Customized, modern wedding rings are today’s trend. Couples can choose from many different and nontraditional metals. Diamond and ruby wedding rings come in all kinds of interesting and creative designs. One of the most popular styles of engagement ring is the single large solitary ruby that is set in a band of diamonds. This color scheme then can be complimented by a ring of white diamonds, red rubies or a ruby and diamond circlet that serves as the wedding band. The visual effect of the blood red ruby wedding band is particularly startling against the whiteness of a diamond. It is also flattering on any color of skin.

So why choose a ruby and diamond wedding ring over just diamonds? It might just have to do with the symbolism of the color red. Red symbolizes love, warmth and vitality. In Feng Shui it is considered to be the color of prosperity. It also looks particularly good cut in a heart shape and surrounded by diamonds in the ring. The diamond and ruby wedding ring is also very romantic. The glittering red ruby provides stark contrast to the glittering white diamonds, kind of like Snow White and Rose Red.

The word ruby comes form the Latin word “rubens” which means “red.” Ruby red is a color in itself and is used to refer to brilliant reds that are warm and fiery in color. The stone also symbolizes fire and blood, which of course equates to erotic and sexual passion. The flashing of its natural fire also symbolizes the beating of the human heart. A diamond and ruby wedding ring set is the perfect mix of Fire and Ice.

Rubies are also rare gemstones and much rarer than diamonds. In a way their specialness says something about that once in a lifetime love. It is also a very durable stone with excellent hardness so like a diamond it is worth your investment.

Diamond and ruby wedding rings also have a bit of a cachet when it comes to being popular with the funky or new age set. A ruby band is the perfect gift of jewellry for a woman who is a Buddhist or Hindu. This is because for the longest time, rubies came from India. In fact in Sanskrit, the Ruby is called the “ratnarj” which means the “King of the Gemstones.”

Officially the ruby is the red variety of the corundum mineral. The sapphire also belongs to this family of minerals, which are among the hardest on earth. On the Moh scale of hardness they register a 9, which is second only to the hardness of diamonds.

The red color of a ruby can be attributed to the presence of a combination of or any number of the following elements in the stone: iron, titanium, vanadium and chrome. Chrome is the element responsible for the tinting of most fine quality ruby gem stones. Rubies that contain chrome have the deepest red color. However they are also the smallest rubies as too much of this element causes the stones to crack while they are growing. That is why it is so rare to find a large bright red ruby. In fact the smaller the ruby you buy, the more chrome it is likely to contain and the redder it is likely to be.

The fact that chrome causes so many fissures in the brightest and reddest of rubies is also why it can be hard to find a stone that does not have any inclusions. The ruby simply cracks before it can be harvested as a large rock. Unless it is made in a laboratory (the Russians have perfected this art) you are not likely to find a ruby gemstone for a ring that is larger than 3 carats. Rubies that are larger than this and especially ones that have no flaws or inclusions are more expensive than even the largest of diamonds.

The absolutely most expensive rubies are the Star Rubies. When cut in a half shape it displays a star with six rays that moves across the surface of the stones. If such a stone does appeal to you keep in mind that the ones with the best value have a star that shines in the center of the stone and not slightly off to the side of the gem.

When shopping for a diamond and ruby wedding rings you might want to consider what professional jewelers refer to as “the silk of the ruby.” This is a deep glow that some rubies have that also gives them a soft yet brilliant appearance. This effect, which is caused by a hundreds of microscopic scars in the stone, is also sometimes referred to as “asterism.” The rubies that boast complete asterism are the Star Rubies.

Compared to most stones, rubies also express a great deal of “personality”. This is because they come in different qualities of silkiness, asterism and also in different hues of red. The color of a ruby is greatly determined by where it comes from. For instance the orange and bluish hue of the Burmese Ruby is particular to gem stones from Burma and the ancient mines from the Mogok Stone Track (also known as the Valley of Rubies) in the North of Myanmar India.

Another interesting and quite trendy ruby are the blue black varieties that are mined near the city of Mong Hsu in the North-East of Myanmar. These rubies often appear to be purple or black in the center. Sometimes these rubies are treated with heat to get rid of the dark core and give the stone a lustrous deep blood red color. These heat-treated rubies are among the less expensive choices if you are looking for a ruby band.

