Tag: engagement ring

Best San Diego Spots for a Summer Proposal

by Rylee Kahan
Five diamond engagement rings placed on seashells.

Ready to make it official? As summer approaches, so does a popular season for engagements. San Diego is known for its beautiful beaches, parks, and cityscapes. There are endless locations to stage your magical moment. Here a few San Diego locations that you should consider when popping the big question.

Balboa Park

A well-known jewel in the crown of San Diego, Balboa Park hosts an abundance of areas to propose. While it does attract many visitors, the park is large enough to find an intimate spot. The historic landmark has breathtaking architecture, scenic backgrounds, and lush greenery. The Japanese Friendship Garden or Lily Pond are both tranquil settings. Its rich history and beautiful grounds make it a memorable place to profess your love.

Glider Port

Part of Torrey-Pines Park, Glider Port boasts a beautiful view of the ocean and sky. Glider Port is a popular hand gliding location, so your proposal backdrop includes a colorful array of hang gliders floating through the sky. This area is free of charge to enter, and crowds are not typically an issue. The green cliffside, leading to clear ocean, sets the mood.

Bayview Park

If you are looking for a view of the city, look no further than Bayview Park. This park is surrounded by well-kept foliage, which leads to an expansive view of the bay and city. It is a quiet park renowned for its breathtaking view. It is especially spectacular with the sunset glowing on the skyscrapers of downtown.

Windansea Beach

The beaches around San Diego usually are packed with people, but La Jolla’s Windansea Beach is a secluded place to propose and take engagement photos. It is built upon sandstone outlooks which can create dazzling photos as the waves lap up against the rocks. It is also worth taking photographs under the famous surf shack located on the beach.

Scripps Pier

A mystical and majestic area to get down on one knee is Scripps Pier. While the public cannot walk on the pier, the underside creates a tunnel vision view of the sky and your proposal. This location would be ideal to capture the beauty of a sunrise or sunset bordered by the looming Scripps Pier. It does require some walking to get to the pier, but the reward is a private spot.

Engagement Rings at Leo Hamel's

The first step to planning the perfect proposal is finding an engagement ring she’ll love. And what better place to find exceptional engagement rings than Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers? For over 40 years, Leo Hamel’s has helped countless happy couples seal the deal with engagement rings in every price range. Shop for new, antique, and vintage engagement rings to find the right ring to complement your sweetheart’s style. Or custom create an engagement ring that’s entirely unique. No matter your vision, the friendly folks at Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers can help turn your idea into a reality. What’re you waiting for? Visit us today!

15 Interesting Engagement Ring Facts

by Rylee Kahan
Five styles of white gold diamond engagement rings on display in the Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers showroom.

For centuries partners have been gifting one another engagement rings with their marriage proposals as a sign of their love and commitment. While certain details of the practice have changed over time, tradition largely remains. When asking for a hand in marriage it is custom to present a ring, usually set with a diamond, to be worn on the third finger of the left hand. Read more to learn about interesting engagement customs and engagement ring history!

Engagement Ring Facts

  • It’s believed that engagement rings originated in Ancient Egypt, where their shape symbolized eternity. They believed that only the third finger of the left hand had a vein that connected straight to the heart, so that’s where the engagement ring was worn. However, scientifically, all fingers have veins that ultimately connect to the heart, not just the third left.
  • In Ancient Rome, women often wore two rings – a gold one to be worn outside and seen by everyone, and an iron one to wear at home.
  • Archduke Maximilian I of Austria was the first person to give a diamond engagement ring. In 1477, he proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a ring adorned with an M-shaped diamond.
  • Different countries have different engagement ring customs. In the U.S., engagement rings are typically worn on the left hand while in Russia and India, they are worn on the right.
  • Only about 35 percent of engagement rings are bought without the fiancée’s knowledge.
  • The most popular engagement ring shape is a round brilliant cut diamond. Second place currently goes to princess cut diamonds.
  • Platinum was once the popular choice for wedding rings due in part to its durability. Then yellow gold took over for many years as the more affordable choice. More recently, white gold gained the upper hand in popularity, and platinum once again became more affordable. However, yellow gold has recently been making a strong comeback for engagement and wedding rings, and other diamond jewelry.
  • Until recently, engagement rings were chosen by men to be worn by women. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for the men to involve their partners in the selection process, or even wear “management” rings themselves!
  • “Diamond” originates from the Greek word “adamas,” which means “hardest substance” or “hardest steel.”
  • A staggering 2,000 couples get engaged at Disney World every year. The Statue of Liberty is another popular choice with about 100 couples taking the ferry there to get engaged.
  • Grace Kelly’s diamond engagement ring is among the most expensive rings. Created by Cartier, the 10.48 carat emerald cut diamond ring was purchased in 1956 for $4 million and is now valued at $44.3 million.
  • Colorless diamonds are by far the most popular engagement ring stones, although colored diamonds have recently risen in popularity, most notably the fancy yellow.
  • Diamonds are the most durable gemstone, ranking 10 on the Mohs Scale, making them the most long-lasting choice of gemstone for engagement rings.
  • Even though diamonds are extremely tough, the rings in which they are set still require a bit of maintenance, so periodic professional exams are recommended to check prongs for wear.
  • 14% of couples choose a gemstone other than diamond for their engagement ring, such as sapphire, ruby, or emerald.

Engagement Rings in San Diego

At Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers, we boast an incredible selection of wedding and engagement rings of all shapes and sizes. What’s more, you can also share your design ideas with us and get a custom-made engagement ring that fits your personality perfectly. We are located on San Diego Avenue just off the 5 freeway, so don’t hesitate to stop by. We’d love to help you find the perfect engagement ring to create the perfect memory.