There is a huge array of diamond wedding rings available today, and choosing the one that will be with you for a lifetime is a serious affair.

Not only are there aesthetic factors to bear in mind, your diamond wedding ring holds also a deeper significance. It is a symbol of your love for the person that you married, and you should select the ring that you feels best captures the essence of these feelings.

The diamond ring you choose for your wedding should be everything that you feel your love to be - unique, beautiful and durable. And while there are a huge variety of styles and ring settings available, the core features of a truly beautiful diamond remain the same regardless of the style of diamond ring you pick to celebrate your wedding. You will hopefully wear this ring the rest of your life, so choose a style that seems timeless to you.

Selecting a wedding ring isn't as easy as it looks. You are going to wear your ring for the rest of your life, so it should be something you won't get tired of in a couple years. You will have to look at and try on many different rings before you come to a final decision and, being an intelligent consumer, you should know what your options are.

First, you will have to decide how much you can afford to spend. Then, with your budget in mind, choose the material you want your ring made of.

Wedding ring materials can be:

- 14K or 18K yellow gold, classic and still very popular for wedding and engagement rings; - white gold, which is gaining popularity because it looks stylish and very modern. Also white gold can be worn with silver or platinum jewelry and it goes with most fabrics; - platinum is one of the hardest metals, which in itself makes platinum a suitable symbol for enduring love. It is also very pure: while 18 K gold contains only 75% gold, most platinum jewelry is 95% platinum. Platinum rings look similar to white gold, are very elegant and stylish, don't scratch and don't loose their look with the passing years. Platinum rings are the most expensive but, considering that you will wear your ring for the rest of your life, that doesn't really matter for many couples; - titanium is long lasting, light and not very expensive, so it has recently became a very popular material for wedding rings. Titanium rings are similar in appearance to white gold rings but they are so light that you can hardly feel one on your finger. Titanium is a particularly popular material for men's wedding rings.

Diamonds are unbeatable favorites for wedding rings and with good reason - not only are diamonds the most beautiful and expensive of all precious stones, but they are also the hardest. Other hard stones are rubies and sapphires. Gemstones like amethyst or aquamarine are too soft, which makes them unsuitable for a wedding ring that you are going to wear every day.

No matter which style and material you chose, you want a ring that would be comfortable on your finger. For this reason it is always best to go with a ring that is smooth around the edges.

Imagine the next time you join a discussion about diamonds. When you start sharing the fascinating diamonds facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.

Diamonds are measured in Carat Weight. One carat weighs 200 milligrams. If a diamond is referred to as four grains, this also means that it is a one carat diamond. The word Carat comes from the word carob. A carob is a bean that grows on a tree in the Mediterranean. In times past, if a diamond weighed the same as a carob bean, it was one carob, or one carat.

How can you put a limit on learning more? The next section may contain that one little bit of wisdom that changes everything.

In the far east, where Carob trees do not grow, rice was used to measure the weight of a diamond. If a diamond weighed as much as four grains of rice, it was four grains - or one carat as we know it to be now. The majority of diamond purchases are for diamonds that are 1/3 of a carat.

Beware when shopping for diamonds that are already set or mounted. If more than one diamond is used in the piece, the tag on the jewelry will give the CTW or Carat Total Weight - it does not tell you the carat weight of each stone in the piece. You need to ask the jeweler for the total carat weight of the largest diamond in the piece to truly understand what you are buying.

The setting you choose is a matter of your own personal taste, but the diamond in your wedding ring should adhere to these important factors.

The characteristics of a beautiful diamond are known as the four Cs - carat, color, clarity and cut. Regardless of the style of diamond wedding rings that you and your partner choose, these are factors that will apply.

The carat of your diamond refers to its weight - simply put, the larger the diamond, the more valuable it becomes. While larger diamonds can be impressive, certain settings suit smaller carats better. Choose a carat that appeals most to you - a large diamond may be valuable, but the most important factor is how valuable it is to you.

The color of a diamond also relates to its value - the clearer the stone, the more valuable your diamond wedding ring.

The third factor is clarity - once again, the more clear a diamond, the more valuable it becomes. Though few diamonds are perfect, the ones with less clouds or flaws are more rare, and thus more expensive to purchase.

The final factor is the diamond's cut. The best cut will display the diamond's brilliance to the best effect.

Your jeweler will be able to help you select a diamond that fits all these characteristics, but remember that each diamond is beautiful in its own right. Your diamond wedding rings are a symbol of your love, so choose the one that speaks to you.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of diamonds. Share your new understanding about diamonds with others. They'll thank you for it.

And men, you need to take great care when shopping for that special diamond ring! Remember to ask the jeweler for the total carat weight of the largest diamond in the piece to truly understand what you are buying. Don't pay more for what you are getting.

We are dedicated to helping you learn more about diamonds, for better selection and your money's worth.

About the Author
Cynthia has been married so many times that she is an expert on diamond rings. Learn about the most loved and cherished symbol of lasting love...find out how the diamond rings in your life can expand your happiness.

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