Criss Cross Engagement Ring 

If you’re looking for the perfect engagement ring for that special person, you have come to the right place! This article is not only going to guide you on everything about engagement rings but make a special recommendation for criss cross engagement rings. 

What Are Criss Cross Engagement Rings? 

As you likely already know, an engagement ring is used to propose – that is ask someone to marry you.  

The criss cross features two shanks that intersect at a point or two across a ring. So, this ring features the unique criss cross shape as an engagement ring. 

The best thing about this ring is that it is not limited to its shape, it can follow the traditional trends of engagement rings or a modern twist. 

Before we begin the actual guide on purchasing your engagement rings,  let’s take a look at the meanings attached to these elegant rings. 

Symbolism Of Criss Cross Engagement Rings 

We have arranged this symbolism into bullet points for easy understanding. The nature of these rings has attributed it to the  following meanings: 

• The Criss Cross symbolizes the love between two people.
• It symbolizes the union of two individuals, making it a great choice for engagement rings. 
• It shows that the sum of things is greater than what they were singly. 
• It symbolizes the commitment that two people will ideally share in a marriage. 
• The criss cross symbolizes the intertwining of two people’s lives to form something great. 

Things To Consider Before Buying A Criss Cross Engagement Ring 

There are many crucial aspects to consider before you go to any store whether physical or online to purchase your criss cross engagement ring. 

For easy reference, these are the factors to keep in mind: 

1. Ring Size 
2. Ring designs 

• Setting 
• Metal 

3. Diamond 

• Diamond quality 
• Diamond shape 

4. Budget

Ring Size 

We put this first because it is a very important factor. If you are going shopping together for rings then you typically won’t bother much about ring size. This is because your partner’s finger would get measured at the jewelry store. 

Now if you are solo shopping you would want to pay attention to your partner’s finger. If you can, sneakily measure it while they are asleep;  don’t do this if they are a light sleeper though, it will ruin the surprise! 

So what do you do when the sleeping plan fails? Well, you could check out their previous rings, just make sure it’s a ring they are currently using. Alternatively, you can ask their close friends or family, chances are you would get the right answer from them. 

There are charts that you can easily use at home to measure your ring size. These are quite easy to follow but more often than not inaccurate.  To be 100% certain of the ring size, visit a jewelry store. 

Remember that the width of the ring will determine the fit around your finger. A thick ring will fit snugly but a thin ring of the same size will be looser on your finger. 

Ring Designs 

The next thing would be to design your criss cross engagement rings.  This is the most exciting part because this is where the beauty lies. 

There are two components that you would be designing in your rings.  They are:

• Setting  
• Metal 

Settings For Your Criss Cross Engagement Rings 

The setting is what holds the diamond in place, we will talk about diamonds later on in this article. For now, Let’s take a look at these gorgeous settings for your engagement rings. 

• Solitaire setting 
• Halo setting 
• Bezel setting  
• Pavé setting 
• Channel setting 
• Cathedral setting 
• Tension setting 

Solitaire Setting 

Just like the name implies, this setting typically features a single diamond held in place by prongs. This is the most popular design for engagement rings all over the world. 

It allows the diamond to exhibit maximum sparkle. This is because the prongs only cover a small portion of the diamonds; they allow maximum light to enter the gemstone and be reflected as brilliance. 

Diamonds in this setting are likely to get damaged since the prongs offer the stones little to no protection.

Halo Setting 

If you are looking for bigger carat diamonds on a budget, then the halo setting may be the one for you. It doesn’t make the diamond carat bigger, rather it appears to be larger because of the halo around it. 

The halo setting features a large carat center stone that is surrounded by smaller pavé or micropavé diamonds in a halo. These additional gemstones are what make the center stone appear up to half a carat larger. 

It is certainly an option to consider when buying your criss cross engagement ring. The halo setting has a vintage feel to it and is a well popular choice among brides(or grooms).  

Bezel Setting 

This setting features the metal wrapping around the edges of the gemstone. It offers the most protection for your diamonds. However,  this in turn results in lower sparkle since most of the gemstone is covered thus allowing little light gets to pass through the gemstone. 

It’s a gorgeous setting that not only accentuates the diamond but shows off the metal in your criss cross engagement ring. You can even design the shank itself with the bezel or use it in side stones for three stone rings. 

Pavé Setting

This setting typically features small diamonds called pavé or micropavé diamonds set in the shank of a ring. These diamonds can be in rows of twos and threes. They are held in place by tiny prongs or beads. 

If you are looking for scintillation then setting is for you! It is commonly paired with a solitaire or halo setting for additional sparkle. The arrangement causes multiple tiny flashes of light to enter the eye. 

The pavé or micropavé diamonds can be set across the whole band or arranged only halfway through. Regardless of the diamond arrangement, it is simply a stunning setting for your engagement ring.  This is especially true if your significant other has a thing for bling. 

Note that the pavé setting is also called bead setting. 

Channel Setting 

We can say that the channel setting is a close cousin to the pavé setting. It also features diamonds in the shank of the engagement ring.  In this case, the diamonds are not held in place by prongs or beads,  instead, they are arranged in a channel-like pattern inside the ring. 

There is usually a slim piece of the shank’s metal separating each diamond. This setting covers more of the diamond thus offering it a good level of protection. The covering also reduces the scintillation of the diamonds in the shank; this is because there is not much exposure of the diamond for light to pass through. 

It is indeed a gorgeous style and still offers a decent amount of sparkle so it is certainly worth contemplating for your criss cross engagement ring.

Cathedral setting 

This is one of the single diamond settings for engagement rings. Here,  the diamond is as well held in place by prongs. However, metals from the shank split and extend over to hold the diamond as said prongs. 

