Being engaged is a serious step towards commitment. A small part of that commitment starts from choosing the perfect engagement ring. Before you get confused as to what pave engagement rings signify compared to other options, you may want to learn about the other options available to you. Gemstones meant for engagement rings are not only confined to white diamonds or just diamonds per se. You can add more meaning to an engagement ring with the particular type of gemstone you pick. You can either opt for the birthstone of bride-to-be or choose a gemstone with deeper symbolism.
Once you have picked out a gemstone, thinking about solitaire engagement rings is still far off. You have to pick the perfect metal to match the stone. White metals, like platinum, silver or white gold, go well with black diamonds. White diamonds are also extra brilliant with white metals. Other stones are not that glamorous unless set in gold. Then again, you may want to set your budget first before making a decision.
If, however, you decide to stick with diamonds as the stone of choice for your engagement ring, then the next thing to decide on is the cut of the diamond. The shape of the wearer’s fingers plays a big role in deciding the shape or cut of the main stone. Short fingers need elongated shapes to lengthen the appearance. Cuts such as the emerald, marquise, oval and to some point the pear are great choices. A playful persona is mirrored in the heart-shaped cut, the asscher and radiant. Classical cuts include the round and cushion. The most popular among all the cuts or shapes is the princess which is essentially a square.
After ascertaining the cut, you may now decide on the setting of the stones. The most common settings are solitaire, pave, three-stone, split shank and the antique. What makes solitaire engagement rings popular is its classic feel and simple beauty. The main stone is attached to the ring by several prongs. You can choose to have just four prongs that maximize the amount of visible stone or you can opt for a more secure setting with six prongs. The solitaire setting is also the most economical. A more extravagant setting is the three-stone which involves having two smaller sized stones sit on each side of the main gemstone.
Probably the most extravagant of settings belong to pave engagement rings, which involve additional choices. Pave setting involves a number of small diamonds set in a line that goes along the band of the ring. It gives the illusion or look that the ring is made up of diamonds strung together instead of sitting on a metal ring. The half pave involves diamonds set along the upper half of the ring and is a more popular choice for being cheaper for the buyer and more comfortable to wear. The full pave involves diamonds being set throughout the whole circumference of the ring. The sight of shimmering diamonds even in the side of open palms is a delightful surprise but quite a discomfort when the gemstones rub against the sides of the fingers. Clearly, your budget plays a very important role in every step of the way when choosing the right engagement ring.