Other color variations include purple rubies from Vietnam and the orange and brown hued “Siam” ruby color from Thailand. The raspberry red ruby, originally from Ceylon, is incredibly rare today as the mines in that region have been depleted of their precious stores.

What is nice about a ruby is that you can match the color of the stone to suit the preferences of the bride. Like people, rubies display quite a bit of personality and like a soul mate, the ruby with the perfect hue can take a lot of time and effort to find.

The Beautiful Company has been an online jewellery retailer since 2003 providing high street quality jewellery at internet prices. Their low overheads are reflected in their prices but not the quality of their jewellery as all their gold and platinum items are hallmarked in the UK and the diamonds in their diamond rings are all available with certification. They also have a 30 day moneyback guarantee so you can be assured what ever you buy will be what you want or they will give you your money back. If you are planning to buy a wedding ring or a diamond engagement ring and are short of time many of their rings can be provided within 5 days.

A Bride can add unmatchable spark to her day by accessorizing her look with stunning Bridal Jewellery. According to the dress one can go for designer Bridal Jewellery or vintage styled Jewellery. There is a wide range of Bridal Jewellery available to suit your style, beautiful Bridal Jewellery makes your day. Industry consultants found that brides worldwide strongly prefer pearl jewelry over any other wedding accessories to best represent the essence of the bride, her groom, and their life together.

Today’s bride has many options to consider for the type of wedding jewelry she should wear on her wedding day. Her choices typically include: gold, silver, diamonds and pearls, or a combination of these. Most often bridal accessories are determined by the color and style of the bride’s and bridesmaids’ dresses and her personal taste. When it comes to selecting the best jewelry for the wedding, surveys have shown that brides consider pearl jewelry to be the most meaningful and practical.

Just as the diamond ring is the primary jewelry piece for the engagement, pearl jewelry has been and remains the most desired accessory for the bride’s wedding day because of its symbolism, pure beauty and elegance. Additionally, pearls are highly versatile because they come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors, and blend well with other types of jewelry. Since the bride is the center of attention on her wedding day, her neckline typically becomes a focal point depending on the cut of the dress. Pearl bridal jewelry is the ideal accessory because it best accentuates a bride’s wedding dress without overpowering her natural beauty.

Wedding planning experts agree that when selecting bridal pearl jewelry:

1. pearl color should match the color of the dress,

2. pearl size should match the physique of the woman,

3. pearl jewelry length should compliment the depth of the dress neckline, and the brides hairstyle,

4. pearl jewelry style should compliment the dress style, and

5. shop for pearl jewelry after the wedding dress is purchased

As an example to the above recommendations: A petite bride wearing a simple elegant white dress with a mid-level neckline would consider a 7.0-7.5mm single, double or triple strand white pearl necklace with matching white pearl stud earrings and bracelet. Whereas a more full figured bride wearing an elaborate white dress with a detailed v-neckline could also consider a simple but elegant 12mm white South Sea pearl pendant necklace and dangling white pearl earrings.

Pearl wedding jewelry also makes an excellent gift for the bridesmaid, mother, and mother-in-law because it uniformly compliments the bride’s jewelry. Pearl jewelry bridal party gifts are classic, timeless, and elegant and will happily remind loved ones of the bride’s wedding celebration every time it is worn. The best bridesmaid gifts could be as simple as white pearl earrings or pearl bracelets. If your budget allows, even a smaller size pearl necklace (than what the bride is wearing) is popular for the maid of honor to emphasize her special meaning to you.

Pearl bridal jewelry and bridesmaid jewelry add a perfect unique touch of elegance and style while symbolizing the profoundly special beauty of the bride. Since the bride’s wedding day is one of the most important events in her life, it is only fitting that her jewelry reflects the meaning of this momentous occasion.

The Beautiful Company has been an online jewellery retailer since 2003 providing high street quality jewellery at internet prices. Their low overheads are reflected in their prices but not the quality of their jewellery as all their gold and platinum items are hallmarked in the UK and the diamonds in their diamond rings are all available with certification. They also have a 30 day moneyback guarantee so you can be assured what ever you buy will be what you want or they will give you your money back. If you are planning to buy a wedding ring or a diamond engagement ring and are short of time many of their rings can be provided within 5 days.