The tradition of men giving woman diamond engagement rings is ancient. Roman men are said to have given “betrothal” rings to signify their marriage plans. Today, many brides-to-be dream of getting large, unique diamond engagement rings with a flawless stone in just the right high-quality gold or platinum setting. And doesn’t every groom want to be able to give his intended just the ring her heart desires?

Of course, for those lucky couples for whom price isn’t a major concern, a ring from one of the established world-class jewelry houses remains a popular choice. For example, since its bridal collection was established in the mid-1800s, Cartier diamond engagement rings have remained an outstanding value. Cartier artisans select only beautifully cut stones with no visible inclusions and with a hue rating of “colorless”. They then design a setting in gold or platinum that enhances and showcases the diamond’s luster. Cartier rings are of available at finer boutiques in most major cities worldwide, as well as through the designer’s website, www.cartierus.com. You may be surprised to learn that  Cartier diamond engagement rings also are regularly offered on the online auction site eBay at prices between $2,000.00 and, at times, over $100,000.00.

Unfortunately, with the U.S and world economies currently in the doldrums and no clear sign of improvement in sight, many young couples are struggling to find jobs that will enable them to make ends meet and pay off their student loans and other bills. Some are even delaying marriage until they’re more financially secure. Does this mean that couples for whom paying $2,000 or even for diamond engagement rings just isn’t in the cards will have to settle for something that secretly they’ll always hate? Or, worse yet, that they’ll fall prey to the deal that “sounded too good to be true”, only to wind up with a ring that’s worth far less than they paid? Happily, no!

For those living in or near larger cities, the problem often has been one of too many choices. Many couples feel more secure dealing with nationally known chains such as Kay Jewelers, known for its successful “Every kiss begins with Kay” ads. Kay’s collections include a variety of styles and price ranges, from a Leo Diamond 1/3 carat princess cut solitaire in 14K gold for under $1,300.00 to a Tolkowsky two carat design in white gold form just under $28,000.00.  Another “mega” retailer is Jared’s, The Galleria of Jewelry. Among the many choices you’ll find in their stores are several from the Neil Lane Bridal collection, such as a contemporary interpretation of a classic-style trio of oval diamonds set in 14K white gold.

Brides and grooms-to-be in less urban areas, however, were often limited to what was available through the local jeweler. As with almost every type of goods imaginable, however, the Internet has placed at the disposal of couples everywhere a world’s worth of diamond engagement rings just a few mouse clicks away. Of course, the While it probably does sound unromantic to some, the surest way to get the ring you’ll both love forever at a price that won’t break the budget while still avoiding getting an inferior stone or setting is to shop for a ring with your heads just as much as your hearts.

For those shopping online, Blue Nile (www.bluenile.com) claims to be the largest selection of unique diamond engagement rings in the world. Among their more popular designs is a “floating halo” style in 24k gold with a center stone surrounded by micro diamonds in a pave setting. It is priced at under $1,300.00

In recent years, attention has been drawn to the risk of unwittingly purchasing so-called “conflict diamonds”, stones mined in countries embroiled in armed conflicts. Proceeds from the sales are diverted to arm or otherwise sustain one faction or another, often with tragic consequences for innocent civilian populations caught in the crossfire. Many traditional and online merchants have established strong reputations for ensuring that they deal only in ethically-produced stones. One leading example is Canada’s Brilliant Earth.com (www.brilliantearth.com). As do many other online merchants, they offer a “Build Your Own Engagement Ring” feature, allowing couples to choose from among hundreds of conflict-free stones in different cuts starting at under $500 and a variety of yellow and white gold and platinum settings.