Heart Jewelry Choices, Heart Jewellery Allure

Do you ever give some thought to the jewelry you are planning to wear?  Do you just wear it to enhance your appearance or do you wonder about the symbolism or the relevance of it or the options available?  Most people buy jewelry simply to make themselves or the one they intend to wear it look good, but others are intrigued by the various different types and the emotions behind the trinkets.  So we thought we would take a look into just a little of the background of one particular type of jewelry, the double heart ring, to see what choices and information we could find out.

The double heart ring itself is one of a range of heart jewelry items favored by many people.  Hearts and jewelry are two symbols of love and when put together in a piece of jewelry such as a double heart ring, one gets a beautiful and meaningful gift. The double hearts can signify several meanings. They can represent a love between a man and woman or the bond between mother and daughter. To see a woman wearing a ring or other piece of jewelry with a heart is to know someone loves that woman and thinks she is special enough to have a piece of someone else’s heart.

Heart rings are readily available online or in jewelry stores. They are made in many styles, colors, karats, and prices. They come in different price ranges, so there should be one for even the most frugal of budgets. If looking to give one as a romantic gift, there is a beautiful selection at Sears, Reeds Jewelers, and many online stores as well.

The 10-karat interlocking double heart ring is available at Sears. It received 5 out of 5 stars in its ratings. It is a 10 karat yellow gold with pink plate and rhodium, and comes in a standard size 7. It is priced at $32.99 on sale. Reeds Jewelers carries a Diamond Double Heart Ring. It has received 4.7 out 5 stars in its ratings. It features 2 round diamonds mounted in 10-karat white gold, and comes in several sizes. It is currently priced at $230.

If looking into buying a heart ring to give as a promise ring there is a great store online to purchase from. Ourpromiserings.com has a large selection of rings. Their styles are available in several finishes such as yellow gold, white gold, platinum, and sterling silver. Their prices range from under $100 up to $900. They also offer a coupon for first time online buyers. They will receive $25 off their order of $150 or more. Double heart rings also make exquisite engagement rings because the two hearts are representing the union of two people joining their hearts together to become one. The ring itself represents eternity, so as an engagement ring, one is simply asking for eternal love.

For a mother who wants to purchase a double heart ring to signify a daughter’s birth or the bond between them, a personalized birthstone ring is an option. Heavenlytreasures.com offers personalized diamond and double heart birthstone rings. They are available in white or yellow gold finishes and are $229.

If one is looking for heart jewelry to complement existing rings, online stores such as overstock.com and emitations.com have nice selections. At overstock.com, one can purchase items such as ankle bracelets, necklaces, bracelets, or rings. Prices vary from low to high, and they always offer $2.95 shipping no matter how many items one purchases. The jewelry is of good quality and comes in several finishes such as white or yellow gold, and sterling silver. Emitations.com is another online site to purchase heart jewelry from. One will not find any diamonds though. It is a more affordable line of jewelry in cubic zirconium. They do not offer gold or sterling silver, but do offer high-quality gold or silver plating. The jewelry is elegant and understated.

One cannot go wrong when purchasing jewelry for a woman, no matter the occasion. It could be a man proposing to his soon-to-be wife, or a mother symbolizing her love for her daughter. Double heart rings pose a double meaning. The double hearts are representing the hearts of two people who are united by birth or by marriage. Heart jewelry of any kind shows the symbol of strength within any relationship and should always be treasured.

So, you’ve decided that your girlfriend is the love of your life and you want to take the next step by asking her to marry you.  Do you ask her first and then both go out and choose an engagement ring?  Or do you want to surprise her over a romantic dinner by getting down on one knee and producing a ring which you have selected for her? If you’ve chosen the second route there are a few things to consider before dashing off to the jewelers to look at their selection of heart engagement rings.

First and foremost, has your lady love ever expressed a preference for one shaped ring over another?  Although it may seem to be the ultimate in romantic rings, not all women like the idea of a heart shaped engagement ring.  Some ladies find the design “cheesy” or “tacky” and would much prefer a more traditional diamond shape in their engagement ring.

