Finding Your Ring

Most Women Want Platinum

Independent research found that 79% of women feel that qualities of platinum best reflect their own style and taste, 81% of women looking for an engagement ring say platinum is their first choice, and 89% consider platinum the highest quality metal.

Personality of the Ring

Setting design and the shape of the center stone create the ring's unique personality. Ultimately, individual taste decides which will be right for your fiancée. But to get you acquainted and comfortable before you shop, here are styles you should know and the personality profiles that generally match them.

	Prong Tiny wires suspend the stone, making it visible from all sides for maximum sparkle. Tiffany's classic has 6 prongs. Personality profile: A classic choice that appeals to a wide variety of tastes.
	Cathedral/contour Rising slopes protect the stone on two sides. Personality profile: Timeless, elegant, for a stylish woman who favors the traditional.
	Bezel A frame of precious metal surrounds the stone, keeping it very secure. Personality profile: Clean and modern, especially suited to someone with an active lifestyle.
	Tension The stone is gripped by thousands of pounds of pressure and appears to hover in space. Personality profile: If she cherishes the unique, this bold look will be a favorite.
	Bar Thin metal bars separate each stone but leave the sides open to bring in light. Personality profile: Appeals to the woman who appreciates the class and style of a bygone era.
	Channel Stones rest between two parallels of metal, highlighting both gems and the precious metal holding them. Personality profile: Subtle, balanced, for a woman who appreciates understated beauty.
	Pave Minute metal beads hold each stone in its own discreet setting. Personality profile: The woman who loves vintage, antiquities and all things rare will be drawn to this ring.
	Micropave Each tiny diamond is prong set in a row, usually around the center diamond Personality profile: This is high fashion, up to the minute, featured on the cover of the best seller "Chashing Hary Winston".
	Baguette Side Stones This is as classic as it gets. Other cuts are used, but are more modern. Personality profile: This woman exudes taste, simple but not plain. Always appropriate.
	European Shank When the center stone is large, the ring is top heavy, this has a flat bottom to keep the main event on top. Personality profile: Any ring can have an european shank, there are other options for women with large knuckles.

Determining Ring Size

• Use our handy guide
• Trace the inside of one of her rings onto paper
• Borrow one of her rings
• Put one of her rings on your finger and mark where it rests with a pen
• If her family members or friends can be discreet, get one of them to ask her

Talk to Friends & Family

Women notice what other women like. Female friends and relatives are a good source for suggestions. If you are wary of discussing rings, ask about her general taste in jewelry.

Watch for Hints

Women often give clues about their preferences. Does she:

• Admire someone else's ring while you're in earshot?
  (Or alternatively, does she dislike a specific style?)
• Linger in front of certain jewelry store windows?
• Leave magazines with jewelry pictures lying around?
• Draw your attention to a ring in some off-handed way?

Chances are, she's subtly communicating what she has in mind.

Consider Her

• Is she more traditional or modern?
• Is she more "girly" or outdoorsy?
• What kind of jewelry does she already own?
• Are her clothes mostly sexy, bohemian, sporty or business-like?
• What does she do and where will she be using it?

Putting together a quick style profile and discussing it with a jeweler is a great way to focus on the right choices.

Planning the Proposal

For a woman, the proposal is a moment she's dreamed of and imagined. For a man, it is important to give her the proposal she will always remember. Whether you plan something spectacular or something quite intimate, the following tips will help you craft a very personal engagement.

• What is most memorable about your first date?
  Use your first date, your first kiss or the first time you spoke as a basis or theme.
• What are her favorite things?
  Think of places, foods, colors, flowers, activities, music, movies she loves, and incorporate a few special touches to show how well you know her.
• Include loved ones or close friends.
• Keep it simple, make it fun. Some of the best proposals aren't elaborate.
  They involve an inside joke, a past experience or a private memory that is
  meaningful to the couple.
• We have had clients propose on the scoreboard of a football game, on an airplane banner, in the dessert or champagne glass at dinner, at the beach with the family hiding nearby and on their dream vacation.

Wedding Bands

Ring decisions don't end with the engagement. Start thinking about the wedding band early, approximately six months in advance, and how it fits with the engagement ring. You'll save yourself some last minute stress.
Both of you will be wearing these bands for a long time to come. Choose something that reflects your taste and will endure over time. Next time you're at the jewelry store, try holding two similar me's wedding bands in your hand, one platinum and one white gold. You'll be able to feel the difference in terms of weight. This weight, due to platinum's density, is part of what makes platinum extremely durable and perfectly suited for a lifetime of wear..

Band Styles

Wedding bands have increasingly become individualized as new designs, personal touches, and creative possibilities are made available. Here are some elements you may want to consider.

Profiles

The most common profiles are round and flat. Round profiles are also called "classic" or "domed." Flat profiles are flattened on both interior and exterior surfaces of the band. Either style is available in Comfort Fit, which curves to fit the finger and reduces the chance of skin abrasion or irritation.

Flat Profile	Round Profile

Band Size

The width is the horizontal measurement of the band. The choice in band size is up to you and what works best for your fingers. Standard widths are between 2mm and 6m; however, bands up to 12mm can be ordered. Wider bands allow for more design details, gemstones and/or engraving.

Finishes

A variety of finishes can be applied to the band surface. Combinations of several finishes are used to create unique textures and looks. Six basic finishes to consider are:

Polished: A high shine surface.	Matte: A brushed finish that has a smooth, but less shiny, surface.	Satin: A brushed finished that is finer in texture than matte
Hammer/Repouse: A hand wrought appearance achieved by using the round end of a ball peen hammer to texture the band surface.	Stone: Coarse brush finish with a more rugged look than matte or satin.	Cross Peine/Florentine: An engraved finish where lines flow around, across or diagonally.
Beveled Edge: An angled edge with a contrasting or complementary finish.	Weave/Braid: A raised design that resembles strands of metal woven together	Engraved: This band has picture or patterns engraved in the metal.
Bar: Thin metal bars separate each stone but leave the sides open to bring in light.	Channel: Stones rest between two parallels of metal, highlighting both gems and the precious metal holding them.	Flush: A high impact, low stress setting which secures small stones inside tiny holes.
Pave: Minute metal beads hold each stone in its own discreet setting.	Micropave: Each tiny diamond is prong set in a row, usually around the center diamond	Matching the Engagement Ring: Whether you purchase the rings together or have the wedding band custome made, this ensures they foit together tightly.

The Scratch Factor

All precious metals scratch. It's a natural part of everyday wear. However, one of the unique qualities of platinum is that when scratched, the metal is merely displaced, never lost. Gold, on the other hand, loses metal when scratched.