Monthly Archives: September 2011

Wedding Rings History

Wedding rings had an interesting history through time. Almost any culture in the world considers the circle a symbol full of meanings and mystic powers. Ancient civilizations even thought it has healing powers. Because this geometrical shape has no beginning and no end, as the love and devotion between husbands should be, it is a suitable mark of commitment and a sort of material expression for the wedding vows that the couple made in front of the aisle. Romans and Egyptians thought there is a connection between fingers from the left hand and heart, a link made through veins and this is why the wedding rings are worn in this position. Despite the fact that the theory was not true, the romantic habit remained.

The first archaeological proof of a ritual ring exchange has more than 7000 years old (4800 B. C.). Egyptians considered the rings as a sign of immortal love and cherish, but in the later Roman era, it represented a sort of men’s domination over women because she had no right to answer the proposal and every woman who had the ring was married. They had two kinds of rings, one of gold, for public outgoings, and one of iron having little knobs, for home wearing. In the later 860, Christians used complicated decorations and symbols such as flying doves, holding hands and other musical instruments.

Wedding Rings History (Source: engagementringshistory.com)

Wedding Rings History (Source: engagementringshistory.com)

Speaking of wedding ring construction, they had various compositions of stone, leather and in the late metallurgical development period – metals. Romans considered iron an adequate metal for rings even if it rusts. In Middle East, puzzle rings had the purpose to warn the husband if his wife took it off and was unfaithful. When that happened, it was quite difficult to recompose because it broke into pieces. In England, the ring was necessary for the wedding ritual, so the groom had to rent one if he did not afford to buy a gold item. Any other material was a sign of bad luck. Germans were even more pragmatic and offered wedding rings as a contract for dowry.

Wedding Rings History (Source: cf.ltkcdn.net)

Wedding Rings History (Source: cf.ltkcdn.net)

Even so, the wedding ring exchange habit started in The Second World War. Until then, men did not wear a symbol of commitment. The soldiers adorned their fingers with a band to remember about their families and to encourage them to return home at their wives. Some Indians wear toe wedding rings. Today almost all rings are made of silver, gold, platinum and some composite materials. Even so, a great variety of models is available.

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Cheap Men S Wedding Rings

Men usually spend huge amounts of money for their fiancées’ engagement rings, thus making them look for more affordable wedding rings to wear themselves. The good news is that many wedding items especially designed for men are made from new ceramic and tungsten materials, incredibly resistant in time and not expensive at all. On the other hand, men ring models usually contain simple and practical trims that will be easier to manufacture and consequently will cost less to achieve. Because women prefer diamonds and other gemstones that raise the price of jewelries, it would be another reason men should not spent too much money on wedding bands in comparison with women.

One of the latest trends in wedding jewelry fashion are tungsten carbide and ceramic materials. These new technologies promise increased mechanical strength, hypoallergenic properties and low acquisition prices. Classic plain tungsten models will only need a 50-70$ investment, while brushed and geometrical faceted pieces will raise the price up to 120-160$. Depending on the company that produces the jewelry material and its standards, high quality carbides may cost you 200-300$, especially when you ask for complicated inlays, bicolor or bimetal joints and large sized models. On titanium-jewelry.com and titaniumstyle.com you can receive, besides multiple offers, guaranty certificates and details about return policy if you happen to be unhappy with your choice.

Cheap Men S Wedding Rings (Source: sgint.com)

Cheap Men S Wedding Rings (Source: sgint.com)

One metal that never gets out of the fashion’s tendencies is gold. Whether it has yellow, white, or sometimes pink and reddish shades, a gold band will look great in every newly married couple’s opinion. A lot of men will certainly appreciate a website that is designed entirely for their wedding shopping. This virtual can be found at the address justmensrings.com and contains well-structured offers and close look photo frames. To take an example, the 2 mm simple 14 K yellow bands will only cost 120$. Special polished shapes, comfort fit designs, satin look and large width bands may reach 400-500$. You should think twice for custom-made designs because they need extra care and time from the jeweler’s side and this will cost you more.

Cheap Men S Wedding Rings (Source: edocharrette.com)

Cheap Men S Wedding Rings (Source: edocharrette.com)

Platinum and 24 K gold bands usually reach 800-1200$. Complicated models and famous celebrity ring copies are even more expensive. Overstock.com is an international website that offers a nice sorting by price categories. All you have to do is search for a ring design that fits with your wife’s set of wedding band. Just choose the model in any composition you want and then search for appropriate offers on multiple websites. Do not forget about the special and affordable wood wedding rings.