It is becoming an increasingly popular style since it gives the classic feeling of a solitaire engagement ring but is a bit more bespoke. It also offers a great amount of sparkle since a majority of the diamond is exposed.  

Tension Setting 

This setting has the appearance that the diamond is floating between the shanks. It is not, rather jewelry making techniques have been developed so that a diamond is set between a split shank. 

Most people fear that the stone will come off because of the nature of this criss cross engagement ring setting. Well, if you get your engagement ring arranged in a tension setting with a competent jeweler you can rest assured. 

It is a unique ring design and is a far cry from the traditional attachments to what should be an engagement ring or not. So, if you’re that modern couple this setting is for you! 

Metals For Your Criss Cross Engagement Rings

We’re going to take a look at some of the most popular metals for both engagement and wedding rings. Elegant metals that each delivers in their special way. 

The metals are: 

• Gold 
• Platinum 
• Palladium 
• Silver 
• Titanium 
• Tungsten 

In this article, we will explain the first four precious metals in the group. 

Gold 

This classic and timeless metal has been the favorite of many people over the centuries. It is one of the first(if not the first) metals to be used in jewelry. 

If you are getting a gold engagement ring, you will have to put your diamond into consideration first. This is true for all other metals too. 

Generally, you have the option of getting a base metal coated in gold such as gold-plated, gold-filled, or gold vermeil engagement rings. But since this engagement ring is likely to be a one-time investment, you may want something that contains more gold itself. 

In that case, you can get the alloys of gold for your criss cross engagement ring. The most popular gold alloys are white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold; though, there is a selection of others available.

Platinum 

This metal is denser and – believe it or not – rarer than gold. This makes it have more value – that is it is more expensive than a gold engagement ring. The extra bucks aren’t for nothing though. 

Platinum is a very durable metal and is highly resistant to scratches.  Although it is not advisable to keep your rings on while doing chores,  swimming, or things like that, a platinum engagement ring gives you more confidence knowing that it is less likely to scratch. 

Since your partner will probably wear the criss cross engagement ring every day, this metal is a perfect choice. The good thing about platinum doesn’t end there! 

Platinum is a hypoallergenic metal – that is, it causes no allergic reactions whatsoever to your skin. Whereas gold alloys may contain metals that are allergens. So, if you want to play it safe, go for a  platinum engagement ring. 

Palladium 

You may have fallen in love with platinum but it is just out of your budget. If that’s true, we have good news for you! You don’t have to abandon the idea of durable white metal. You can just opt for a  cheaper yet similar metal. 

Palladium is a white metal that belongs to the same family as platinum,  meaning that it shares many characteristics with the very durable white 

metal. The only thing to note is that this metal is not as durable or scratch resistant as platinum but it is a close call. 

This white metal is a relatively new addition to the list of precious metals used for engagement rings. So, it is likely that you may not find it on every bride’s (or groom’s) finger. 

Silver 

This gorgeous metal is similar to gold in so many ways. For one, it is a  very popular and sought-after metal. Again, it is too soft to hold any shape or to be worn every day. 

For the above reason, silver is mixed with copper and other metals to increase its strength. The alloy is then termed sterling silver. That is why you may see a “925” hallmark on your silver criss cross engagement ring. 

Most people associate silver with white metals because it was the first metal that had a whitish appearance in the jewelry world. Silver has a  grayish-white hue as opposed to the shiny white of platinum or palladium. 

Silver is very likely to tarnish whether in its pure form or as an alloy. So,  you have to take proper maintenance measures against this if you are getting a silver engagement ring. One of such measures is the storage of silver rings in anti-tarnishing bags.

Choosing The Diamond For Your Criss Cross Engagement Rings 

We have already talked about the setting for these gemstones but you need to get a diamond that will be set in though. We can say that this is the most important aspect for many couples. Since most people read the presence of a big stone on rings as an indication of engagement. 

Diamond Quality 

Generally, the quality of a diamond is governed by four Cs: color, cut,  clarity, and color. Depending on the purpose the diamond is to serve,  you may pay more attention to Cs over others. 

You should know that there is no standard as to what diamond is the best quality. It all boils down to what works best for you and your special someone. Just take a look at the diamonds physically, then you’ll be able to select the one that fits your style and taste perfectly. 

Diamond Shape 

After selecting the diamond, you need to decide on the shape. Most people use “cut” and “shape” interchangeably but they are quite different. Cut refers to the way a diamond is facetted and how well while shape refers to the diamond’s, well, shape. 

The most popular shape for criss cross engagement rings till today continues to be the round brilliant cut. It is expected since it offers the 

most sparkle out of all diamond shapes. A close second is the square  modified brilliant or simply princess cut. 

There are a variety of shapes to choose from, some of which are emerald-, Asscher-, baguette-, trillion-, heart-, oval-, pear-, radiant-,  marquise- or cushion-cut diamonds. 

Budget 

We put this step last not because it is the least important but because you needed to have an overview of the above factors before knowing which will fit into your budget. 

You can easily get a criss cross engagement ring under $100 or above  $50,000. A lower-priced engagement ring doesn’t always mean less quality. For example, if you get an S1 diamond that appears eye clean at $90 then a VVS1 diamond at $3000 will look the same as the S1  diamond. So, a higher price doesn’t necessarily mean better quality,  most people can’t even tell the difference. 

How To Care For Your Criss Cross Engagement Ring 

Engagement rings have a special place in our hearts so we should be meticulous in anything concerning them. 

To properly maintain them, just clean them with a soft brush dipped in water and mild dish soap. Rinse under running water then leave to air dry or pat dry with a soft towel. Lastly, store it properly in a safe place.

Now that you are done with this guide, are you ready to go get your stunning criss cross engagement ring? Goldia provides you with the best of the best on anything engagement rings. Check out Goldia’s stunning engagement ring collection now!