Sterling Silver & CZ Ring Guards: Why are they popular

What is a ring enhancer and why are CZ Ring Guards very common?

Ring enhancers are wedding rings that are purposely designed to fit around your solitaire engagement ring.  Its main objective is to enhance the beauty of the solitaire ring, by adding colored stones, diamonds, or ornate designs.  The ring enhancer either takes the place of the wedding band on the finger, or is worn in addition to create a complete bridal set.  Most people buy ring enhancers as a way to “dress up” their solitaire ring.  Since an enhancer is easily taken on and off and does not damage the solitaire, it’s a great way to add a lot of sparkle to your engagement ring, giving you a stunning, yet low cost bridal wedding set.  Traditionally there are two kinds of ring enhancers: ring guards (also referred to as ring inserts) and ring wraps.  Once of the most common type of ring guards is the CZ Ring Guard which will be discussed in more detail.

A ring wrap does exactly as the name suggests, and “wraps” around the center stone of your engagement ring.  It is a single band, which fits up against your engagement ring, and has stones or metal which “hug” your center diamond.  Once you place the ring wrap on your finger next to your solitaire engagement ring, it gives the illusion of being one ring.

A ring guard or ring insert, on the other hand, is a double band held together by bars on the bottom of the shank.  The solitaire engagement ring fits snugly into the middle of the ring insert/ring guard.  In this style of enhancer, the center stone is completely surrounded by either metal or stones.  Essentially, the ring guard envelops the solitaire.  The look achieved by using the insert is a complete bridal set.

At this point, you might be wondering why so many people love ring enhancers.  There are many reasons to choose an enhancer.  Here are a few:

  1. Upgrade.  The most popular reason is to “upgrade” your simple solitaire ring.  Buying an inexpensive diamond engagement ring is not easy.  At the time of such a significant purchase, it’s possible that funds were not available to buy a more ornate or larger ring due to budget.  Eventually, some people want to get a “bigger” look, but do not want to actually remount their solitaire.  Choosing an enhancer is a great way to get a bigger or even just a different look, without having to make any change or damage to your original engagement ring.  For sentimental reasons, most people prefer to add onto their original rather than change it.  The ring enhancer is a perfect solution in that scenario.  CZ Ring Guards are an inexpensive way to achieve the upgrade look.
  1. Heirloom engagement ring.  If your engagement ring is an heirloom or is something sentimental for any other reason, then taking the diamond out and using it in another engagement ring is out of the question.  A ring enhancer is the perfect solution because it changes the look of your simple solitaire without making any permanent changes to it.
  1. Fashion is another reason why many women love enhancers.  You can buy a few inexpensive ring wraps or ring guards and change them every day.  Essentially, you can have a different look for every day of the week.  If you throw in a few colored stones, then you can start matching your enhancer to your favorite purse or outfit.  It’s a matter of finding ring enhancers that you love.   The possibilities are endless.  CZ Ring Guards are inexpensive, so you can buy a few varieties and switch them out depending on what fashion mood you are in.
  1. Since the engagement ring is a very sentimental piece of bridal jewelry, protecting it from damage is high on the list of priorities.  Ring guards are a great way to protect your investment.  Since the ring guard envelopes your engagement ring, it essentially protects it from hazards like chipping your center stone, twisting prongs, and many other dangers.
  1. Achieving the forever popular three stone look.  Anybody that has looked through popular wedding rings or anniversary rings has come across three stone rings.  Perhaps when purchasing your engagement ring, the three stone look was not affordable.  When purchasing your enhancer, you can choose one which will give you the three stone look, giving you an affordable bridal set.  Essentially, you will want to choose ring wraps with one stone on each side of the center diamond.  When put together, the final effect will be a dazzling three stone wedding ring.

Now that you know why a ring enhancer is a great piece of bridal jewelry, here are some tips and things to keep in mind when purchasing your ring enhancer:

  1. Keeping sizes proportionate.  You need to keep the size of the center stone in mind when choosing your enhancer.  For example, if you have a 2 carat engagement ring, then buying an enhancer with small diamond chips will not look right.  Ultimately, if you mismatch sizes, then the enhancer will not compliment your solitaire engagement ring.  Another example that shows the importance of keeping sizes proportionate is the three stone ring scenario.  If your engagement ring has a 1 carat center stone and you want to achieve the traditional three stone ring look, then choosing a ring rap with two 1/10 carat diamonds will not look right.  Also, the size of your center stone will effect how your ring enhancer will fit with your solitaire.  Most jewelers are able to adjust the enhancer to fit your solitaire, but not if the mismatch is extreme.  .
  2. Shape matching.  The important thing to keep in mind with shape is that your if your ring enhancer has a subtle contour to it, then it will fit with a round center stone much more easily, where as pointed ring enhancers are a better fit for pear shaped or marquise centers.  It’s also important to remember that most jewelers can tweak your enhancer to fit your engagement ring.
  3. Metal types.  There is no rule that requires your engagement ring and enhancer have to be the same metal.  You should keep in mind though that having the same metal means that the two will wear more or less the same.  If you choose to mix metals (platinum next to gold), you might have different wear for each ring.  Also, getting repairs done such as sizing and adjustments might be a challenge if they are different metals.
  4. Soldering rings together.  If you wear your ring enhancer as a wedding ring or anniversary ring, meaning that you wear it every day with your solitaire engagement ring, then you may want to consider soldering the two rings together.  This ensures that they are always fit together perfectly and you don’t have to go through the hassle of lining them up or re-inserting.  The down side to that is that you won’t be able to take the enhancer on and off easily.
  5. Color!!!!  Another huge factor to keep in mind when looking at enhancers is the color factor.  A major trend in jewelry is colored stones.  You can easily take your traditional solitaire engagement ring and match it up to an enhancer with colored stones to get a unique look.  Also, keep in mind that substituting colored stones for diamonds is a great way to get affordable bridal jewelry.  You can easily cut the cost of your enhancer significantly by replacing a few diamonds with colored stones.

There are many choices to keep in mind when looking at ring enhancers, ring wraps or ring guards.  One of the most common choices are the CZ Ring Guards for the reasons stated above.

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