The most popular shape of diamond is the round brilliant cut as it best optimizes the fire and the brilliance of the diamond. However, there are at least nine other cuts to consider.  A princess cut stone is a favorite shape for engagement rings.  It is usually square and has pointed corners.  Whereas an emerald cut is oblong with rectangular facets.  If you like the emerald cut but would prefer a square shaped diamond then an Asscher-cut diamond is the one you should choose.

Other shapes you may want to consider are oval, marquise, radiant, cushion or pear.  One cautionary note, take a note of the shape of your girlfriend’s fingers as this may help to determine which shape would best suit her hand.  Certain shapes look better than others depending on finger length and chubbiness.  A reputable jeweler will be able to give you information on the differences of all the different cuts and which shape would be best suited for your choice of ring.

Okay, so now you’ve chosen the shape of diamond you want, now you need to think about the color and again you may have a range of choices depending on your budget.  By far the most usual color of stone for an engagement ring is the white diamond but if money is no object and you want to be truly romantic you might try to get a pink diamond.  This is the rarest diamond in the world and the deeper the color the more the cost.  If your wallet won’t stretch that far but you want something different you may want to consider colors such as champagne, pink champagne, blue, yellow or green diamonds.

Nearly there now, all you need to think about now is the setting of the ring and the choice of metal.  Look at what jewelry your intended usually wears and that should give you some indication of whether she prefers gold, white gold or platinum.  And does she already have any other heart jewelry?  You may care to match with that.  When it comes to which setting to pick, ask the jeweler to show you different designs to help you make your decision.  Also make sure that the store has a returns policy in case it turns out not to be the ring of her dreams.

That’s all there is to it!

Bet you thought that you could just walk into the jewelers and look at the heart engagement rings, then pick one pay for it and wait for the right moment to present it! To save yourself a lot of headaches over the right ring to get it is worth doing a bit of homework.  Ask her friends and family if she has said anything specific about the kind of ring she would like and listen carefully for any hints she might drop if the subject comes up.  No matter what ring you choose she will love you for it and always treasure it.

The giving of promise rings has been traced back at least as far as the sixteenth century and they were usually given by young men to their girlfriends as a token that they were committed to their lady love but couldn’t afford to marry her straight away.  In other words it was used as a pre-engagement ring.  The popularity of heart jewelry meant that often promise rings had heart shapes in their design because this, for centuries, has been a virtually universal symbol of love.

Back in the 1950s in the USA, when teenage girls and boys were “going steady”, quite often to show their friends and other people their relationship was serious the boy would give his girlfriend his class ring to wear on a chain round her neck. In a way this was a kind of promise ring as it was showing that the girl was involved with somebody and was not available for dating other guys. The next stage after the class ring would be the giving of a “promise” ring, especially if it was an open heart ring, to show that the relationship had moved to the next stage – exclusivity.   It all seems so formal and such a long time ago now, doesn’t it?

Promise rings are traditionally less expensive than an engagement ring and are still popular today to show your loved one and the world that you are committed to each other but are not quite ready for the next step – marriage. Choosing something like an open heart ring conveys the fact that you have let one very special person into your life. If you want to have matching rings then you should check out the open heart collection by Jane Seymour as they have a style for both men and women at very affordable prices.

A promise ring given as a precursor to the actual engagement ring can be worn on any finger but is most often worn on the ring finger of the left hand. It is usually moved to the right hand ring finger to accommodate either that beautiful diamond engagement ring or a wedding band. But promise rings are not just given as a precursor to “popping the question”. They can also be used to signify other promises. For example:

• Some teens are wearing promise rings or bracelets as a sign of chastity and purity – promising to retain their virginity until they get married.

• Young couples give and wear them to show monogamy – promising to stay faithful to that one person.

• As a friendship ring, especially the Claddagh heart ring, given to a close friend – promising loyalty, friendship and love.

• It can be a symbol of sobriety and abstinence – promising to remain sober or drug free or not gamble.

