Many men and women are getting ready to pop the question to their significant others. So I decided to give you some wisdom in selecting the perfect ring for you future husband or wife to be. I am going to discuss the steps of buying the perfect engagement ring. I will also add so fun and funky alternatives to the typical “diamond ring”! Let get started all my totallymystyle.com readers!

1.)Know what your mate wants!

Know your guys/girls style. Look at your mates jewelry and pay attention to what they like. If your companion points out a ring or bracelet, than go toward that kind of jewelry. If your girl/guy wants a ring with vintage appeal, than click here

2.) Silver, Gold, Or Platinum

Ok, this is a easy on unless you are completely oblivious of your mate. If your girl/man wears silver, than get a silver or platinum engagement ring. If your partner wears gold, I suggest you get them a gold ring. It is just that simple!

3.) Ask His/Her Friends

Ask your mate friends, they will know what your love wants. If you mate has a close sibling-even better. I would take them with you.  Take their suggestion too.

4.) Know your 4 C’s

The 4 C’s are Carats, Color, Cut, and Clarity. I found a great site by G.I.A (The Gemological Institute of America). It explains the 4 C’s in great detail. Just click Here

5.) What is your budget

Know how much your have before you spend. If you have $1,000 for the ring, than try to get the best quality for the price. If you have less than 1,000 than opt for a Bridal set. A bridal set includes the bride’s wedding ring and the groom’s wedding ring. There are also trio wedding sets. These sets include the engagement ring, the bride’s wedding ring and the groom’s wedding ring. my fiancee brought the trio wedding set and I am very happy.

6.) Find a great jewelry/jewelry store

Research different jewelry store in your area.  Make sure you ask your friends, family, and other married couples. They will tell you who is good and who sucks! Research every store before you enter. Make your choice is a registered jeweler and/or gemologist.

7.) Buying the ring

When buying make sure your ring has a Certificate of Authenticity. Have your ring(s) appraised. Know how much your purchase is worth. This way you will know if your ring(s) is worth the price. Do not forget to get insurance on your ring. Remember that anything  can and will happen!

Photo Source

Valentine’s day is right around the corner. Many men and women are getting ready to pop the question to their significant others. So I decided to give you some wisdom in selecting the perfect ring for you future husband or wife to be. I am going to discuss the 4 C’s of a diamond.  So get your notebook out, I am going to take you to class on diamonds!

Lets talk about Carats

This has nothing to do with the vegetable. A carat is just an industry term for weight of a diamond.  A carat weight accounts for the biggest portion of the diamond value. In order words, the bigger the diamond, the more Money it is worth. We all love $! The average cost of a diamond engagement ring is $3,500 to $4,00. Make sure that your diamond is certified. The best agencies are the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gemological Society (AGS). I prefer the GIA!

The Cut!

Out of the 4 C’s,  the cut of the diamond is the most important. A good cut gives a diamond its brilliance. OK, so you probably want to know what is brilliance.  Brilliance is the brightness of a diamond. The cut also deals with the angle of the diamond and how the diamond handles light.  Remember that dark spots in your diamond is not a good sign of a great cut.

The Color

The color of a diamond is important. Each diamond is graded . It grades diamonds from D through F (colorless) G through J (Near Colorless) K - M (faint yellow) N through Z  (very light to light yellow). If you want a colorless diamond- you want a diamond graded D, E or F. Color diamonds beyond Z are graded differently. The lower the Grade like D —the more value the diamond has. In other words, a diamond with a Z grade does not have as much value as a D grade diamond. This is the only time when a D is great to have.

The final C- Clarity

Diamonds are graded from FL (flawless) to I3 (imperfect). Flawless diamonds do not have any inclusions or blemishes under 10X magnification. Imperfect diamonds have many imperfection and can affect the brilliance of a diamond. My opinion, you should worry about the clarity of the diamond, if you have a imperfect diamond, the flaws are visible to the human eye. Who wants a diamond where you can see a spot or two.

I hope this help all my couple otu there. So get your wallets out and help boost the economy– buy a diamond!

Story Source

Photo Source

She’s one of the hottest jewelry designers to date. Missy Industry is your not your ordinary jewelery line, in only short matter of time Melissa Lafreniere has already managed to bring in a diverse group of costumers from various age groups. Honestly it’s no surprise, these items are gorgeous, but don’t take my word for it- just look for yourself.

