Diamonds are a girl's best friend- but which cut is best for diamond engagement rings

27/05/2011

As a little girl, many of us will have dreamed of our ideal diamond engagement ring.  Classically, this would be a shoulder set engagement ring, with a sparkling diamond at its centre. However, there is a plethora of ring styles and designs to choose from, at Mad About Diamonds we have a huge selection for you to choose from.

The princess cut diamond engagement ring is the second most popular cut of diamond. The viewable shape of the diamond is square which recedes in a pyramid shape. As such they are also referred to as square cut diamond engagement rings. The cut was first made popular in the 1960s, while having its origins in early French cuts. A princess cut diamond ring allows for the ring clasp to be intricately designed around the stone.

The Marquise diamond engagement ring is a lot older style of cut dating back to the 15th century. The style is accredited to King Louis XV of France, as he ordered a diamond to be created to match the beauty of his mistress the Marchioness Madame de Pompadour. Marquise cut diamonds are shaped like a long oval with pointed ends, making it perfect for a centre diamond on a cluster ring or paired with other diamond set into the shoulders of the ring.

Shoulder set engagement rings are yet another style of diamond ring, as the title would suggest the pieces feature gems set into the shoulders of the rings. These additional gems are often designed to complement and highlight the main centre diamond. The variety within shoulder set is huge, varying from the number of shoulder diamonds to the detail on the main stones clasp.

At Mad About Diamonds we are more than happy to talk you through the various types of diamond engagement rings. So if you have any queries. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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Affordable proposal ideas and diamond engagement rings

27/05/2011

Here at Mad About Diamonds we appreciate that financially times are tough and as such we have a huge selection of diamond engagement rings at a range of prices.  If you have chosen to take the next big step and propose to your loved one, there are a couple of things that you need to get just right. Firstly, you need to get the perfect engagement ring. While there is currently a trend towards platinum marital jewellery, white gold engagement rings are an equally viable option, without the platinum price tag.  If your girlfriend isn’t the type to circle pictures in catalogues or leave open websites, a clever trick is to take a look at her existing collection. If she has a collection of marquise cut stones then it is likely that a marquise cut engagement ring will go down well.

The next part that you need to get perfect is the proposal, which on a limited budget may seem daunting. While proposing over a box of fried chicken probably won’t go down too well, there are a few low cost ideas you can try. Firstly, ask her father, I know this may seem cheesy but it’s a cheap way to earn brownie points.  It’s also a great way to get a second opinion on the diamond engagement ring that you have selected.  Keeping it simple is another great way to keep the costs down, while you may have been thinking Paris. Perhaps, a romantic stroll through the park and a well-stocked Parisian style picnic will create an equally intimate setting.

The key to both the perfect proposal and diamond engagement ring is the same, a little thought. You should know the person that you are proposing too and will have a host of shared memories to draw inspiration from. If you both share a passion for grunge music, then why not propose to a favourite song or dress the part? Similarly when choosing the ring, if you like a square cut engagement ring and think she will as well,  she probably will.

At Mad About Diamonds we craft all of our engagement rings UK based and as such you can be assured that they are of the highest quality.

 

oval cut solitaire diamond engagement ring

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Buying engagement rings online doesn't have to be difficult!

20/05/2011

Finding that special ring can be difficult in such a huge market, here are a few hints and tips when searching for your perfect engagement rings online.

Always look into the company that you are going to buy your engagement rings from. Their website will have endless information and will have means of contacting them directly. Look into their background and check their history, as you want to find the best engagement rings possible! The more expert jewellers on board the greater knowledge they will have in finding you a perfect diamond engagement ring to suit your needs.

Ask the online retailers if they provide a certificate and detailed receipt with their engagement rings. This will give you the satisfaction that you have bought a genuine diamond engagement ring and will also help you if you need any repairs or insurance claims. Look closely into the warranties and guarantees that the shop offers, as they may come in useful in the future. At Mad about Diamonds we only stock certified diamonds from one of the world’s top three grading labs: GIA, HRD and IGI.

We hand craft all of our jewellery in our workshops here in the UK, unlike other online retailers and produce the highest standard of engagement rings; bringing you the best prices available. There are such a large variety of engagement rings online that your choice is endless, for more information on buying diamond engagement rings online contact Mad About Diamonds today on 0151 632 7747.

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Family heirloom engagement rings versus new engagement rings, what would you choose?

20/05/2011

If there is a tradition in your family where you inherit engagement rings, then you may be stuck between a rock and a hard place when proposing.  Usually an heirloom engagement ring is something that has been treasured for a number of generations. However, what happens if you or your partner do not like the ring?

Then in this case you may be able to take the aspects from the heirloom ring that you do like and create your own handmade engagement ring. This then allows you to add your own touch whilst taking inspiration from your family heirloom and keep the tradition alive.

By creating your own handmade engagement ring you are able to update styles by changing the type of metal for example, from yellow gold to a white gold. Other ways of making changes to the ring would be to take the shape of the stones, such as an emerald cut, or a round cut but change for example the stone type maybe to diamonds from a sapphire.

There are many aspects to an engagement ring and so by custom making your own ring you have more control over the type of ring you as a couple want. Moreover, you will not offend family members by rejecting the heirloom ring, as you are using it as the foundation for your own engagement ring. 


If you are looking for handmade engagement rings, start your search with Mad About Diamonds. As on online retailer we are able to pass on our great prices to our clients, however, we do not compromise on service; please contact our expert team for more information on our diamond engagement rings, diamond dress rings and other services.

 

round solitaire diamond engagement ring

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Why do we buy engagement rings?

