What better way to show the world that you are in love than by the act of giving and receiving a diamond engagement ring? With many actresses and other famous women sporting bigger and sparklier diamond rings, celebrity engagements have become a delight for the jewelry lover. The size of the diamond is not necessarily the key as to what makes some of these rings so famous and recognizable, rather it seems to be a combination of the engagement ring itself and the famous lady it is associated with.

The history of diamond engagement rings

Maximillan I of Austria gave the first diamond engagement ring on record to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. He had the ring commissioned to unite their two houses and make their marriage a unifying symbol to the country.

The smallest diamond engagement ring ever made was given to Princess Mary who was married by proxy to the Dauphin of France in the year 1518. Princess Mary was two years old at the time.

Throughout history diamond engagement rings have become larger, more elaborate, and have included a wide variety of other jewels and metals. Diamond engagement rings settings can be made of silver, platinum, white or yellow gold or a mixture of these elements.

Famous ladies and their engagement rings

Celebrities and other famous people influence the look and style of many aspects in fashion and also set trends. Diamond engagement rings are no exception to this rule. The following is a partial list of the famous ladies and their equally famous engagement rings:

Royalty:

• Queen Elizabeth II received an engagement ring from Prince Phillip that was made from diamonds from his mother’s tiara.
• Grace Kelly was given a 12 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring from Prince Rainier.
• Lady Diana was engaged with a ring made of an 18 carat blue oval sapphire that was circled by fourteen diamonds.

Actresses:

• Elizabeth Taylor was engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, with an emerald cut diamond that weighed almost 30 carats. However, she is more known for her other pieces of jewelry, one more striking than the other: the 39 carat Krupp diamond, the 69.42 carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton diamond and the 17th century heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond.
• Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips.
• Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3 1/2 carat emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Phil Bronstien.
• Catherine Zeta-Jones’ promise to Michael Douglas was finalized with a 10 carat antique marquise diamond estimated at amost $2 million.
• Joan Collins got a heart-shaped diamond ring in a nineteenth-century setting from husband Percy Gibson.

Pop stars:

• Madonna received from Guy Ritchie an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band. The Neil Lane ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.
• In the case of Toni Braxton, drummer Keri Lewis designed a stunning 4.5 three-stone diamond ring with an oval-shaped center stone and 2 heart-shaped diamonds on the sides.
• Paris Hilton, even though not a pop star but a diva anyway, received 2 diamond engagement rings from billionaire Paris Latsis, a $5 million 24 carat canary diamond ring and a $2.1 million 15 carat white diamond ring.
• Britney Spears has two engagement rings also: one that she bought for herself before the wedding, a $40,000 4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring with a platinum pave setting, and one that she received 9 month after the marriage from husband Kevin Federline.
• Christina Aguilera became engaged to Jordan Bratman after he presented a $54,000 20-carat diamond engagement ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster.
• Whitney Houston sports a stunning 4 carat oval-shaped center stone with trillions on the sides which she received from Bobby Brown.

Replica diamond engagement rings

Of course there is the very famous pink diamond ring that Ben Affleck gave to Jennifer Lopez. This 6 carat radiant shaped pink diamond quickly caught the attention of the public and has become a highly sought after replica. It is completed with a platinum band as well as three baguette white diamonds on each side. The pink diamond engagement ring is reported to have been purchased for $1.2 million in 2002. The ring, while easily identified is also very feminine and modern looking.

Replicas of the famous pink diamond ring are now available for a moderate price. The cost of the replicas depends on the quality of the stones and the materials used in reproducing the pink diamond engagement ring.

Some replicas are styled as more antique diamond engagement rings. These rings have an everlasting quality and symbolize tradition and heritage. The recent engagement of Camilla Parker Bowles in February of 2005 featured such an antique engagement ring. The platinum ring has an emerald-cut center diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side. This ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother and is believed to be valued at over $1 million.

Since few people can afford the original item, there will always be a market for replicas of these one of a kind diamond engagement rings. The quality of the replicas varies, as does the price. It is important to note that the styles of diamond engagement rings that are popular with celebrities will soon become the styles that are sought after by the not quite so rich and famous.

Tim Richardson is your guide in the world of diamond engagement rings at http://www.loveanddiamonds.com where you can find tips on choosing the diamond and the setting for the perfect ring. You’ll learn about diamond shape, cut, clarity, weight, color, how to read a diamond certificate and how to avoid scams.