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Cheap Gold Wedding Rings

Gold is one of the most popular precious metals for wedding jewelry just because it has a stable value in time and it is quite accessible for most people. Even if you can find on the market harder metals such as platinum or titanium, gold continues to be at the top of the list concerning buyers’ preferences. For those who are looking to purchase affordable and beautiful wedding bands, here are some tips to help them choose gold rings and to save some money as well.

Firstly, you have to know that pure gold is extremely soft and most jewelry pieces you can find are made from alloys of gold and other metals. The karat number indicates the percentage of purity and it has different prices. Therefore, 14 K has 58.3% gold and it is cheaper than 18 K or 24 K ones. The 10 K has even less gold, but it is not too easy to find. White gold karat has the same significance, with the difference that the silver shade is given by other containing metals.

Cheap Gold Wedding Rings (Source: discount-wedding-dresses.net)

Cheap Gold Wedding Rings (Source: discount-wedding-dresses.net)

The lowest prices you can find are available on the internet – about 130$ for a 2 mm plain simple band. The firm’s website is affordableweddingbands.com and you can see there various special offers that will reach about 400$ for 8 mm items with no decorative elements. Fancy two color models usually cost 600 – 700$ for medium sizes. On weddingringsdepot.com, a nice 3 mm pale rose band made from 14 K gold is only 250$. Two tone gold rings with the same composition but wider will be about 350$. A 14 K item of 6.5 mm width, having polished models, golden shades and finished edges costs about 500-600$ on the same internet retailer’s site.

Cheap Gold Wedding Rings (Source: buycheapweddingrings.com)

Cheap Gold Wedding Rings (Source: buycheapweddingrings.com)

Maybe the best deal you can get is to choose wedding sets made of two or three items: a ring for her, another one for him and even an engagement-matching piece that will fit with the other two. Bandsforhands.com will show you some accessible duo sets with simple polished at 410$. A nice yellow gold Diamond inspiration model in two pieces is 500$. A set for her made of 14 K yellow gold and a quarter carat diamond, which contains wedding and engagement rings, is 300$ on the overstock.com site. The weddingringsdepot.com will offer you trio sets for about 1500$, including nice diamond settings for the engagement ring. Anyway, many other sites will show you great packages so you won’t search too long for matching wedding jewelries.

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Chocolate Wedding Rings

Diamonds make the perfect gemstone for regardless what type of wedding ring. Both women and men simply adore them and while they can be everything from sparkling to sophisticated, they also happen to be… delicious – especially the chocolate ones. Unfortunately, it all comes down only to their color, since the traditional colorless, blue or pink ones started to be left aside for the sake of the chocolate-brown ones.

Once upon a time, the colorless diamonds were supposed to be the most valuable models and the most expensive ones. However, the chocolate diamonds have lately become a real craze among all those couples looking to buy a less conventional wedding ring set. In addition to their special appearance, they are quite affordable, thus making them even more desirable.

 Chocolate Wedding Rings (Source: lickthespoon.co.uk)

Chocolate Wedding Rings (Source: lickthespoon.co.uk)

Those who are interested in this option should know that there are three different types of brown diamonds. The synthetic ones are made in laboratories by combining nickel and nitrogen in a fusion process. The natural gems are extracted from soil, usually in places like Australia, Russia and Africa mines. Last but not least, the heat-treated models result by modifying the natural defects of cold-drawn lattice at high temperatures and adjusting their colors.

Besides their convenient costs, chocolate diamonds are incredibly versatile, making gorgeous sets when combined with some aquamarine, turquoise, emerald, sapphire or rubies in pairs or even in spectacular clusters. Nevertheless, the coolest combination you can get is the so-called chocolate & vanilla ice cream, which pairs brown and colorless diamonds. And since the brown pieces may have various shades, keep in mind that the cognac is at rage for now.

If you prefer something with a powerful visual impact, the simpler is the better – get yourself a gold ring with a big chocolate diamond on a prong setting. For a more sophisticated look, consider something that will emphasize your femininity, like a floral pattern. Eternal love cannot be better suggested than with an eternity ring made from a band of tinny chocolate diamonds. Something really unique is a star shaped diamond with your lover’s name inscribed right in the middle. While you are offering yourself such a treat, consider matching it with a pair of earrings and a necklace, so you can look divine on important occasions.