Although there can be any number of meanings to a promise ring, it is  still predominantly given as a pre-engagement ring. If you search on the Internet for promise rings you will find there are numerous outlets selling them in lots of different price ranges and designs. Lots of the designs feature hearts from simple silver heart rings to more elaborate styles with diamonds or other precious stones.

If you truly want to show that your hearts are entwined you might choose a double heart ring and then at a later date complement it with a double heart necklace or some heart shaped earrings. To make the ring even more meaningful to you both you might like to have the band engraved with both your initials or with a special phrase. Whichever open heart ring you choose you can be sure that it will be loved and cherish it for the rest of her life.

Most little girls from a very early age dream of being a princess like Cinderella or Ariel or Belle, especially if they have watched the Disney movies.  They love to dress up as their favorite character either in specially bought dressing up clothes or, as I used to do when I was little, in Mom’s clothes.  And of course every princess needs lots of sparkling romantic heart jewelry to wear with her beautiful gown for when she meets her prince at the ball.

If your little princess has been fortunate enough to visit Disney World, or the huge Disney store in Downtown Disney in Florida, then she may have had the opportunity to visit the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to have her hair, make up and nails done just like a real princess.  If money is no object (it could be as much as $200) then you will want to add all the extras such as her favorite princess’s dress, shoes and a photograph to commemorate the event.  Then of course she needs a tiara and all the other jewelry to match, such as a necklace, ring, earrings and bracelet. Depending on her age and your budget (if you haven’t overspent already!) the jewelry can be a mixture of cheap and cheerful glass beads with perhaps something more elaborate, like a silver heart charm bracelet, a silver heart locket, or a silver heart ring.

These items of jewelry can be a memento of her magical vacation but they can also be something to wear as she gets older.  For example, if you choose to buy a silver heart charm bracelet she can add a new charm from every place that she goes on vacation as a child and as an adult.  Charms could include a flip flop charm to remind her of a beach vacation or perhaps a charm of the Tower of London or the Eiffel Tower if she visited Europe.  Just imagine what memories it will evoke and what an interesting topic of conversation it will be when people admire it when she wears it as she gets older.  Disney pins on a lanyard may be great for when you are wanting to trade them but are hardly the height of elegance, whereas a silver heart charm bracelet can be worn with casual or formal outfits.

Obviously as she grows from a child into an adult she will accumulate a lot more jewelry to add to her collection whether it is fashion jewelry that she has bought for herself or more personal items that other people have bought for her on birthdays and other special days. And while she will not be playing at “dressing up” any more she will still enjoy the feeling of looking like a princess when she dresses in the gown she has chosen for special events such as her junior or senior prom.

But then the “Big Day” arrives and the little girl’s dream turns into reality and she really is a princess walking down the aisle to marry her prince.  All eyes are on her as she glides into the room wearing the most beautiful wedding dress and the most sparkling jewelry.  This time the jewelry may have been bought for her by her future husband and may consist of a heart shaped engagement ring, gold heart earrings, a gold heart necklace and a gold heart bracelet which he has given her as a token of his undying love. The great thing about heart jewelry is that it can be worn everyday even after the big event.  It looks equally good when worn to the office or for a posh night out or even when you are wearing casual clothes such as jeans and sweatshirt.

And why not start a tradition among the other princesses in the family – buy each of them a heart charm bracelet when they are young and let them choose the theme they want to continue  on it over time.  These items of jewelry will be great to hand down over the generations as they will have such a story to tell.

Heart shaped engagement rings would seem to be the ultimate proclamation of love and romance because the heart shape has for centuries symbolized these emotions. And what could be more symbolic of undying love than a pink diamond heart shaped ring?   However, before choosing this shape or this color of stone for your engagement ring there are a few things you might like to consider when determining if this is the right ring for you.

The first thing to think about is how much you can afford to spend on that unique heart shaped diamond ring.  To ensure that the heart shape is truly discernible, stones of less than one third of a carat are rarely used and obviously the larger the stone the clearer will be the design when it is cut.  If you really would like to consider a pink diamond you need to be aware that this is the most rare and valuable of all diamonds and depending on the depth of color can cost from thousands of dollars to more than a million dollars per carat.  Even when choosing a white diamond you need to choose one of as high a quality and size as your budget allows.

