How to Buy a Diamond Ring for a Wedding
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and this is obvious from the fact that a diamond wedding ring is the one thing that most girls dream about. The way in which it sparkles can only show the charmed life that you are about to enter into.
The process of choosing a diamond does not have to be stressful just because you are buying something of great value.
Evaluating the Diamond
There are mainly 4 factors that define the value of a diamond. These are often referred to as the 4C’s. While there are gradations in each of the factors that can be documented in a certificate, the value of a diamond does not increase or decrease in steps that are extremely mathematical. Larger rocks are rare and therefore tend to be much more expensive that smaller ones.
- Color – This factor contributes to a large extent to the price of the stone. While there are other standards that are also followed, the GIA standard of grading color is the most popular. The letters D, E and F signify the best color in which the reflected light is pure white with no hint of yellow. Other letters used to grade color are:
o G and H – rare white
o I and J – nearly colorless
o K, L, M and N – yellowish tinge
o O, P, Q, R and S – light yellow tinge
o T, U, V, W, X and Y – brown hue
o Z – reserved for fancy colored diamonds like pink, blue, orange, purple or yellow
- Clarity – This C refers to the presence of spots or flaws in the diamond. When the crystal is growing beneath the earth (a process that takes thousands of years) there are other mineral traces that can get included. A diamond with a rating of F for clarity is considered flawless. Very very slight (VVS) inclusions, very slight (VS) inclusions, slight inclusions (SI) and imperfect (I) are other nomenclatures used to define the impurities in the stone.
- Cut – There are various kinds of cuts that are available in diamonds. This refers to the manner in which the rough diamond has been cut and the level of polishing that has been done. The right kind of cut can reflect and disperse light so that you get a dazzling effect. Some of the common ones include round brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, heart, emerald, princess, radiant, cushion, asscher and trilliant.
- Carat – Carat is the easiest of all C’s to categorize. It refers to the weight of the diamond. A carat is 1/142 of an ounce but it is also important to note that the carat does not indicate the visual size of a diamond and so a 0.97 carat diamond can look wider than one that is 1.03 carats. The price of the diamond also jumps at specific carat depending on the popular size.
While the above are the main factors that help you in assessing the value of the diamond, you also need to look at the date of the certificate that you are provided with the rock. Choose a stone that has a certificate that is not older than a year. The ones that do not have a date probably have a history of being set and worn and therefore may have inclusions that are not categorized in the certificate.
You must also look at the proportions of the diamond. Too narrow and the light may deflect from the side. Too deep and it may escape from the bottom. The proportions should be such that light reflects back from the stone to give you that dazzle.
Buying the Diamond Engagement Ring – Factors to Consider
Other than the right kind of diamond for the diamond ring, there are some other factors that you need to keep in mind as well.
- Budget – This is obviously something that you need to decide before you even start looking for a diamond ring. The price range of a diamond can vary to such a large extent that it is likely to be the first question that a diamond merchant or a jewelry retailer will ask you. The largest seller of diamonds, De Beers (http://www.debeers.com/), states that two month’s salary is a good amount to spend on a rock when you are deciding the budget.
- Diamond size – While this will depend to a large extent on the budget that you have, you also need to consider your lifestyle. If you have an active lifestyle, choosing a rock that is too large may actually cause inconvenience. In addition to that, the rock needs to look well on the hand and therefore a small rock on relatively larger hands may not be too visible.
- Setting – The setting of the diamond is another aspect that can accentuate the look of the frosting. Many brides choose channel setting that has a string of diamonds without any metal. The prong setting is a good one to have if you have a single large stone.
- Metal – Choose the metal for the ring appropriately. For an elegant look choose white gold and if you want to go all the way with the cost, platinum is one of the best choices available. Other kinds of settings include pave setting, tension setting and three stone setting.
If you are still having trouble making up your mind or deciding the kind of diamond ring that you want to buy, take a look at ChooseIt, a step by step guide that asks you the right questions to lead you to your own answer. Places where you can check out some designs before you actually go to the retail outlet include CaratLane, American Diamond, Tiffany and Harry Winston.
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