Diamond engagement rings: Leap Year Traditions

29/02/2012

 

Diamond engagement rings are incredibly popular when proposing to your partner, this year is a leap year which gives us an extra day, February 29th, this is a date that usually only occurs every four years, in the UK it is tradition that women may only propose on a leap day, but research has found that even if us ladies do the proposing we still expect a diamond engagement ring, but what is the origin behind this tradition?

The tradition is said to date back to the 5th century in Ireland when Saint Patrick agreed that females that have been waiting for their man to propose could actually do it themselves but only on the 29th February. This rule not adopted in England and Scotland until 1288, when the law was passed by Queen Margaret of Scotland, stating that if a woman proposed in a leap year and was turned down, the man had to pay a fine and this could range from giving her a kiss, a silk gown or a pair of gloves, this was at a time when rules over relationships were much stricter. Nowadays woman are free to propose on any day they wish, although this is not typically a common practice.

February 29th has traditional associations with good fortune and things out of the ordinary. It was also thought that since the leap year day corrected the discrepancy between the calendar year of 365 days and the time taken for the Earth to complete one orbit of the sun, a total of 365 days and 6 hours, it was an opportunity for women to correct a tradition that was one-sided. However in Greece, marriage in a leap year is considered unlucky. As a result of this one in five engaged couples in Greece will plan to avoid getting married in a leap year.

If you are planning on popping the big question leap year or not visit us at Mad About Dimonds for a beautiful range of diamond engagement rings including marquise diamond engagement rings and solitaire diamond engagement rings. 

                                                                               

 

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Diamond Engagement rings: Leap Year Engagement for Lisa Maxwell!

29/02/2012

Diamond engagement rings come in all shapes and sizes from solitaire diamond engagement rings to princess cut diamond engagement rings, more recently even men’s engagement rings have become popular. As we are certain you are aware, this year is a leap year, so we at Mad About Diamonds have been keeping our eyes open as to which ladies have popped the big question to their partners. The first to catch our eye is Loose Women presenter Lisa Maxwell who proposed to her boyfriend Paul Jessup earlier today. But did she use a diamond engagement ring to seal the deal?

The couple have been together since 1997 and have a daughter together. Lisa made the announcement on the ITV show Loose Women which she presents with Andrea McLean, Carol McGiffin and Jane McDonald. Lisa said it was something the couple have always talked about but a proposal has never come of it, so she just decided to go ahead and ask him to marry her, he replied ‘Of course I will’. Lisa added that she had been joking for weeks about the up and coming leap year but Paul didn’t believe she would do it. Speaking about her romantic proposition on Loose Women, she said: The fact we know where our lives are going, I was thinking what's the big surprise? The only thing we don't have is marriage. 

There have been no reports on the swapping of diamond engagement rings between the happy couple. Diamond engagement rings are commonly used when a men propose to their partner, however ladies proposing to their man is much less common with only 9% of engagements being initiated by women. Visit us at Mad About Diamonds for a huge selection of beautiful diamond engagement rings.

                                                                               Evian

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Diamond Engagement Rings: Pretty in Pink!

22/02/2012

Diamond engagement rings are available in a huge range of shapes and sizes, there are so many choices when it comes to deciding on the perfect engagement ring it’s no wonder most men find it a difficult decision to make. This week pink diamonds have been attracting a lot of attention as the Rio Tinto Argyle mine discovered it’s largest one to date, only 1 of the 66 largest diamonds in the world is pink, this highlights how rare the precious diamonds are and how exciting the find is.

The largest pink diamond ever found by mining company Rio Tinto is about to be cut and polished in a meticulous 10 day process. The 12.76 carat gem is to be known as the Argyle Pink Jubilee Diamond was found at Rio Tinto's Argyle mine in the east Kimberley region of Western Australia, this area produces a huge 90 percent of the world's supply of pink diamonds. The diamond is being cut and polished as a single stone by Richard How Kim Kam, who has worked for the company for 25 years. Maybe it will be incorporated in to a diamond engagement ring like the one Jennifer Lopez received from Ben Affleck which was a pink solitaire diamond engagement ring. 