 Chocolate Wedding Rings (Source: static.weddingandrings.com)

Chocolate Wedding Rings (Source: static.weddingandrings.com)

Everyone willing to make such an investment can have pretty much whatever he or she has been dreaming of. Chocolate diamonds are available in various shapes and, most important, in various carats, from 0.5 to more than 5 carats. Where there is a will, there is a way.

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Engagment Wedding Rings

A man’s higher challenge at the point of proposing the woman he loves is which kind of engagement ring he should choose. This is a difficult stuff to do especially because of the enormous range of possibilities but also because of the man’s lack of practice when it comes to buy jewelry. This task may be even harder to accomplish when he has to pick the right size. Here are some hints a man will need to follow when he has to do this difficult purchase.

Firstly, he has to know what to ask. An engagement ring has three essential parts in composition and these would be the band, the setting and one or more gemstones. Because gemstones are the central part of the ring and yet the most expensive and attractive element, choosing them requires special attention. Whether you think of diamonds, sapphires, ruby, emeralds or other precious crystals, you have to keep in mind that the 4 C standards will impose the cost. According to the stone’s carat weight, some features like clarity, cut precision and color will make the price. When you decide for a light colored piece, clarity is influenced by surface defects. A special precise shape will enhance the viewer’s perception over the stone’s color and clarity. Never choose pearls for daily wearing jewelry. Semiprecious stones may be a good choice but you have to ask about their resistance.

Engagment Wedding Rings (Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com)

Engagment Wedding Rings (Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com)

Beside the fact of choosing solitaire or multiple gemstones, the main question remains the type of setting you have in mind. Prongs are classical settings that hold the gemstone on six metal claws. They are easy to clean, they are easy to make  and have affordable costs. Even so, this model offers less protection to the gemstone’s girdle. Much stable are the bezel and channel shapes, which hold the crystal in place. Bar settings are useful for multiple stone arrangements. Channel and tension forms are difficult to resize and are quite sensitive to shocks. Paved patterns make the diamonds seem bigger but other sensitive stones may be easy to break.

Engagment Wedding Rings (Source: weddingringgallery.net)

Engagment Wedding Rings (Source: weddingringgallery.net)

And last but not least, you have to decide about the ring’s band, which would be made of gold, platinum or silver. Always keep in mind that it has to match with your wedding rings, so you may consider to choose a set in order to accomplish this resemblance. Many jewelry retailers will give you special price discounts for buying such sets. Because you need a perfect ring, be patient and see as many offers as you can.

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Black Ceramic Wedding Rings

Today’s manufacturing processes have evolved so much than plenty of chemical mixtures have proven to be even stronger than steel. Such materials are useful in almost all technological fields, some of them making efficient replacements for metals and many producers claiming that a pair of wedding rings made of ceramics, for example, would last for a lifetime. For those who want resistant and shiny wedding jewelry pieces, black ceramic may be a classy and tasteful option to consider. In fact, this chemical compound has an impressive appearance and seems unconventional and trendy.

Usually ceramics are made of some inorganic oxides that encountered high temperatures and cooling treatments. Most of them have a crystalline structure and may be polished extremely well until they get a bright and stylish look. Rings made of ceramics are heavier than those made from metals like titanium but lighter than jewelries made of tungsten. A special property that this non-metallic compound has is its durability in time. Ceramic rings are resistant to high temperatures and do not conduct electricity. Their hardness reaches nine points on the Moh’s scale, by comparison with steel which gains only seven points and platinum that barely has four and a half points.

Black Ceramic Wedding Rings (Source: tungstenjewellry.com)

Black Ceramic Wedding Rings (Source: tungstenjewellry.com)

Some couples prefer black ceramic for their wedding rings because it has a modern glittering appearance and it is not expensive at all. Depending on dimensions, models and other inlays, a ring made of ceramics may cost you 100$ or more. Since diamond insertions and laser engravings require professional jewelry treatment, such models will be a little bit more expensive. Never try to make similar adjustments by yourself – the alloy is hard to reshape even with special equipment. Most jewelers will tell you that replacing the ring you need to modify with a new one is much easier.

The risk of encountering allergic reactions wearing this kind of rings is extremely low because ceramics are hypoallergenic. Besides that, many ring models have a special rounded surface cut that make them comfortable and they fit extremely well on your finger.

Black Ceramic Wedding Band (Source: bandabc.com)

Black Ceramic Wedding Band (Source: bandabc.com)

There are multiple types of ceramic band models. When talking about exterior design, we may think of colorful inlays, special polishing shapes, faceted geometrical signs, brushed edges and even grooved elements. Romantic persons would like handwriting messages, gemstone decorations and bicolor sets. On tungstenjewllry.com, you will find at the ceramic rings category many of those models for acceptable prices. You need to look for quality certificates and other returning policies when you decide to buy wedding jewelry through internet orders.

