When it comes to "popping the question," there's nothing like a platinum diamond ring to make it official.  Whether you're a man looking to choose just the right ring for your bride-to-be or a woman lucky enough to be able to pick out your own ring, a platinum diamond ring is often just the right choice for something as important as a wedding set.

For one thing, consider that a platinum diamond ring is absolutely timeless.  Platinum is just about the most enduring metal there is, especially when it comes to jewelry, and a choice of platinum is symbolic of how long you want your love to last.  It is also impervious to damage the way other metals may be.  Soft, higher karats of gold, as well as silver, can be nicked, marked, dented, and dinged as time goes on.  But with a platinum ring, there is much less chance of the ring itself being damaged in any way.  Of course, those other metals can be repaired and buffed as time goes on but it's usually much better to invest in a ring that will last rather than assume that you can keep repairing the ring over the years. 

Many of the antique platinum engagement rings found today can be cleaned, polished, and brought back to their original appearance.  There are many antique platinum engagement rings on the market with so much history behind them are often considered classic, not just because of their age and in the time period in which they were produced, but because of their style. Some of the more pure platinum rings will appear grayish white in color, sometimes mistaken for titanium or silver, but will be considerable harder.

Choosing the diamond in your platinum ring may be the most involved part of the process.  It's not a good idea to just go for the biggest or most expensive ring.  It pays to educate yourself about cut, carat, color, and so on when it comes to a diamond.  A larger diamond can have a poorer cut or many inclusions in it, so it might actually be less valuable than a smaller diamond.  It's tempting to just choose whatever rock is the biggest but usually a platinum diamond ring can be considered an investment, and one that you can hand down from generation to generation.  If you choose a less valuable diamond based on looks alone, your investment is compromised.

And since a platinum diamond ring is timeless, you can usually find one at places other than just a local jewelry store.  Estate sales, auctions, and places such as this can offer a wealth of options.  Every piece of jewelry should come with a certificate of authenticity and you of course want to have the ring appraised by an independent appraiser, but the value of a platinum ring is not going to drop simply because it was owned by someone else, the way it works with a car or old piece of outdated computer equipment.  As a matter of fact, an antique diamond ring can be even more valuable than a new one.  So don't limit yourself to just the local jewelry store or shop at the mall, but scour other places for a sale.

If you do some homework and a bit of shopping you're sure to find just the right platinum diamond ring that's a perfect fit for you or your intended fiancée.