What's Your Ring Style - Traditional, Contemporary, or Unconventional?by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger 14 Nov 2007 12:43 PM
Photo by Jenny Rollo In my philosophies on life and marriage I'm traditional yet unconventional and I think my engagement and wedding rings reflect that. Though when Wayne and I were picking them out I didn't realize any of that at the time. Traditional I consider diamond solitaires perched atop plain gold or silver bands traditional engagement rings. But vintage or antique rings, either fashioned to look that way or because they were handed down and really are, also can be considered traditional. Mine qualifies as traditional, because it is a round cut diamond solitaire and the band is gold. The band isn't plain. It's enhanced with a bit of a design and has four diamond chips set into it on either side of the solitaire. But traditional engagement rings can also have smaller stones accenting the large stone. My wedding band is also traditional. It's a very thin band of gold with a curved, notched nook in it where it fits against my engagement ring. Contemporary Contemporary rings reflect the styles of the times. These days that means bands aren't just gold. They can be both gold and silver blended together in two-toned or tri-colored designs. Also, it's not just plain gold or silver anymore. Nowadays it's specified as white gold, yellow gold, platinum, and gold platinum. The way the diamond sits in or on the band also makes for a contemporary ring, as does the fact that instead of one large stone there may be more than one and both the engagement band and wedding band may have diamonds set in them. Unconventional Any non-diamond ring qualifies for this category. Diamonds may still be present in the ring, say accenting it, but the main focus is the gem, be it sapphire, emerald, tanzanite or even cubic zirconia. (The cubic zirconia really surprised me. I remember a time when women thought it would be the ultimate insult to receive a "fake" diamond, but as they do times have certainly changed.) Related Articles Engagement Rings: Size Doesn't Matter The Search for the Perfect Engagement Ring? Why Do We Call It a Ring Finger? Learn more about Courtney Mroch  Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k. Relevantmarriage tags User Comments Dannyi (10) 29 Dec 2008 01:47 PMThis is a great question, especially for someone looking for a ring for their wife. I figured it would be best to compare what she already wears to different engagement rings I found during my search. I obviously wanted to find a ring she loved and fit her style, but my main concern was finding a quality piece of jewelry that would last forever-something she could be very proud of. When I think traditional, I think yellow gold, which is something I know my girlfriend does not wear. I think she would love an antique. Much to my surprise, I found quite a few antique rings at a reasonable price, I was expecting antique rings to cost a leg and an arm, especially because many are platinum. Although, at first I never thought I could afford it, I am so happy the ring I found is a platinum setting. I purchased a 40 year old ring in original condition, no real scratches and the metal's color is beautiful. I read platinum is more pure and durable, while it holds stones more secure than other metals. I am very, very happy with my choice. http://www.novelldesignstudio.com/choosing_your_metal/index.php is a fantastic comparison chart on metals. Whether a diamond, fake diamond, sapphire, or ruby, platinum seems to be the metal of choice (Hall & Partners says 79% or women feel the qualities in platinum best reflect their own style and taste). Hopefully my soon-to-be-wife will get what she wants, and I feel good about my investment. Happy Shopping! Great time to find mark downs. Community Tags contemporary, diamonds, style, Traditional, wedding rings Discuss this article
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