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Are Women More Attracted To Men Wearing Wedding Rings

There is a saying that women are like parking spaces – the good ones are already taken while the bad ones are for handicaps. Funny or not, it seems that, in fact, women are those who rather embrace this opinion when it comes to men than otherwise. They appear to be more attracted to married men than they are to bachelors. How can a wedding ring make such a difference?

The forbidden fruit

Wearing a ring on a finger says something about one’s social and marital status – the person is off the market. And there must be some very good reasons for a woman to have already chosen a man. This is probably what most single ladies are thinking when seeing a married handsome guy. And this is how the obsession of the forbidden fruit begins. He is not supposed to be accessible at all since all good things are hard to get, therefore it seems that a potential good man could and should be seduced.

Are Women More Attracted To Men Wearing Wedding Rings (Source: cdn.thegloss.com)

Are Women More Attracted To Men Wearing Wedding Rings (Source: cdn.thegloss.com)

What else?

Despite the fact that studies emphasize a certain acting, they say little things about the reasons leading to this situation. So putting apart the idea of the forbidden fruit, there are some other explanations to consider. One would be the pure pleasure of accepting a challenge. There is another woman to compete with, and when a marriage was sealed in front of God and in front of the law, the situation requires some very good skills that a woman is willing to prove at least for herself if not for the married man when winning his heart. Last but not least, married men seem more stable, powerful both emotional and financial and also more affectionate than bachelors, so they are a good catch to fight for. Whatever would be the reasons, women are, indeed, more attracted to men wearing wedding rings. Unmarried men could take advantage of this discovery and start wearing rings so that the luck will sooner smile them.

Are Women More Attracted To Men Wearing Wedding Rings (Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com)

Are Women More Attracted To Men Wearing Wedding Rings (Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com)

It is not just a joke

Some say that the theory is just a joke. However, a group of American researchers initiated a study implying 100 women and 100 men and showed them photographs of each other. The intention was to establish whether a person becomes more interested in another one after finding out that he or she is already married. The results showed that women failed the test four times more than men. While they were interested in the committed ones, men preferred single women. That cannot be denied anymore.

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Amber Wedding Rings

Amber was supposed to have fascinating influences on people since ancient times. Besides its shiny natural appearance, this resin had applications in folk medicine and it was a perfumery ingredient. At the beginning, it was a symbol of good luck and in some cultures represented fidelity and renewal in people’s marriages. Because it figures the everlasting bond in relationships, jewelry makers chose to include amber in engagement ring models and even in wedding bands.

What is amber?

In fact, this material was never a semi-precious stone as some people may consider. Scientist say that fossilized sap caught inside it insects, larvae, air bubbles during the cooling process, about 45 million years ago, and the resin was conserved all this time. All over the Baltic area, amber deposits occur, but also in Germany, Russia, England, Sicily, The Dominican Republic and North America. The most frequent color is golden brown, but some items may have reddish shades or dark green appearance. Cognac and ivory variations are even more appreciated. The interesting fact is that when you buy amber jewelry, you can be completely sure that you hold a unique piece. Nowhere on Earth will you find identically looking amber.

Amber Wedding Rings (Source: myamberjewelry.com)

Amber Wedding Rings (Source: myamberjewelry.com)

 

Amber rings

Although these rings have unique features, they are quite cheap achievements. Depending of which setting you choose and what precious metals you want to have, the price will not reach more that a few hundred dollars. But if you prefer buying the mounting of an insect caught in amber, it will cost you up to three thousands dollars. Usually, warm colored items will go quite well with yellow or rose gold. Some wedding bands may contain one or two amber pieces, but wearing too many of them will make your jewelry even more fragile. This resin has the smallest resistance of all gemstones and it is not advisable to purchase such jewelry for every day wearing. You will have to take off your ring while you execute tasks that may scratch or even break it.

Amber Wedding Rings (Source: radianze.com)

Amber Wedding Rings (Source: radianze.com)

Tips

Many sellers replace natural amber with crystal or even plastic materials. The worst thing is when they try to fake authentic amber with such replicas. If you want to verify whether a stone like this is truly natural or not, you should stick it in a hidden side with a needle that was previously heated to incandescence. If that item is amber indeed, you will feel a pleasant pine odor. Another remarkable thing about this decorative material is that it feels warm on skin, while other crystals have a mineral coldness. That’s why you will enjoy wearing it.

