All About Diamonds

Choosing a diamond engagement ring can be a daunting experience, especially for those who don’t know much about precious gems. Diamond shopping doesn’t need to be that hard. Keep these pointers in mind and you’ll get the best diamond at the best price.

Remember the four “C’s”

• Cut – The cut is the way the stone is cut and determines its brilliance and beauty. The more facets or faces of the cut stone, the more reflection of light it will allow, making it appear more sparkly. A brilliant cut diamond has 58 facets and is usually the most radiant type. The shape is different from the cut and different shaped stones can be cut differently.
• Color – Color is determined using a grading system that uses the alphabet. A “D” grade is the most colorless stone available while a “Z” grade has a yellowish or bluish cloudy tint.
• Clarity – Every diamond has small imperfections inside the stone. They may be tiny cracks or spots called inclusions. The outside can have chips or scratches. The higher the clarity, the more money the diamond is worth. Some imperfections are expected but may not be seen with the naked eye. Jewelers have a classification system to grade diamond flaws. These range from flawless (FL) to imperfect (I). Imperfect stones may have visible flaws and are lower in price.
• Carat – The weight of the diamond is measured in carats. Each carat has 100 points. For example a stone that is ¾ of a carat is 75 points. Always ask for the total weight in carats.

Stick to your budget

Before you start shopping for the diamond, have a price in mind. Make sure that you don’t let yourself get talked into something that you can’t afford. Retailers may try to guilt you into purchasing a ring that is out of your price range. Never purchase a ring under these circumstances. A good jeweler will help you find a diamond that is within your spending limits. Always get an appraisal with your ring.

Shape Matters

Find a shape that your fiancé likes and stick to it. Diamonds come in many various shapes. The most common are round, marquise, oval, pear and emerald shaped. Other, smaller diamonds may be used around the stone. These will add to the total carat count of the ring. It is usually advisable to put your money into one larger stone than many smaller ones.

Settings

Diamonds can be mounted into gold, white gold or platinum. If you want a silver tone ring opt for white gold or platinum. 18 karat gold is brighter than 14 karat gold but is not as hard and is more expensive. Always choose a setting that will hold the ring properly. It should be thick enough to take years of constant wear. Many engagement rings come in a set with a matching wedding ring that may even lock onto the engagement ring.