When choosing a heart shaped diamond engagement ring it is very important to look at the cut of the stone.  The lobes of the heart need to be symmetrical, the point of the heart should be sharp (not rounded) and centralized so that the cut doesn’t appear lopsided or distorted.  Another thing to look for is the “bow tie” effect which is usually evident in fancy cuts such as heart and marquise cuts.  Some people like this effect but, depending on its size, it affects the sparkle of the stone.

Having chosen the stone, another thing to consider is the setting.  If you are choosing a solitaire heart shaped engagement ring, you should be sure that it has enough prongs in the setting to protect the stone.  Whereas more traditional shapes, such as the round or princess ones, have four prongs, the heart shaped diamond needs five – the extra one to protect the point of the heart.

Some other designs to choose from could be a three stone ring – a very romantic setting with three heart shaped diamonds on a band, each one filled with love to symbolize your past, present and future together. Another increasingly popular style of ring is the Celtic Claddagh ring with the joined hands representing friendship, the heart they are holding standing for love and the crown on top symbolizing loyalty – all qualities we promise to bring to a relationship.  When used as an engagement ring or as a wedding band, these rings usually have a diamond or other precious stone in the heart.

Yet another factor to take into consideration is the shape and size of the hand of the wearer of this ring.  For instance the long shapes of the emerald and marquise cut engagement rings can look odd on fatter fingers unless they have accent stones set with them.  Equally, the generally broader round or heart shaped diamond engagement rings aren’t necessarily the right ones to choose for thinner fingers.

If you’re a man and the ring is to be given as a surprise to your future wife, do try to find out what style of engagement ring she would prefer before rushing off to buy the ultimate romantic gesture of a heart shaped engagement ring.  Even if her choice is for one of the more popular shapes of stone, you can still show your romantic side by having heart shaped scroll work or carvings on the band especially if she has other heart jewelry (for example, heart earrings or heart charms) that it will complement.

But whichever style of ring you choose, a solitaire heart shaped engagement ring or a pave diamond engagement ring, it will show the world that you are in love.

The special message that giving heart rings as a gift highlights almost more than any other type of gift is the sentiment that the lucky recipient holds a very special place in your life. They make suitable presents for anyone as they can be given as a token of undying love or as a sign of close friendship or to celebrate an achievement.

Nowadays, the huge choice of designs and materials that this type of heart jewelry is made from makes it is failry easy to find the right ring to fit the occasion.  Here are some thoughts for you to consider if you’re trying to find that unique gift and you need some help:

1. A Wide Choice Of Heart Rings

As I mentioned in an earlier post, a heart shaped engagement ring is obviously the ultimate way to express the depth of love a man feels for his fiancée. But what about those men who have been married for a while but want to reaffirm their on going love for their wife? A heart shaped engagement ring would not be particularly appropriate but there are so many other beautiful heart shaped rings to choose from and you are sure to be able to find one to complement her other pieces of jewelry. Whether she wears yellow gold, white gold, diamonds, rubies or sapphires the choice is almost as wide and limitless as the price range is.

2. Claddagh Ring

Although the Celtic Claddagh ring was traditionally used as a wedding ring, the symbolism of the design makes it an excellent gift to give to a close friend. The two hands are said to represent friendship, the heart they are holding love and the crown on top signifies loyalty all the qualities shared by really good friends. In fact this ring is often given to friends with the phrase “Let love and friendship reign forever”.

3. Heart Shaped Signet Rings

Many years ago I had a sterling silver heart shaped signet ring with my initials engraved on it. These rings are still popular today and would make a lovely graduation gift for your daughter, one that she will treasure for ever. Traditionally made from either silver or gold there are many designs to choose from which you can have engraved with her initials and have birthstones set into them.