It is unknown how much the diamond is expected to fetch, but experts say pink diamonds attract on average 20 times the price of an equivalent white diamond, The price is determined by the intensity of the colour. Once the diamond is cut and polished it will be graded by a team of international experts and shown around the world, then it will no doubt be auctioned later this year. It is believed that the Argyle mine is set to close in 2016, which means the number of pink diamonds available will reduce dramatically.

For a huge selection of diamond engagement rings visit us at Mad About Diamonds, we have a wide selection that will dazzle any shopper, ranging from the very simple princess cut diamond engagement rings to the more elaborate shoulder set or multi stone diamond engagement rings for you to choose from. 

                                                                               

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Diamond Engagement Rings: Choosing your precious metal

22/02/2012

 

As you will understand from previous blogs there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration when choosing your perfect diamond engagement rings, one of the major decisions that can have a huge impact on the final look of the ring is what precious metal you decide to have the ring crafted from. White gold, yellow gold, platinum, and palladium are the most common precious metal choices for diamond engagement rings. Of course, each precious metal has its advantages and disadvantages, so it helps to take the time to familiarise yourself with each option before making your final selection.

Of all the precious metals used for diamond engagement rings, gold is the most common, as well as the most traditional. Available in yellow, rose and white variants, gold is durable and long lasting. Both white gold and yellow gold is considered affordable, particularly when compared to other precious metals, such as platinum. Gold tends to hold up fairly well with daily use, but can scratch or dent in some cases. While yellow gold will maintain its golden colour over time, the finish on white gold is achieved by coating a yellow gold with a white metal alloy, such as rhodium. This means that, over time, the white tone of the white gold will slowly fade and may need periodic re-coatings to keep the white gold looking its best.

Platinum and palladium come from the same metal family and are a good option if durability is an issue as they are harder precious metals than gold. They are both hypo-allergenic to, meaning they are ideal for individuals with skin allergies or sensitive skin as they are proven to not cause any reaction or irritation. Palladium engagement rings do however have a slightly heavier weight than platinum diamond engagement rings, making them ideal for consumers who prefer a more substantial feel to their engagement rings.

Visit us at Mad About Diamonds for a wide range of diamond engagement rings including marquise cut diamond engagement rings and solitaire diamond engagement rings.

                                                                               

 

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Insurance for diamond engagement rings?

15/02/2012

 

Diamond engagement rings and wedding rings are bought every year in their millions all around the world, however, this is not replicated in the number of jewellery insurance policies taken out by individuals, with gold and diamond prices rising over the last decade your precious jewellery may be worth more than you think. Recent research has found that a huge 68% of those with diamond engagement rings and wedding rings have never had them valued, so they may have their rings insured but it makes it difficult if your ring is lost or stolen to claim for the true value of the ring. 

How much exactly has the price of diamonds and gold risen by? The figures are actually quite shocking; the price of diamonds has risen by 9% on average in the last year and by a huge 44% in the past five years. Gold on the other hand has risen by 32% over the past year and an astounding 511% in the past decade. This means that the real value of a ring purchased over the past few years will have changed significantly from its original price and could be worth a great deal more than expected. In order to protect yourself from loss it is very important to get your diamond engagement rings valued regularly to ensure you do not lose out if your ring is damaged lost or stolen. Also make sure your ring is actually covered in your insurance policy, many believe that they will be able to claim on contents insurance, this is not always the case.

At Mad About Diamonds we have a huge range of diamond engagement rings for you to choose from including solitaire diamond engagement rings and shoulder set engagement rings, each diamond ring comes with a diamond certificate which can help you get the appropriate insurance cover. Being a Mad About Diamonds customer means that you can also benefit from great deals on your jewellery insurance through TH March, call us for more details 0151 625 8800.

