Relationships

There are a large number of considerations when buying a diamond, particularly when it is a diamond engagement ring! The custom of presenting a girlfriend with a diamond engagement ring when requesting her hand in marriage started in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy. In most instances, the lady you plan on proposing to will expect a ring to come with that marriage proposal!

To start with you will want to decide how much ring you are able to afford. Generally men apply the 2 months earnings rule. This suggests the engagement ring you are purchasing should cost the same as two months worth of your current earnings. Since you have to pay your current bills while trying to save two months salary you may be in for a very long savings time. You might need to thing about financing. Go to the jewelry store you plan to but the diamond ring from and tell them you are planning on buying an engagement ring, and also let them know that you will require financing for your purchase. Go a head with getting your credit checked and out of the way, find out what you payments would be, and the amount of money required down to proceed.

Now ask your girlfriends best friend to take your girlfriend shopping, but make sure this friend can be trusted to be discrete. Ensure that while shopping the girls happen to go by a jewelry store and take time to gaze at diamond engagement rings to get a general idea of what your girlfriend might prefer in a ring. 
Once you have a general idea of what may please your lady, make sure that the jeweler
you purchase the ring from allows you to bring back the ring, for exchange or just in case your lady is not currently ready for this course just yet. You will want to be sure the jeweler has an exchange policy as you want your girlfriend to love the ring she will be sporting for the rest of her life. 

Through our day to day movements our diamond engagment ring gets smudged and soiled.Your jewels collect dust, when you are not wearing them.Soaps, lotions, and your natural skin oils, may cause a film and grime to get on your diamonds and inhibit the jewels brilliance. 

Want to keep that Brilliance and Shine?Diamonds need cleaning so maximum
amounts of light can refract fiery brilliance. Remember that all it takes is a few minutes and a little care to keep that diamond as fiery as the day you first saw it.

You should use a a soft brush like an eyebrow or lip stick brush and mild soap and
water to cleanse your jewels.Prepare a bowl of sudsy warm water with a mild
detergent and place your pieces in the mixture.Brush the rings with the
soft bristles of the brush while they are in the suds.  You will need to make certain that you rinse them clear of the suds after cleaning them.You should use a small strainer like a tea strainer to hold them while your rinse them under warm water.  Use a lint free cloth, or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.

In the event your diamonds require a stronger cleansing, you may need to soak them for half an hour
minutes in a solution of half water and half ammonia.After you have soaked them for half an hour, remove them and carefully brush the mountings with a little brush.  Then replace the pieces to the solution and swish them around in the mixture before removing them to rinse and pat dry.  

If you find your self too busy to be mixing soaps and ammonias, many department
stores will sell several types of liquid jewelry cleaners.  Most are kits, with everything you need included.  You need to read the labels to determine the one that is right for your diamonds and other jewelry. Completely read the directions and precautions and follow them all.

If you find you are more of the high-tech type, even when cleaning your diamonds, you can find several ultrasonic cleaners on the market.These systems
use high frequency to ensure a cleaning motion.  All machines are not the same, so please read the instructions before using.

Only you can choose the cleaning method right for your engagement ring.It is critical to clean your jewelry in order to keep it sparkling and brilliant.After cleaning, don’t touch your cleaned diamonds with your hands or handle your engagement ring by its edges. This will help maintain its shine and brilliance for longer periods.