Diamond Engagement Ring Setting?
How universal is the diamond engagement ring? As a groom to be, is it worth
considering other stones, or should one stick with the Uber-stone?
If you're planning on surprising your fiance to be, try to "feel her out"
as to what kind of ring she would like. Maybe you can employ the help
of some of her close friends, or something. If this is a decision that
the two of you are making together, just ask her what she likes and
go with that. While most of the population that gets engaged does go
for the traditional diamond ring, I know several people that have gotten
other stones. One of my friends even got a pink CZ! Just be sure that
whatever stone you do go with can stand up to being worn everyday.
Emeralds, for instance, are a very soft stone, and would break/chip
pretty easily. Saphires, on the other hand, are (I think) harder stones
and will hold up much better. I think gold, silver and platnium are
the standards for most ring settings (engagement or not). I personally
wouldn't go with a silver setting, because it tarnishes, but that's
just opinion.
If your fiancee to be is not too particular and you want it to be a total
surprise, you could always pick out a simple ring--nothing fancy--and
propose with it. Perhaps if you both have a special common interest,
theme the ring to that. For example, my Brian :) proposed to me with a
Mickey and Minnie 14K gold ring. He decided on this because he didn't
know what kind of diamond I might have wanted. He also said to me, "It's
something you'll be wearing the rest of your life, so it should be
something you like." After she accepts your proposal, you can go together
to pick out a ring you both like.
As in all things, YMMV, but my fiance and I are currently shopping for my
engagement ring (I'm wearing his class ring right now), and we discovered
that we'd both prefer a colored stone to a diamond.
There are no real rules about this, but diamond is traditional. You could
give her rings with other stones, but with a diamond, you can't go wrong.
I don't think the ring has to be gold or platinum. Just as long as it's a
nice ring that suits her personality.