by surprise – read carefully my earlier advice. Then your surprise will definitely be a success.
And one more thing… You need to be aware that in some models the stones are set in such a way that adjusting the size (reduction or enlargement of the ring) is impossible. I’ll show you three examples of such settings. 1 , 2, 3. So if you are, for example, buying a ring with a large stone encircled with e.g. small diamonds it will be really hard to change its size.
It shows how precise you have to be with your choice so the engagement ring meets all the expectations.
On which finger should she wear it?
It happened! You chose the most romantic place for the engagement and soon you’ll fall to your knee and ask the beloved to marry you. You are probably wondering which finger you should put the ring on.
I’m rushing to answer. When you hear the joyful “yes”, put it on the ring finger, that is the fourth finger of the right hand (counting from the thumb). Of which hand? Right! Such is tradition in Poland and in other countries it may be other way.
I learned that in Scandinavia right from the moment of engagement the woman wears the ring on the left hand and during the wedding ceremony the groom puts a second, identical one, on the same finger. While in Hungarian tradition engagement rings are a rarity. A women gets a ring instead which is worn on the left hand until the wedding and then she moves it to the right hand.
And what to do with the engagement ring after the wedding? In the “engagement Savoir Vivre” you’ll read that its place takes the wedding ring. Many brides choose to wear both the engagement ring and wedding ring on their right hand (which I personally don’t recommend because the rings are touching, which speeds up their abrasion and damage).
It is also generally accepted that when the wedding ring takes the place of the engagement ring then the shiny ring after the wedding can also be worn on the ring finger of her left hand.
May it serve her a lifetime…
At the end I’ll give you the last piece of advice concerning the ring care, because it will serve the bride long years, won’t it?
Give it a break – after work, before going to the gym or before an aromatic foam bath put the ring back to the box. Do not take it either to “family shopping” if you’re going to carry heavy bags, because their weight can deform your ring. And one more thing! Remove it, for god’s sake, while hoeing weeds in the garden or kneading the dough, because there is nothing worse than accumulating dirt under an exceptional stone.
Pierścionek APART z żółtego złota z cytrynem i diamentami
Pierścionek APART z żółtego złota ze szmaragdem i diamentami
Pierścionek APART z białego złota tanzanitem i diamentami
Pierścionek z białego złota z brylantami
Pierścionek APART z żółtego złota z szafirem i diamentami
Pierścionek APART z białego złota z tanzanitem i brylantami
Pierścionek APART z białego i żółtego złota z brylantem
Pierścionek APART z żółtego złota z rubinem i diamentami
Pierścionek APART z zółtego złota z perłą i diamentami
I hope that this quite lengthy text helps you in selecting the perfect ring for your loved one – and my Magpie lessons won’t be in vain. Nay! I imagine now that I have a ring master before me who no longer has to be stressed (OK, I know that subcutaneously you’re nervous, but it’s a positive feeling, which just shows how much you care) because I know perfectly you’ll do great when shopping.
If you, Magpie, have doubts or questions – go ahead and write. I’ll answer your questions in comments under the article.
The post was written in cooperation with APART brand.