Some people believe that there is nothing much to philosophize about weddings or engagements because these are just a start of a new endeavor, a new life and a death of singleness. Contrary to these people’s opinion, there is much to philosophize and examine about weddings and engagements—especially the ring.

A cut fit for a Princess

Aside from its gemstone, type of metal to be used in mounting it, and the size of the stone, one of the biggest considerations in looking for a ring is its cut.

Among the various cuts in the market today, princess cut diamond rings are most popular ones especially in weddings or engagements. By definition, a princess cut refers to a special diamond cutting process that has a contemporary and modern appeal. Unlike the traditional round diamond cut, a princess cut has a square sparkling cut that highlights sparkling brilliance of diamond.

Aside from exemplifying tremendous allure and sophistication, most jewelers agree that a princess cut diamond engagement ring is becoming a popular choice among future brides because of its 76 facets and uncut corners usually mounted in a four-pronged setting. Here are some information your might need to know in purchasing that precious princess cut diamond engagement ring:

1. Categorically, a princess cut belongs to the class of diamond shapes known as “fancy cuts.” If you’re looking for a princess cut diamond engagement ring, your basic guide are those rings that are cut in square or you may prefer a brilliant cut which is more expensive compared to others.

2. If you are to choose a setting, consider a bezel setting because it is the most ideal among princess cut diamond engagement ring settings. Most jewelers suggest this setting because it makes the stone look larger than its actual size on the ring.

3. Be careful in choosing colors especially that of setting or mount because it can greatly affect the color of the stone or diamond on the ring. The basic rule is match the color of your setting with the color of the stone or diamond on your ring.

If you have chosen a yellow gold in a bezel setting, choose yellowish diamond; if you choose white diamond, consider using white gold or a platinum setting to highlight the color and clarity of your stone. Princess cut diamond engagement rings come in platinum, white gold and yellow gold.

4. Shop around and look around. Although popular jewelry stores are the best and most reliable sources of princess cut diamond engagement rings, try looking around—it can be in less popular jewelry stores or online jewelers—because they can provide you with a product that suits your personal taste, preference and budget well.

5. Have your ring evaluated by a certified and trusted gemologist to validate its grade and quality.

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Three stone engagement rings have come into vogue in recent years. Men love that they get a lotta bling for their money and women love the sentiment behind the three stones.

Three stone engagement rings are typically somewhat cheaper than solitare engagement rings of a similar carat weight. That’s because larger solitaire stones are rarer and therefore more expensive than three smaller stones that add up to the same weight. However other factors are present as well in determining price, such as the stone’s clarity, color and cut.

As the three stone engagement rings make quite an impression, typically couples prefer somewhat less ornate bands. This allows for the eye to naturally focus on the 3 diamond stones. Typically the three diamond gemstones are similar in size or the middle diamond may be somewhat larger than the other two.

Celebrity wearers of three stone engagement rings include:Madonna, who received an Edwardian Round three stone ring from her man, Guy Ritchie

Sharon Stone received a three stone wedding anniversary gift from her Phil Bronstein and their adopted son Rhone.

Princess engagement rings are sure to please most women as they are one of the most popular non-round diamond cuts. The cut has pointy corners and an overall square shape. These engagement rings were designed to display the diamond’s maximum brilliance and sparkle. The actual princess cut is a recent innovation in the diamond industry and has been around for approximately 40 year. Its invention is credited to M. Weistreich, a Belgian diamond cutter. The cut is technically a square version of the round brilliant cut.

Princess cut diamonds are typically less expensive compared to other diamond shapes as they require less time to cut and polish. Flaws are more easily hidden within the princess shape, also contributing to a lower price.

Princess rings are often set with sidestones. It is common to see three stone princess engagement rings or a princess cut center stone with side baguette diamonds as accents. Princess cut diamonds also look good in eternity ring settings. By the way, the cut can be used with other gemstones as well, not just diamonds.

The squareness of the princess shape makes it more susceptible to chips. As a result, the diamonds are typically set with the prongs at the four corners for ultimate protection against such damage.

I recommend the princess cut….I have an asscher cut diamond an engagement ring but I certainly would have been just as happy to wear a princess diamond as well.

The author just celebrated her one year anniversary and sports a beautiful ascher cut ring. She and her husband put together the website: http://www.ultimate-engagement-ring-guide.com to help you find the perfect ring.