13/05/2011

Looking back into history, the engagement ring is said to have started with the Egyptians. The common man would give a braided plant material, whereas the wealthy man would give silver or gold. It was thought that there was a special vein in the third finger on the left hand that leads straight to the heart. This is how this particular finger became the perfect one for engagement rings.

During the Middle Ages sapphires, emeralds and rubies where introduced as a possibility for an engagement ring. But still the diamond engagement ring was the stone of choice. The diamond engagement ring was practical as it was strong, it resisted fire and its durability and unending life symbolised a long lasting relationship.

The 18th and 19th century’s saw a huge demand for diamond engagement rings, or practically anything diamond. Diamonds were being discovered in Brazil and South Africa, spreading the diamond engagement ring out of the United Kingdom into new territory.

The floods of diamonds in the 19th century made the diamond not so rare and diamond engagement rings began to decrease in value. This saw the turn of other engagement rings becoming more popular, therefore jewellers turned their main line of business to handmade engagement rings.

The control of diamonds were finally back on track by several different marketing strategies including the slogan ‘diamonds are forever’, using diamond engagement rings as a family heirloom and the film industry incorporating beautiful diamond engagement rings into the big screens. This brought the demand back for diamond engagement rings.

Diamond engagement rings are still extremely popular today and are the perfect piece of jewellery for your loved one. For engagement rings UK contact Mad About Diamonds today on 0151 632 7747.

princess cut diamond engagement ring

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Remembering the Four Cs when buying a diamond engagement ring

12/05/2011

 

The Four Cs stands for: cut, colour, clarity and carat. All of these must be taken into consideration when purchasing a diamond engagement ring. 

Cut: The cut is possibly the most important part of the diamond engagement ring. The way in which it is cut will dictate how the light will reflect from it. Light reflects from a diamond off the 57 or 58 facets, which are the tiny planes that are cut on the diamond’s surface. These are angled and sized in order to create the best possible shape and are described as the diamond engagement rings “fire”. The cut will determine the shape of the diamond. More traditional diamond engagement rings are round cut, but others include the marquise engagement rings and princess cut diamond engagement rings. Make sure that you look at all of the options before choosing the perfect diamond engagement ring.

Colour: The most valuable and rare colour is white. Jewellers grade the colour of diamonds with colourless being “D” and the top of the scale being “Z”. Diamonds display subtle coloured tones and that is one of the main reasons they are used for engagement rings.

Clarity: For people who don’t know much about diamonds clarity isn’t much of an issue. For those who do, many get hung up on maintaining clarity on a diamond engagement ring. When looking for your engagement ring, your jeweller will ask you to look though the loupe and you will see an illusion form. These illusions are usually invisible to the naked eye, so why should we be so bothered? When choosing your diamond engagement ring make sure your diamond ring isn’t flawed. The best diamond engagement ring you can get will be graded IF, Internally Flawless. Just make sure you steer away from the I3, Imperfect 3, and your diamond engagement ring search will be successful.

Finally, Carat: The weight and size of a diamond is measured by carat. The average size of diamonds in diamond engagement rings is between one carat and half a carat. When you are looking for your diamond engagement ring, do not get confused with karats as this is the unit for pure gold.

At Mad About Diamonds we are more than happy to give our clients advice on the Four Cs. If you are looking for a diamond engagement ring,  contact us today on 0151 632 7747 and we can help you find your perfect engagement ring.

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Handmade engagement rings are not just a statement but also an investment.

6/05/2011

A beautiful handmade engagement ring gives you the opportunity to create a piece of jewellery that is as unique as your relationship.  A beautifully crafted diamond engagement ring is an investment for the future.  In medieval Italy the ring was seen as a token of trust, based on the sheer value of the gift presented to the woman, while we may have moved on a little since then the significance is the same. When budgeting for your engagement ring, as a general  rule of thumb is to spend two months’ salary, but it comes down to what you are comfortable with. Bear in mind that most people do end up spending a little more than they originally intended.

We recommend leaving at least four months to plan for your handmade engagement ring, allowing sufficient time and budget for working on the details of the piece. There are many factors to take into consideration, such as the cut of the diamond. You could pick a stylish square cut, a perfect princess cut or perhaps a more radical marquise cut. Whatever you decide the team at Mad About Diamonds will be happy to discuss your ideas for the perfect ring.

Handmade engagement rings allow you to have a tighter grasp on the costing of your ring, if you adore the style but can only afford a smaller diamond, this can be accommodated. If however, this seems daunting we have a large selection of predesigned engagement rings in various styles and cuts to choose from.

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Kate Hudson engaged with beautiful diamond engagement ring!

5/05/2011

Actress Kate Hudson announced her engagement to Muse star Matt Bellamy by sporting a beautiful platinum set ring with an emerald cut diamond and tapered baguettes on the side, rumoured to be worth roughly $200,000 and weighing approximately nine carats. It’s a classic cut for an engagement ring and platinum is a great choice of metal, in our opinion as it is a naturally white metal and so will not discolour the stunning stone.

Kate has claimed that she is not in a rush to get married, but the couple are expecting their first child this summer. The actress has also recently celebrated her 32nd birthday, around the time of her engagement, although she has not released details of the proposal she has been quoted as saying that Bellamy’s proposal was “very sweet and very romantic”.

If you are looking for a diamond engagement ring, either as a couple or if you are looking to pop the question to your love one, then look no further than Mad About Diamonds! Here at Mad About Diamonds we offer great choices at your fingertips, whether you are looking for a shoulder set diamond engagement ring similar to Kate Hudson, or a beautiful square cut diamond engagement ring. Not being a physical High Street store we can offer great quality products at amazing prices, we want to bring you the best of both worlds and so offer a personal service as our professional team are always at hand to answer your questions, please call 0151 632 7747 to talk to us.

 

Emerald Cut Engagement Ring

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