Loosing an expensive piece of jewelry, especially one with a lot of sentimental value like an engagement ring, can be a very heartbreaking loss. Pay special close attention to your ring when you're at these hots spots for loosing jewelry.

• Ring Insurance

Knowing the right diamond engagement ring to buy is hard for most men, but there are some clues to getting her the perfect ring just by looking at the bride-to-be's hands.

• Engagement Rings 101

Asking the permission of a woman's father before a marriage proposal is an old custom that dates back to the time when marriages were arranged by families. Obviously, we live in a much different time. However, there are many families that hold on to traditions and many women who appreciate the gesture as a sign of respect toward her family.

• Engagement Rings 101

A big concern for women who own an expensive engagement ring is what to do if the diamond is lost. Fortunately, there are some solutions for lost diamonds.

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There is a scene in an episode of "Sex in the City" where Sarah Jessica Parker's character tells her friends about a marriage proposal she received. She admits to her friends that she turned down the man because the ring he bought her wasn't fashionable - "pear-shaped with a gold band."

• Engagement Rings 101

Not just a mere object to adorn a finger, the ring has been a powerful symbol throughout history. Its circular shape and its banding to the body have given it meaning - from the magical to the practical. Rings have represented the cycle of life, the sun and moon and in the case of engagement rings, eternal love.

• Engagement Rings 101

A popular choice for engagement rings today is the custom ring. Often, people will use stones or rings from a relatives wedding set and use them to make their own special ring. Jewelers will often have empty rings for many different size stones on hand at their shops, so choosing a fit is usually really easy. You will have to pay the jeweler for the custom work, but if you are supplying your own diamond, it is often less expensive than purchasing a brand new ring.

• Wedding Bands

Although saving up for a ring and buying it outright is more highly recommended, there are financing options available for those bachelors who just can't wait to pop the question. The most common form of financing would be just to charge it to your credit card, assuming you have one. If you don't, many jewelers will have an in-house finance department, sometimes offering no money down or no interest for a few months to help give you time to pay it off. Other options to finance your engagement ring include, taking out a loan from a bank or borrowing against expensive items you may already own, such as a house or car. Whatever your choice is to finance your ring, be sure to ask the jeweler about any other options that may be available and be sure to carefully read and understand the details of any kind of debt plan you sign.

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Buying rings on ebay

One of the most recent avenues for engagement ring shoppers is through the online auction site, ebay. Although some may argue that purchasing a pre-owned engagement ring is unromantic, and possibly bad luck, hundreds of engagement rings are purchased by satisfied couples through the site everyday. If you decide on using ebay to find a ring, there are some pitfalls you should watch out for.

• Buying Tips

After purchasing your diamond engagement ring for the thousands of dollars it set you back, it may come as a pleasant surprise when the appraiser tells you it is worth more than what you paid. Unfortunately, you did not just hit the prenuptial lottery. Appraisers give the jewelry items they appraise what is referred to as the "retail replacement value" of the item. This value is often inflated or marked-up to up to 10 percent of what the actual retail price is. The reason for this is simple - purchasers feel they are getting a bargain when they are told they purchased their diamond below what it is worth.

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