When searching for the engagment ring of your dreams, be sure you get the quality you’d expect in something you’ll wear for a lifetime. This is not a purchase where you’ll want to scrimp. Consider that the engagement ring will be worn 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, for as long as you both shall live, so invest in the very best quality ring, whatever your budget.

Here is a list of “musts” to consider when shopping for your engagement ring. (Courtesy of Steve Robbins, CEO of Robbins Bros., World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store):

• All diamonds in the ring should be of superior cut, color and clarity, and all should be perfectly matched for maximum brilliance.
• Channels (the side diamonds that may be in a row next to the center diamond) must be straight and strong for extra security.
• The shank (the metal part of the ring) must be extra heavy for lasting strength.
• There should be no porosity and a high polish on the ring shank (you will notice a mirror-like finish)

Things to watch out for when shopping for your ring:

• Mismatched side diamonds. The side diamonds in these rings will have only limited brilliance  and vary in size, color and clarity.
• Imperfect metal finish. Mass-produced rings often show casting spots and little bubbles in the metal which are called “porosity.”
• Irregular channels. The channel settings from many jewelers are uneven and sometimes very thin. You may notice that the diamonds are set unevenly or show obvious gaps.
• Lightweight shank. These rings are noticable because they are much lighter in weight and will, as a result, wear out quickly. This is because the gold of the shank is thin and hollowed-out to cut production costs.

Take your time when shopping for your diamond engagement ring and be sure you will be happy with the quality. If you have any questions feel free to email me or call me at 818-662-0357, ext 8227.

Happy Engagement!

Diane 

• First, think of some dates that are meaningful to her. The anniversary of your first date is a great place to start. If she loves the big holidays, consider proposing on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, on New Year’s Eve or even on Valentine’s Day.
• Select a day that is stress-free, perhaps a weekend day or a vacation day.
• Come up with a list of your favorite places spent together as a couple. This could be the location where you met, where you had your first date, or where you said you loved each other the first time.
• Another idea is to pick a place you’ve both talked about visiting, such as a special restaurant, a ski resort, or even the top of the Empire State Building.
• For ideas on how to propose, make it personal and something she’ll love. Engagement experts at a Robbins Bros., World’s Biggest Engagement ring store in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside/San Bernardino, San Diego, Houston or Dallas can also help you. Or, check out “45 Proposal Ideas” on the Robbins Bros. website.

For more suggestions or ways to personalize your proposal please email me or call me at 818-662-0357, ext 8227.

Happy Proposal!

Diane 

• Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
• Perry’s Restaurant (214-871-9991)
• Antares Restaurant @ Reunion Tower: (214-712-7145)
• Hotel ZaZa (800.597.8399)
• Havana Riverwalk Inn – San Antonio (210-224-2008)
• The Adolphus (214-742-8200)
• Aboard the McKinney Avenue Trolley (www.mata.org)
• Su Vino Winery – propose then celebrate by making your own wine! (http://www.suvinowinery.com/home.html)
• Dallas Museum of Art (214 922 1200)
• White Rock Lake
• Hotel St. Germain – 214-871-2516
• Hot Air Balloon – 1-800-791-5867
• Old Glory Ranch – 1-512-847-3646
• Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride – 800.665.9912

Check back for more Perfect Proposal ideas in Dallas. And when you are ready to find the perfect engagement ring, visit Robbins Bros., opening near the Galleria soon.

Personalize Any Wedding Band with an Engraved Message

Many couples who come to Robbins Bros., World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store to purchase wedding bands request engraved messages for the inside of the bands. Here are some suggestions for your personal engravings:

• Wedding Date (12/6/05, or Dec 6, 2005)
• I Love You, John!
• Yours Truly
• Love/Love (for tennis players)
• Symbols (a heart, a cross)
• Amor Vincit Omnia (Latin, “Love Conquers All”)
• “A Deal’s a Deal” (engraved on the bands of Courtney Cox-Arquette & David Arquette)
• A favorite verse from scripture (Song of Solomon in the Old Testament, I Corinthians 13:4 in the New Testament)
• XXOO (Kisses and Hugs)
• Your nicknames
• Je t’aime (”I love you” in French) 
• My Love
• Always & Forever
• Put Me Back On (for the spouse with a sense of humor)
• With Love, from Mrs. John Ferraro
• A line from a romantic poem (”How Do I Love Thee?” Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
• You are my sunshine
• That’s Amore!

This message will be worn on your left finger forever, so choose wisely. Spend an evening together over a pot of coffee, or a bottle of wine, and jot down some ideas of your own. You just may discover a hidden poet inside yourself or your spouse-to-be!