 

 

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Diamond engagement rings: Love tastes like this?!

15/02/2012

 

Diamond engagement rings are used in proposals all around the world and every individual has their own way of popping the big question, however over in America they seem to be taking proposals to some new extremes. An American bakery believes it has found the perfect way to ask your loved one to marry you. The shop Cupcakes Gourmet have been selling red velvet cupcakes decorated with thick icing and topped off with a diamond engagement rings, the shops motto is ‘Love tastes like this’ so the diamond topped cupcakes are actually quite fitting. These little sparkly cupcakes come at a price however, $55,000 – just over £35,000!!

Another company that has followed in similar footsteps is Pizza Hut, offering a cheaper alternative. Pizza Hut is offering a $10,010 (roughly £6,300) dinner boxes with (presumably) engagement rings, fireworks, flowers, limo and photographer all included. This package appears to be a publicity stunt, but further investigation into the seemingly outrageous package reveals that Pizza Hut Headquarters over in America have already been dealing with 800 serious inquiries all fighting over the 10 available packages.

If you are hoping to pop the big question to your loved one and are looking for suitable diamond engagement rings visit us at Mad About Diamonds. We have a huge range of rings for you to choose from including marquise engagement rings and also the very popular princess cut diamond engagement rings so there will most definitely be something to suit all no matter what your taste, no cake or pizza included though I’m afraid.

                                                                            Vicenzo

 

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Diamond Engagement rings: Valentine’s Celebrations Around the World

9/02/2012

 

Diamond engagement rings are purchased in there thousands on the run up to Valentine’s Day with individuals all around the world choosing the most romantic day of the year to pop the big question, we have already learnt in an earlier blog how we here in Britain traditionally celebrate Valentine’s Day, but how is it celebrated around the world? 

Many other European countries such as France and Spain also celebrate Valentine’s Day in the same as we do in the UK with flowers, chocolates, romantic meals and sometimes even diamond engagement rings. However in Wales many people celebrate Dydd Santes Dwynwen, the patron Saint of Welsh Lovers, which is celebrated on the 25th January instead of 14th February. In Latvia and Lithuania they have a very unique tradition; it is common for people to place stickers of their loved ones faces on to their own face and clothing. In Slovenia the meaning of Valentine’s Day is totally different which is interesting, 14th February marks the day when the work first starts in the fields and vineyards, it is celebrated by Slovenians by planting seeds. Part of the reason for this is that in Slovenia Saint Valentine is considered the First Saint of Spring.

In Brazil Valentine’s Day is celebrated on 12th June the day before Saint Anthony’s Day who is the Brazilian Saint of marriage, and on this day single females perform spiritual rituals in the belief that it will help them find good husbands, who will maybe propose to them with diamond engagement rings if they are lucky. On the other side of the globe, Japanese women give chocolates to men to celebrate Valentine’s Day, other gifts are very uncommon, Following this on 14th March, also known as White Day men then give chocolates to a women as a reply. This tradition is also followed in South Korea, however if you did not receive anything on 14th February or 14th March you should eat black noodles on 14th April to mourn your single life, this is also known as Black Day.

Whether you are thinking about popping the big question on Valentine’s Day or any other day of the year visit us at Mad About Diamonds to view our full range of diamond engagement rings including the very popular solitaire diamond engagement rings and marquise engagement rings.

                                                                               Memphis

 

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Diamond engagement rings: Too small for Jessica Biel?

9/02/2012

 

Choosing diamond engagement rings is always going to be difficult but can you imagine if the ring you bought was rejected by your loved one. This is what is said to have happened to singer Justin Timberlake recently as his girlfriend Jessica Biel supposedly rejected the ring Justin gave her. It has been rumoured that she felt the diamond was too small. Justin proposed to Jessica on Christmas Day during a skiing holiday in the mountains of Jackson, Wyoming, but has yet to be spotted wearing a ring, over a month later.