4. Fun Heart Rings

There are so many different kinds of heart rings on the market today including lots of fun ones like the ones made from plastic in various bright colors to match any casual outfit. Yet another design is made from clear plastic and filled with sprinkles. These rings tend to be inexpensive enough for you to buy for yourself and they will certainly draw people’s eyes to them so they will make you stand out from the crowd.

5. Heart Rings Are Complementary

And finally, one more point to make about a heart ring: it is very easy to match with a lady’s other pieces of jewelry (so you can start to think about what she already wears and exactly what type of heart ring would complement it) or it could be a whole new and welcome style for her that provides a completely new image for her. The heart ring itself is something that will match many other types of costume jewelry or fashion jewelry: depending on the design and materials you select, a heart ring can be stylish and sophisticated or it can present an extrovert and outgoing image. And it can form the start point for a wider themed collection because there are many, many fine examples of other jewelry pieces – heart charms, heart bracelets, heart necklaces and heart earrings to name just a few – so the lucky recipient can readily extend her collection once you’ve started it off.

So when you are thinking of buying a heart ring, consider what occasion it is to celebrate, or what the relationship is between you and the recipient and then enjoy picking out the one that most reflects the feelings you are trying to convey.

For centuries the heart shape has been the universal symbol of love – so it is no surprise that giving a piece of heart jewelry is the most popular way of showing someone that you love them. And nothing could be more romantic than a heart ring, especially if it is an engagement ring.

Ok, heart charms, heart bracelets and heart earrings are beautiful and wearable and special – but let’s be honest, what could be a bigger demonstration of love than the time that your Prince Charming tells you just how much he loves you and then produces a beautiful diamond heart shaped engagement ring? It’s the stuff of fairy tales that every girl dreams of! And how about the “couples” ring that is shown on the left (click on the picture for more details)?

As with fashion, hairstyles and make up, styles change over time and the same can be said for jewelry styles with a few exceptions. For example, heart jewelry in general is one style that has survived no matter what the latest fad, associated as it is with romantic feelings and declarations. But perhaps the most obvious exception to changes in popularity over a long period of time is the solitaire diamond ring which has always been in fashion, not just as an engagement ring but also as a dress ring.  Although there may be changes in the settings and choice of precious metal such as yellow gold, white gold, rose gold and platinum, diamonds still remain the number one choice of most for those getting married.

When my husband and I got engaged in the late sixties, although the largest selection of engagement rings on offer were solitaires or diamond clusters, a very fashionable alternative was to choose a ring with diamonds and other precious stones such as rubies, emeralds and sapphires. In some ways, this very wide choice was confusing because so many of the rings on offer were so wonderful to look at. And just like the times that you go out for a meal at your favorite restaurant and after the main course they bring you the dessert selections – you see the hot fudge sundae, the apple pie and that large slice of cheesecake and you want to try all of them, even though you know you can’t have them – well, that’s how I was when I started to look at engagement rings. (But to digress for a moment: the last time I went out for a meal, the restaurant offered a “dessert selection” with small portions of three different desserts in one serving – so perhaps you can have them all, or three of them at least!).

Anyhow, let’s get back to jewelry and the engagement ring anecdote. I remember going shopping with my girlfriend and stopping to look in the jewelry stores and picking out the engagement rings we wanted. My friend’s choice was for an oval ruby surrounded by diamonds whereas I decided that I wanted a central diamond surrounded by deep blue sapphires in the shape of a flower. Having lost touch with my friend before she got married I don’t know if she got the ring of her dreams but I certainly did and I still wear it every day.

Just writing this reminded me of Princess Diana’s engagement ring which was a large dark blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Very similar in design to the one my friend wanted but I am sure far more expensive than either of us would expect.

My husband has bought me lots of beautiful jewelry since we have been together and I treasure every piece. But the one item I would really like to receive is a heart ring to add to the heart jewelry collection which he has bought for me over all of these years to show how much he still loves me. So if your significant other is looking to find something that will last a long time and will be a constant reminder of how much you mean to each other, you might subtly suggest (or maybe not so subtly) a piece of jewelry such as a heart ring.