There was a time when buying a diamond for a woman was almost as standard as buying a loaf of bread. When the need arose, a man would go to his local jewelry store and pick out a modest solitaire setting as a token of his love. It probably looked similar to what all her friends had and she was just happy to know that she was becoming someone's wife.



A lot has changed since our mothers and our mothers' mothers said their vows. Today it is the norm for women to have an influence in buying their diamond. Some women even pick out and help pay for their ring.

With this comes choice, and in 2007 there are more choices than ever when it comes to selecting a diamond. The result is bigger stones, nontraditional settings, and designer collections. There is even an influx of right-hand rings, for women who want to wear a diamond with or without a man.

Not long ago a three-carat diamond was considered a sizable rock, now women are looking for nine and ten carats without batting an eye. One reason for this is because couples are getting married older so they typically have more money to spend.

Fancy shapes and colored stones are also becoming more popular for engagement settings. While the round brilliant shape is still the most popular, princess and oval cuts follow closely behind. Modified square emeralds are also trendy because of their similarity to the Royal Asscher cut, a classic cut made popular again through Sex and the City and recent celebrity engagements.

Julia Stewart, a student at Frederick Community College, still has some time before she gets engaged, but she already has the ring of her dreams picked out. I want a Danhov piece with micropave diamonds outlining the setting. This way the round brilliant center stone I want will appear even bigger and more sparkly, Stewart says with a twinkle in her eye. Today many women share this sentiment of wearing a designer ring.

Instead of blending in with traditional settings and stones, women want to show off their unique taste. With more choices and more buying power, women in 2007 are doing just that.