Every day, engagement rings are becoming more and more extravagant. There are entire magazines devoted to them, websites that will help you design them, and jewelers that will help you find one that’s morally conscious. Beautiful and elegant rings are being crafted using colored diamonds or gemstones as well. One really nice alternative to a diamond engagement ring is one that features a mineral called Moissanite.

Moissanite is a mineral that was first discovered on the inside of a meteor in the year 1893. Because there were very limited amounts of the substance on earth, it has since been recreated as a gemstone in laboratories. It has some carbon properties, much like a diamond, but they are not the same. This stone is better at reflecting light than a diamond is. It has also been proven to be much more durable. Are you ready for the best part yet? Moissanite engagement rings are much less expensive than diamonds and they look so much like the coveted gemstone that many professionals cannot easily distinguish between the two!

You do have to remember to be careful to check the color of your Moissanite very well, under a few different lightings if possible. This is because with the mineral makeup differences between a diamond and Moissanite, the latter stone may tend to have gray or green hues, especially in dim lights. Moissanite is not a fake diamond. It does look like a diamond, but they are, in fact, two separate stones, each one beautiful in its own way.

A good place to get a Moissanite engagement ring is JC Penny. They almost always have some in stock. Many other local retailers also have a nice selection of Moissanite jewelry but if you still have trouble finding a place close enough to you, you can visit www.moissanite.com. It has a feature that will actually pull up your location on a map, and show you what Moissanite retailers are in your area. Take a look, and discover the beauty of Moissanite.

Are you looking to buy the perfect ring? When searching for a ring, whether it is for a special gift or a marriage proposal, there are a few things you must pay attention to in order to ensure that your ring is flawless. One of the most important elements when purchasing a ring is what cut to choose. The cut of a stone affects the way the ring feels, the way it shines, and of course, how effective it will be at taking her breath away. So, how does one select the right cut? If you’re not interested in going the direct route and asking your mate to pick their rock, look to these tips for a little direction in your search.

Any style of diamond cutting other than the round brilliant is called a fancy cut or fancy shape. The top three cuts for diamonds and gemstones are the Asscher cut, Princess cut and Cushion cut.

Resembling an octagon, the Asscher cuts hit its peak in popularity in the early 1920’s and disappeared only to make its comeback in 2001 when significant amounts of research showcased additional facets and new specifications for a more enticing luster. Asscher is a very modern and chic cut that will look beautiful on longer fingers.

The Princess cut is equally breath taking, but hugely different. Because of the square shape, a ring with a princess cut stone will have maximum sparkle. Beautiful to look at, the princess cut is a little fragile because its sharp corners make it more likely to chip. If it’s going to be this beauty, you just have to make sure that the setting is prepared to protect all four corners of the stone.

The cushion cut resembles the Old Mine cut with larger facets that similar to those from the late 19th and early 20th century cuts married with today’s oval cut. Cushions can vary a little in their shape. Some may be a longer rectangular, have squarer corners with varying sized tables.

Every ring is different, but somewhere out there, is the one to make her speechless.