When Justin proposed to Jessica, it has been said that she was disappointed by Justin’s choice in diamond engagement rings, it is believed Jessica wanted something striking and spectacular, with a huge diamond that could impress her friends. Instead, Justin went classic with a low key style thinking she would prefer something less extravagant. Reports claim that Justin is now browsing for diamond engagement rings all over again to find the perfect one for her, moreover it is said that there will be a second take of the proposal, lucky girl!

For a huge variety of very classy and show stopping diamond engagement rings visit us at Mad About Diamonds. From marquise cut diamond engagement rings to solitaire diamond engagement rings we have all the bases covered. If you are unsure and you do not want to get it wrong like Justin Timberlake, call us on 0151 625 8800 and one of our team will be happy to advise you.

                                                                           

 

 

 


 

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Solitaire diamond engagement rings: The 4 C’s.

1/02/2012

 

Solitaire diamond engagement rings are a classic choice when you are going to pop the big question to your loved one, but how do you choose the perfect diamond for your perfect lady? The diamond industry relate to the quality of diamonds with the 4 C’s Carat, Clarity, Colour and Cut. Every single diamond can be described by these elements which are used to determine the diamonds overall value and indeed quality.

Carat – Diamonds are weighed in metric carats. A metric carat is a unit of mass which is equal to 200mg.

Clarity – Created by nature under tremendous heat and pressure, nearly all diamonds contain unique internal characteristics called inclusions and external characteristics called blemishes. Many clarity characteristics are too tiny to be seen by anyone other than a trained gemmologist. Diamonds with the few inclusions or blemishes are considered to be more desirable and therefore more expensive. Clarity is very important when choosing solitaire diamond engagement rings.

Colour – Truly colourless diamonds are very rare and highly valued. Gemmological Institute of America (GIA), uses letters to represent colours of diamonds, beginning with D which is colourless and ending at Z which is light yellow or brown. Diamonds in other colours such as blue, pink, black, green and orange are extremely rare but do occur.

Cut – While diamonds can be sculpted into different shapes, the term "cut" actually refers to a diamond's complex relationship with light. A number of factors influence a diamond's cut grade, including its overall face-up appearance, design and craftsmanship. There are many different cuts of diamond including princess, pear, round, emerald, marquise and oval just to name a few.

If you are looking for diamond engagement rings visit us at Mad About Diamonds with have a huge variety of solitaire diamond engagement rings as well as marquise cut diamond engagement rings for you to choose from.

                                                                               Zermatt


 

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Diamond engagement rings for Amir and Faryal.

1/02/2012

 

Diamond engagement rings were exchanged over the weekend as boxing star Amir Khan and fiancé Faryal Makhdoom celebrated their engagement at the football ground of Amir’s local club Bolton Wanderers, the happy couple celebrated their announcement with family and friends at the Reebok Stadium.

 The couple swapped diamond engagement rings in front of 1000 people at a lavish £150,000 engagement party with many of the boxer’s footballer friends in attendance, including fellow sportsmen Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ricky Hatton and David Haye as well as Bolton football stars Kevin Davies and Jussi Jaaskelainen. It is believed that Amir formally proposed and surprised his bride to be to be with a £100,000 princess cut, shoulder set diamond engagement ring. Amir has also followed the new trend of wearing an engagement ring, traditionally only the women would wear one. The couple received many engagement presents including a new car, the couple were given a BMW 750Li from the bride to be's father, Shaukat, and mum Zia. Once the couple are married they will live in Amir’s home town Bolton, Faryal is currently a student studying in New York which is where her parents live.

For a wide range of diamond engagement rings visit us at Mad About Diamonds, no matter what your style we will have something to suit you, from princess cut diamond engagement rings like Faryal’s to the very popular solitaire diamond engagement rings you will definitely find what you are looking for and if you need any help with styles or sizes call us and one of our professional team members will be happy to help you.


 

 

                                                                               Vathy

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