Engagement since ages is a passage that leads the way towards holy matrimony.  An initiation into a new life, a new world deserves to be sealed into something that echoes your love and commitment.  An accessory for life, an engagement ring is the most prized possession of any wannabe bride.  It's a reminder of your promise to love her, stand by her, protect her.

So, choosing this piece of jewelry for her has to be done with care.  Engagement rings have gone through a lot of evolution.  While cavemen of yesteryears used strands of grass to tie on fingers, traditional Roman engagement rings were made of iron bands that in due course of time graduated to gold and silver ones

With time these rings have undergone a sea of transformation, constantly improvising to fit the changing needs, aspirations and trends.  A simple band in due course modified into something more personal, with engravings of names, heart signs or the words 'I love you'.  Soon the rings started bearing embellishments of precious stones embedded in the metal.

With all the transformation it has undergone, a ring today embodies a whole gamut of things.  From simple bands, to trendy designs, from immortal diamonds to colored gemstones, from classic gold to rare platinum and titanium, one has a wide array to choose from.  With so many options at hand does it get harder for you to make a choice?  We will through this article try and talk about the different things that may help you choose that perfect engagement ring for her by taking into account things like personal preference, trends and timeliness.

Talking of classic engagement rings, the first image we conjure is that of a timeless diamond.  This 'forever' gem with its unparallel sheen definitely makes a very good choice provided price is not a constraint.  Besides, a wide assortment of colored gemstones are increasingly becoming a more deliberate choice owing to their fair pricing, astrological significance, associated mysticism and brilliance of colors.  An ideal combination would be gemstones coupled with diamonds, that not only accentuates the look of the ring but also turn out to be more cost effective.

The choice of a gemstone could be based on different criteria, the most common one being birthstones mounted on engagement rings.  Every month in the year corresponds to a particular gemstone which is the birth stone for that month (refer chart below).  As birth stones are believed to bring good luck to the wearer, these birthstone engagement rings are special in that they are very personal.

:-  In 1912, in an effort to standardize birthstones, the American national association of jewelers called Jewelers of America officially adopted the following list.  This list is currently the most widely referred to in the United States and many other locations across the world.
:-  Although different cultures across the world have different lists of the traditional birthstones; this list has the traditionally accepted birthstones heralding back to the 15th century.
:-  This list is has its origin in Tibet from over a thousand years ago. Ancient lore says that these stones help a person overcome the obstacles of their birth month.
:-  The Ayurvedic Birthstone list is from Ancient Indian scripture Ayurveda, the herbal medicine book written and used over thousand years.  This list talks of gems and their healing effect.

*Since these lists have an ancient origin, the traditional name of these stones is mentioned.  The modern names or equivalents of these traditional stones are till date not clear even after significant research done by experts.

This doesn't necessarily mean you have to do away with diamonds altogether.  You may choose a gemstone as the center stone adding two smaller diamonds on the sides. Or a diamond pave band that will certainly add brilliance to the ring, complementing, yet enabling the gemstone to stand out in a beautiful contrast of color. After all if it is fit for royalty, it would definitely befit be your glorious bride.  Princess Diana's own engagement ring showcased a beautiful 8 carat sapphire surrounded by 14 round brilliant diamonds.  There is also the very popular diamond center with 2 round gemstones engagement ring.  The 3 stones are mostly used for rings bearing sapphires, rubies and emeralds but tanzanites and other gemstones are also making an impact in wedding jewelry designs.

The last word when it comes to choosing a specific gemstone for an engagement ring however, should be the wearer's preference be it colour, zodiac significance, or any other quality like hardness of the gem on Mohs' scale.

Gemstone are available in a wide array of vivid colors, sea blue, deep midnight blue, royal blue, rose pink, Padparadscha pink, pale lilac, velvety violet, pigeon-blood red, lush green, sage green and lots more.  After thoughtfully and carefully considering her preferences, you could then pick her favorite color, put it in a setting that matches her style (bold and beautiful, simple and elegant, classic, contemporary, lavish, sleek etc.) and there you have it, the perfect ring symbolizing the perfect vows, that will sweep her completely off her feet.

The most important thing about an engagement ring is its symbolism.  The ring stands for love and the everlasting commitment of a beautiful journey of togetherness. Therefore more than factors like cost, design or fashion, the feelings and emotions attached to the ring should mean more to the couple.  The ring should embody a deep bond, a sense of belonging and your heartfelt love and it will surely become a part of her very being.