Highlights from the Miss Industry collection, and my personal faves are the Love Ring ($78) , Chainsaw Necklace ($58) , Shear Necklace ($72) , and Safety Pin Earrings ($45) perfect for any season.

The Canadian designer graduated from the Jewelry School of Montreal in 2003. To further promote the brand Melissa would make necklaces and rings not only for herself but friends as well. As time progressed, her collection grew and now Missy is creating brand new designs every other week.

Melissa Lafreniere tells Totally My Style her influences come from graphic design, fashion, tools, mechanics, tattoos and horror films. The jewelry line is also a reflection of her personal style: punk rock meets girly.

When she’s not hard at work, Lafreniere pastimes include museums, dance clubs, rock shows, galleries and riding her bike all over Montreal in the summertime.

If you like what you seen, then I’d highly advise you head over to the official website and etsy. The line is available at trade shows in Canada and select stores. For more information on where exactly you can purchase these pieces, visit the retailer’s section of the site.

Welcome Totallymystyle.com readers! I have a list of all the Funky and fabulous rings on the net! Everyone is familiar with diamonds being a girl’s best friend but who says that girls can only have one friend. I have about several best friends on my fingers right now and trust me only one is a diamond. So, Totallymystyle.com presents, Funky rings of January 2009!

The first item I have for all my ring lovers is LP Record Ring. The best thing about this ring is that if you get the LP record ring, if you buy 3 you Get 1 FREE deal! You cannot get better than that! This is a hit record! (Pun intended!)

You can get this item at:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_16&listing_id=19387011

This second item is a cup of tea. Literally a cup of tea! This item is unique and whimsical. It reminds me of the Mad Tea Party in Alice in Wonderland. I absolutely think this is the “it” ring.

You can get this item at:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_20&listing_id=19373205

This third item is this black and white sequin ring. I am wild over this sequin ring. Yes, you read correctly, a sequin ring. This item will bring a touch of flash to any and every thing you wear. The best thing about this ring was that it is adjustable.

You can get this at:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_20&listing_id=10578190

There are many things to look forward to in 2009! We have a new president, new resolutions, a new school and best of all- New Fashion trends! Yes, Totallymystyle .com are informing you of all fashion trends for Spring/Summer 2009! Get your fashion notebooks! You will receive some great some information that you and your closet will love.

Chunky Earrings
Yes, chunky earrings are in! Earrings made of stones, metal, or beads are up-to-the-minute for 2009!    Leave those necklaces alone and bring out the large earrings!   Don’t forget about chunky rings! I suggest that you go for something big and colorful earring especially when you are sporting the monochromatic look. Don’t go overboard! I personally like chandelier earrings!

These earrings are a perfect example!

Ripped Jeans
Can you believe this? Ripped Jeans are coming back. I guess you cannot keep a good pair of ripped jeans down. See ripped jeans were huge in the 80’s and now they are back. This was not a huge surprise; many styles from the 80’s are back in effect! To get your hands on these jeans check out alloy.com!

Asymmetric Dresses

Asymmetric dresses are in for 2009! Showing a little shoulder is a great way to ooze sex appeal with a touch of sophistication. I love off the shoulder dresses. Banana Republic has a great example of a perfect asymmetric dress! Make sure you pair this dress with some dangling diamond earrings and a nice diamond cuff!

If you would like to check out the these items, check out these websites:

• http://store.alloy.com/item.do?categoryID=1663&itemID=45137&sizeFilter=25&colorFilter=&brandFilter=#
• http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=cat3_gallery_6&listing_id=19042526
• http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/product.do?pid=622188012&tid=brsz1r&kwid=1&ap=7

During the holiday season we deck the halls, decorate the tree and wrap almost everything with bells and bows.

Why not extend this sense of whimsy to our fingers as well! A more dramatic approach to the conventional ring is the cocktail ring. Upping the size, “wow” factor and and overall affect of your rings can completely change your look and show your personal sense of style.

The options for cocktail rings are as varied as can be imagined. You can find something incredibly unique, perhaps a specific shape like this bow from KateJewelry.

Or if you prefer a more classic look, you could always go for a simple floral shape like this Sterling Silver Vintage Flower CZ cocktail ring from Limoges. A little sparkle added to this classic look makes sure that your accesory won’t be overlooked.

Whether more taste specific or clean and classic, a great cocktail ring can add punch to any ensemble.