What are figural engagement rings?

Figural engagement ring designs are, as their name implies, engagement rings designed and shaped to represent a variety of shapes and figures. As such, figural engagement rings are a perfect choice for couples who are searching for a more creative looking, unique engagement ring. Figural engagement rings are manufactured in a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors and styles. Perhaps the most common shapes seen in figural engagement rings are those of animals, however, these rings can be molded into virtually any shape (including letters, flowers, hearts, stars, crosses, etc.) The figural designs can incorporate both the ring's metal band and its setting. Some couples may prefer having the entire band and setting shaped into the figure of their choice (for example, the band is molded into a vine pattern and the setting is shaped into a flower, which appears to grow on the vine patterned band), while others may prefer a plainer band mounted with a figural setting (for instance, a setting figured after a star can be smelted onto a plan, unadorned band). However, it is recommended that, if you do indeed decide to purchase a figural engagement ring, you choose a figure that is fluid and that can be easily incorporated into an engagement band. You should try and avoid bulky shapes and designs. For instance, a circular figure (such as a serpent or a vine) will better complement a circular engagement ring band. Although, if you have your heart set on a figure which cannot be wrapped around the ring's band, you could leave the band plain and have the ring's setting shaped into the figure of your choice. The ring's setting can be made into less-fluid shapes, and can later be soldered to the ring's metal band. Before you decide on a figure and a design, I recommend you consult a local jeweler. He will be able to advise you on the different ways in which to incorporate differing shapes and designs into your engagement ring.
Figural engagement rings are commonly mounted with diamonds and/or other precious gemstones and birthstones.

When it comes to figural engagement rings, gemstones are incorporated into the ring's overall design in one of two ways. The precious gemstones are either used as center stones, or they are mounted as accent stones (you could mount your figural engagement ring with both accent stones and a center stone, however, an increased number of gemstones incorporated into this type of ring can sometimes overshadow the delicate and unique figurine design, resulting in an awkward looking, bulky figural engagement ring). Gemstones set as center stones are usually mounted into a solitaire figural setting, while accent stones are mounted into the ring's metal band. The settings used for the accent stones in figural engagement rings depends on the ring's overall design. For example, a pave setting or a channel setting (settings which are commonly used in engagement rings to house accent stones) may not be easy to incorporate into say, a twisting vine patterned band. In that case, accent stones may be flush set (immersed into the ring's metal band). The most popular gemstones used in figural engagement rings are emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and fancy colored diamonds. It seems as though many younger couples appreciate a little color in their figural engagement rings. The colorful gemstones can be used to emphasize and enhance the unique figurine design incorporated into the engagement ring (for instance, if the engagement ring is outfitted with an animal figurine, a common practice is to set the colorful precious gemstones as the animal's eyes). Also, an emerging trend in figural engagement ring designs is mounting unique diamond cuts as the ring's center stone or accent stones. The most popular diamond shape used in figural engagement rings is a heart shaped diamond, set as the engagement ring's solitaire center stone.

 If you are planning on buying a figural engagement ring, you should know that most local jewelers do not often carry this unique engagement ring design. Jewelers may have in stock commonplace figures such as serpent figural engagement rings or flower engagement rings, however, they do not usually carry the more unusual and complex figurine designs. If you are looking for a specialized, intricate figural engagement ring design, you may end up having to custom order your engagement ring. Custom made engagement rings can often cost more than pre-made engagement rings, since they require an increasing amount of craftsmanship. If you do not have the budget for a custom made engagement ring, I suggest you look for your specialized engagement ring on online auctions, or at local estate sales and pawn shops. Auction houses and estate sales usually carry a more diverse selection of engagement rings, you may be able to find the figural engagement ring of your choice and, since in the case of estate sales and pawn shops, the rings were previously owned, you may be able to purchase a used, vintage figural engagement ring for an affordable price. If you do happen to purchase your figural engagement ring form pawn shops/auction houses/estate sales, make sure that your selected ring comes with a GIA or AGS approved certificate of authentication. You do not want to pay for a diamond figural engagement ring only to find out later that the gemstones mounted into the ring are fake or of a lower quality than what you originally paid for. You should be extra careful when buying from pawn shops or estate sales, since their items may not always be correctly priced. Also, I would recommend that, after you complete your purchase, you take your engagement ring to a local jeweler and have him or her inspect your t ring. Since figural engagement rings can be rather delicate (since an increasing amount of design elements are often incorporated into these rings), you should make sure that the ring's settings, its mounted gemstones, and its other embellishments are not damaged. Ask your jeweler to make sure that the engagement ring is in good repair, that the settings are not warped or loose, that the gemstones sit securely in their settings.

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