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The book couples in love have been waiting for. . .
revised and updated!
Engagement & Wedding Rings takes the fear and anxiety out of buying an engagement or wedding ring, restoring the romance and the magic of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Inside Engagement & Wedding Rings, you'll find everything you need to know to select, buy and enjoy ... to truly experience the wonder and excitement that should be part of finding—or creating that "perfect" ring.
Engagement & Wedding Rings;is filled with useful information to help you make the right choice, including:
- Romantic traditions behind engagement and wedding rings.
- How to select the right design and style for you.
- Tricks to get what you want on a budget.
- Steps to compare prices properly.
- How to select the perfect bridal pearls.
- The latest cuts, ring styles and designs.
- Secrets to differences in diamonds and colored gemstones that may appear to be the same quality.
- How to select your jeweler, appraiser and insurer.
- What to do to protect yourself against fraud and misrepresentation—what to ask and what to get in writing.
Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction x
Old-European Cut Diamond Price Guide 50
Diamond Price Guides 105–108
Worksheet to Help You Select Your Rings 272
PART ONE
Engagement and Wedding Rings through the Ages 1
1. The Romance of the Ring 3
2. Engagement and Wedding Ring Traditions 7
PART TWO
Getting to Know Gems 15
3. Becoming Intimate with Gems 17
4. Looking for a Gem That's a "Cut Above" 23
PART THREE
Diamond Engagement and Wedding Rings 29
5. Selecting the Diamond 31
6. The Importance of Cutting and Proportioning in Diamond 35
7. Body Color 51
8. Clarification on Clarity: How Flaws A∂ect Diamonds 63
9. Carat Weight 75
10. Tips on Getting the Diamond You Really Want, within Your Budget 81
11. How to Read a Diamond Grading Report 87
12. Comparing Diamond Prices 103
13. False Claims and Costly Bargains:
How to Spot Fraud and Avoid Misrepresentation 109
PART FOUR
Colored Gemstones in Engagement and Wedding Rings 129
14. The Allure of Colored Gemstones in Betrothal Rings 131
15. The Magic and Mystery of Colored Gems 133
16. Determining Value in Colored Gems 143
vii
17. Colored Gemstone Treatments 163
18. Fraud and Misrepresentation in Colored Gems 169
19. Popular Colored Gemstones 175
20. Pearls: A 3,000-Year-Old Tradition for the Bride 195
PART FIVE
Design and Style: Getting the Look You Want 201
21. Choosing the Shape 203
22. Choosing Your Setting 207
23. Gold or Platinum for your Rings? 215
24. Choosing the Wedding Bands 225
25. The Heirloom Ring 229
PART SIX
Important Advice Before You Buy 235
26. What to Ask When Buying the Stone 237
27. Deciding Where to Make the Purchase—Retailer or E-retailer 247
PART SEVEN
Important Advice After You Buy 255
28. Choosing the Appraiser and Insurer 257
29. Caring for Your Engagement and Wedding Rings 265
PART EIGHT
Appendices 269
A Selected List of Laboratories That Provide Internationally
Recognized Reports of Genuineness and Quality 270
International Ring Size Equivalents 271
Worksheet to Help You Select Your Rings 272
Selected Readings 273
Text and Color Insert Credits 275
Index 278