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Gothic Wedding Rings

Here is how things work: some women prefer getting married in a traditional white gown while others are dying to do it in a bloody red or a deep black dress. The first ones are simply called brides, while the others are most often named gothic brides. And these gothic brides do more than choosing a color to shock everyone – they also choose a ring to match with their wedding theme and with the passion they have for it.

What are gothic rings?

Most people instinctively think of something dangerous, evil or dark when faced with the idea of gothic. However, there is more about it than this mystic aura since some of the most popular gothic motives happen to be flowers or fantastic creatures made of precious gems, with carved and symmetrical patterns. In fact, you would be surprised to discover how wide the range of such products is.

Gothic Wedding Rings (Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com)

Gothic Wedding Rings (Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com)

Gothic models

Esoteric symbols, runes and pentacles, fleur de lis and crosses, fairies, flames, serpents, skulls and even dragons, not to mention the wicca and pagan symbols are all gothic themes that can be easily represented on a ring. Gothic wedding rings can be made from various metals, including tungsten, stainless steel or even titanium, but the most popular ones are the white gold and platinum, because their special silver shade perfectly matches with black inlaid designs. And if you want to get the best from this spectacular color contrast, you can ask the jeweler to add it a gemstone like amethyst, garnet, black diamond or onyx.

Nevertheless, besides these features, what really make them special are the textural details, the intricate scrollwork and the filigree designs.

If for regardless what reasons all of the above are a little too much for you, consider looking for Celtic, Edwardian, Victorian and even floral rings.

Gothic Wedding Rings (Source: witchcraft-supplies.com)

Gothic Wedding Rings (Source: witchcraft-supplies.com)

Things to consider

Gothic wedding rings look gorgeous indeed, but there is more you need to keep in mind when choosing them. Despite the fact that they are so special, they happen to have some major drawbacks. One would be the fact that intricate details or any other filigree patterns previously mentioned can be very hard to maintain and clean. If you will somehow need to resize them in time, it might be impossible without seriously damaging the whole appearance of the ring.

A not so exciting but still practical idea would be to use these rings just for the wedding ceremony, and have them changed afterwards with others that are more simple and will better face the daily usage.

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Peridot Wedding Rings

Weddings are not anymore glamorous fully white events. More and more brides dare to choose a color scheme according to their personal preferences. If you happen to love green, you might be a little terrified while trying to find the perfect emerald wedding ring to match with the whole event. Here is a good news: try instead the so-called “emerald of the evening”…

What is peridot?

It is a gemstone and it is green. Peridot has been known since the Egyptian times and Romans adored it as well, comparing it with its direct and more expensive competitor, the emerald. The vivid green radiating from such a stone, with some delicate golden reflections, might be just right for someone interested to buy it for a sunny August wedding.

Peridot Wedding Rings (Source: simulateddiamondengagementrings.com)

Peridot Wedding Rings (Source: simulateddiamondengagementrings.com)

Features

You should know from the very beginning that peridot happens to have a rare characteristic of being available in only one color. That will be the rich deep green given by the incredibly fine iron traces. With a seven grade on the Mohs scale, it will not make the less resistant investment, but nor the strongest. It is, in fact, quite robust from this point of view, and for things to be even better, the gem is also easy to maintain and look after.

If you are looking for a very good quality piece, make sure it comes from somewhere between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Nevertheless, you might be satisfied with one brought from USA, Australia, Africa, Myanmar or China.

Rings

Besides the fact that it makes a gorgeous precious stone, peridot has a widely appreciated versatility, being cut in round, princess, emerald, oval, heart, pear or cushion shapes. Because of its special color, the most common combinations involve silver, platinum or white gold, for the beautiful contrast that a silver and a green shade produce. For some extra sparkling and more elegance, jewelers often add tinny diamonds on a peridot ring. Thanks of its relatively malleable consistency, the gem supports various setting styles, including prong, bezel and channel.

Peridot Wedding Rings (Source: static.weddingandrings.com)

Peridot Wedding Rings (Source: static.weddingandrings.com)

 Prices

Peridots, just like diamonds, are measured in carats, so you have quite a wide range of options and prices. For example, you could purchase such a wedding ring for even less than 100 dollars, but chances are it will only have a small gem, the baby type, mounted on a 14 carat gold ring. If you can afford, you could also pay almost 5.000 dollars for a piece with a 12.50 carats peridot framed by 1.1 carats tinny diamonds. There are offers for all the pockets indeed.

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