For a great selection of wedding bands check out a Robbins Bros. in California (Los Angeles: Glendale, San Fernando Valley, Torrance; Orange County: Mission Viejo, Fullerton;  Riverside/San Bernardino: Montclair; San Diego) or in Texas (Houston: Willowbrook/Champions, near the Galleria/610 Loop, Baybrook/Webster; Dallas: near the Galleria (opening mid-November 2006.) For more information call 1-800-610-RING. 

Most Romantic Places in Houston to Propose

Most romantic places in Southern California to propose 

Los Angeles area

• Huntington Library and Gardens –Pasadena
• Cicada Restaurant – downtown L.A.
• Yamashiro restaurant –Hollywood
• Hotel Bel Air
• Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge
• The Standard Hotel – rooftop bar
• Long Beach – Gondola ride in Naples
• Castaways Restaurant – Burbank
• Beau Rivage –Malibu restaurant
• Cafe Mundial – Monrovia
• Duke’s (Malibu or Huntington Beach)
• Traxx at Union Station, Los Angeles
• Japanese Garden at Huntington Ritz Carlton, Pasadena
• Hollywood Bowl
• Twin Palms Restaurant -Pasadena
• Malibu – Point Dume
• Hotel Portofino –Redondo Beach

Central Coast

• Pierpont Inn, Ventura
• James House B&B, Santa Barbara
• Hearst Castle/Cambria
• Wine Country, Solvang

Orange County

• Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, Disneyland, Anaheim
• Montage Resort – Laguna Beach
• Hotel del Coronado – San Diego
• During the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach
• Ruby’s Diner, Newport Beach & Huntington Beach Piers
• Heading south on the Amtrak coastal train, as you pull into San Clemente
• Ambrosia, Santa Ana
• Orange Hill Restaurant -Orange
• Las Brisas, Laguna Beach
• The community gazebo in Laguna Beach
• Tortilla Flats –Mission Viejo
• Any lifeguard tower along the coast, at sunrise or sunset
• Little Corona del Mar Beach, Corona del Mar
• Bowers Museum, Santa Ana

Inland Empire

• The Tram – Palm Springs

• Wine Country – Temecula
• The Mission Inn – Riverside
• Joshua Tree National Park

• Chair lift up mountain at Snow Summit, Big Bear

• Le Vallauris – Palm Springs (closed during summer months)
• Le St. Germain Restaurant – Indian Wells
• Kimberly Crest historic estate, Redlands
• Hot Air Balloon ride, Temecula
• Lake Arrowhead
• Café Sevilla – Riverside

San Diego

• Villa de Valor bed & breakfast – Julian
• Horse Drawn Carriage Ride, Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
• La Valencia –La Jolla
• Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Island
• Bertrand’s, Mr. A’s – Downtown San Diego
• Mille Fleur – Rancho Santa Fe
• Jakes – Del Mar
• Hot Air Balloon Ride with view of Pacific Ocean
• La Jolla coastline
• Along the beach in Del Mar, near the old train station
• Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
• Dinner cruise at sunset in Coronado Bay

 For help planning your own Perfect Proposal, visit Robbins Bros., World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store. 1-800-610-RING.

