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.

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and online stores are the best friend of diamond ring buyers. Diamonds always look better when they are sparkling on your hand. By purchasing from online stores you will find all the information that you will not be able to find in local jewelry stores. Online stores also allow you to shop with privacy and comfort from your home. You can find diamond rings at very reasonable prices, gemstone engagement rings or cheap engagement rings by surfing online stores.

By purchasing diamond jewelry online you can save your lot of money. Online stores do not spend on overheads such as commercial decor, security, rent and warehousing and they pas all these savings to their customers. They offer the good quality of diamond engagement rings and jewelry at affordable prices. These stores are the best place to find bridal engagement ring sets and cheap engagement rings. By purchasing from online stores you can be sure that you are paying for the value of jewelry not for the flashy storefront or expensive advertising campaign.

You can also buy designer engagement rings from your own home through online stores. They give you the opportunity of selecting your own diamond and style of the ring according to your budget and choice. You can take your own time to browse the different range of designs of the engagement rings and view the high resolution images of designer engagement ring without feeling pressurized or rushed into making a decision. If you are purchasing from a reputable site then they will offer you secure and seamless checkout procedure by following through your order with personal attention and high level of customer service.

If these reasons are not enough for purchasing your engagement rings online then you can also involve your lady love or if you’re planning for surprise then you can involve her relatives or close friends in making your decision a perfect decision without dragging them to local jewelry store. You can also share your ideas with your friends or family by sending them emailing links when you are shopping online. You can also create a list of your favorite designs in engagement rings by using any social book marking tool to compare the designs later.

Purchasing diamond engagement ring is a lifetime investment therefore you must select the most beautiful and unique engagement ring by taking your own time and in a relaxed and pleasant environment. The best thing of these stores is that they are always open. You can buy your engagement ring at any time of the day.

At 25karats.com, their goal is to provide their clientele with outstanding quality diamond jewelry at exceptional prices. They are able to offer amazing prices on engagement rings, anniversary bands, wedding bands and custom jewelry with their unique business model, which includes online access to large jewelry manufacturers in order to secure the best prices and selling online to cut overhead. These savings are passed on to customers.

They have an extensive inventory of over 10000+ pieces of diamond jewelry. Searching such a large collection may seem like a daunting task, but they have designed their website to offer a pleasant and hassle free shopping experience. They use the latest technologies in search to help you find the perfect piece of jewelry quickly. Whether you are looking for bridal sets, wedding rings or loose diamonds, you will find it here. Their extensive collection of diamond jewelry comes with a free fedex shipping & 30 day returns policy. Order online now or call them to place an order.