Bridal Jewelry - Engagement Rings

In North America, the presence of a diamond engagement ring represents a public formal agreement to a future marriage. It is worn on the 3rd finger of the left hand, called the ring finger. This placement may have its origin in the fact that the left hand is closer to the heart. Traditionally a diamond solitaire, the woman is presented with the engagement ring when the man proposes marriage, or directly after she has accepted his marriage proposal.

Engagement ring settings can be in several styles, with or without additional diamonds and/or other gemstones. The diamond Solitaire is the perennial favorite. Among other popular styles of engagement rings are: Traditional, Vintage, Halo, and Contemporary.

Curtis Miller, Inc. presents an extensive range of engagement ring designs. We offer an ample selection of loose diamonds and other gemstones to fulfill every taste and fit any budget. The price of a diamond engagement ring can vary tremendously depending on several factors. It is our goal to make sure you pay for only what you want.

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The design of the engagement ring mounting influences fabrication time and labor costs. The clean traditional lines of a solitaire and three-stone rings are less expensive than the delicate intricacies of filigree and engraved hand finishes used in vintage styles. The metals used in the engagement ring, such as 14k or 18k gold, palladium, or platinum, and the weight of the metal in the ring is an increasingly important cost factor. Finally, the size, shape, quality, and quantity of any Diamonds or other gemstones in the engagement ring are the single largest cost factors. For more information about Diamonds, please see our Diamond Buying Guide and our extensive Diamond Education sections.

At Curtis Miller, Inc., we also offer custom design services for engagement rings by Mary M Designs, our exclusive jewelry designer, Mary Margaret Myer, or by in-house computer assisted design (CAD). We have full manufacturing capabilities to create any custom engagement ring setting.

One of the most important considerations with regards to an engagement ring is the nature of the setting desired. This usually reflects what the future bride wants. How active is her lifestyle? What color metal does she prefer? Does she want colored stones, or colored diamonds involved? Does she want the center stone to be encircled in diamonds (called a diamond bezel or halo)? Does she want the center stone raised up, or as low to the finger as possible? Does she want more traditional straight lines, or a twisting or curved ring style? Does she like pave` or micro-pave` enhancements to her mounting?

These questions just touch the surface! But at Curtis Miller, Inc. we are here to expertly guide you through the selection experience.

What kind of setting does she want for her center stone? The type of stone setting, including, prong set, channel set, and bezel set, reflect the ultimate design of the engagement ring. Each style has advantages and disadvantages. Prong settings are the least expensive. They allow a lot of light to reach the stone, and are easier to clean. But the lesser amount of metal doesn’t protect the stone from impact as well. Prongs are subject to snagging, and can be bent much easier with hard impacts. Channel or Bar settings completely protect the stone from two sides. They have a clean linear look, and are very stable. But these settings are very difficult on fragile stone ends and have a heavier metal look. A Bezel setting completely protects the entire circumference of the stone. It is smooth and clean looking but in doing so, the entire stone edge is covered in metal. This style looks a little heavier. Bezel settings can be used easily in both vintage and contemporary style engagement rings. The bezel obscures light from reaching the stone from the side, and is more difficult to clean.

So now you have a few thoughts to consider as you think about what ring style you want.