1. Pop the question at the location where you had your first date
2. Plan a treasure hunt with the clues leading her to a note that asks her to marry you
3. At the movie theater with your proposal on the big screen
4. Following a romantic dinner – have the waiter bring out her favorite dessert and the proposal written out around the plate
5. Write out “Marry Me” in the sand at the beach
6. Ride a hot air balloon and as you take off, have the staff below unroll a banner with your proposal
7. Bring her one rose each night for 11 nights. On the 12^th night, give her a rose, with a card inside that asks you to marry her. Then get on one knee and put the engagement ring on her finger.
8. If you attend a place of worship walk up with her to the altar following a service. With the pastor, priest or rabbi there (and in on the surprise) tell her you want to stand at this location with her when you become husband and wife. Then get on one knee and propose!
9. Treat her to a decadent breakfast at a five-star hotel, and tell her that you couldn’t wait until evening to ask her to marry you.
10. In a horse-drawn carriage around Central Park (or other popular tourist sites in your area)
11. Plant your proposal as a message in a bottle and partially cover it with sand on the beach.
12. If you are both avid skiers or snowboarders, propose at the top of the black diamond run.
13. At a Chinese restaurant, with the fortune in the cookie asking her to marry you.
14. In a box of M&Ms with “marry me” printed on the candy
15. Flying together? Let the flight attendants know ahead of time, then tell your girlfriend you are going up front to get some water. Then, have the pilot or attendant make an announcement: “Hello everyone. We have a special guest on board today, (your girlfriend’s name here) sitting in seat C, row 11. Then, you’ll come out from hiding, get on the microphone, and tell her how much you love her, then propose 30,000 feet in the sky! Have the crew pass around bubbly (7-Up will do) and celebrate with everyone on board.
16. On Christmas Eve, in front of the tree.
17. In front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland
18. At the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, over a glass of champagne at the top floor lounge at sunset.
19. During a gondola ride: Venice, Italy, Naples in Long Beach, California, or at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. All romantic!
20. When your favorite singer or band is in town, propose just before your favorite song is sung.
21. New Year’s Eve, at a party with all your friends and family.
22. Propose at a concert at Hollywood Bowl. Don’t forget the picnic and a bottle of bubbly!
23. If you are both golfers, have a ball imprinted with “marry me”. Give her the ball to put on the tee, but have her “inspect” it first. Then, open the golf ball-shaped ring box when you get down on bended knee.
24. Arrange to go on air with her favorite radio DJ, and have her listen on her way to work when you propose.
25. Have a wine tasting party at your house, with all the bottles covered up. Then, have her unwrap the bottles and have her tell everyone what type of wine they were drinking, and one of the bottles will have a label that reads “Will you marry me?”
26. Hire a friend to take photos of you both just for fun. Then, surprise her by getting down on one knee and proposing. You’ll have photos you’ll both cherish forever.
27. On the big screen at your favorite sporting event.
28. Take the tram ride from Palm Springs to Idyllwild and propose on the way up
29. During the water show in front of Bellagio in Las Vegas
30. Go to your favorite karaoke place and sing your favorite love song. Then, as the song ends, ask her to come up to the front, then propose in front of everyone!
31. Carefully open a box of Cracker Jacks, steam open the prize packet and place the real engagement ring in and re-glue packet and box. Casually give her the box of Cracker Jacks during a movie and watch closely as she opens the prize.
32. U2 fans? Propose at Joshua Tree National Park
33. Pop the question during “Say You Love Me” at any Phantom of the Opera production
34. Create a “proposal” web site, then turn it into your “engagement announcement” after she says yes.
35. Have a professional videographer follow you for an hour, under the premise that he or she is earning credits towards a film degree and needs to get footage at the park or on a beach. As the camera is taping a casual conversation, start to talk about your love for her, read a poem, and then get down on one knee and propose. You’ll have this precious moment caught on film, to share with your family & friends.
36. Take out a small ad in the newspaper, in a section she always reads, and write out your proposal. (Good idea to have a talented friend help with design.)
37. Hide her ring in a bouquet of flowers, with the note providing a clue that there is something unique about this arrangement.
38. Hire a car service that has classic cars such as vintage Rolls Royces, and drive around to romantic areas for an hour. Have the driver stop at a place that holds special meaning and propose. Then, spend the second hour of your elegant drive cuddling and enjoying your first hour as an engaged couple!
39. Propose in the lounge of a romantic restaurant over a champagne toast. The next big surprise will come when you are seated at your table, and you pre-arranged to have her closest friends and family members there to celebrate in the engagement dinner.
40. Write your own proposal poem, and put it in a book that has her favorite poetry.
41. Hide her engagement ring in a box of delicious chocolates!
42. Work with a local community cable network to film a 30 second proposal that they’ll broadcast for a small donation on the leased access channel in your community. (Sometimes they charge only $100 or so and they’ll run your “television spot” multiple times for everyone to see again and again.)
43. Spell out your proposal during a mock-game of Scrabble
44. Have the engagement ring store place the ring you selected in a case, with her name and “Will you marry me?” on the tag. Then, invite her to the store “just to look” and have the associate walk you to the case with this special proposal, followed by champagne and cake.
45. Make her guess: for her birthday, give her a giant box, wrapped up. Have smaller boxes within each big box, so she has to unwrap multiple boxes before getting to the small box that contains the ring.

Need help planning your very own Perfect Proposal? Visit a Robbins Bros., World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store in California: Los Angeles (Glendale, San Fernando Valley, Torrance); Orange County (Fullerton, Mission Viejo); Riverside/San Bernardino (Montclair); and San Diego. In Texas: Houston (Willowbrook/Champions, Baybrook/Webster, and near the Galleria); Dallas: (near the Galleria -opening mid-November 2006.) Call 1-800-610-RING.