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Buy A Diamond Engagement Ring Without Making A Mistake
An engagement ring may be the single most important purchase that you make in your lifetime. No pressure, right? Ring shopping, particularly if the ring is a surprise, can be overwhelming because there is much you need to know to avoid making a poor choice. Before you begin consider a budget, quality, cut and style. Two months salary is the traditional guideline for how much you should spend; however, your circumstances and preferences should also be taken into consideration.
Diamond Basics: Diamonds are measured in carats, the unit of weight. The bigger the number, the bigger the diamond; however, biggest is not always best. Consider the size, shape, cut, and clarity of a diamond. What is the difference in cut and shape? Shapes are obviously round, oval, heart-shaped, square, rectangular, pear, marquise, etc. but the cut does not refer to shape. Cut refers to the facets cut into the diamond. Their purpose is to reflect light and give the diamond it's brilliance and sparkle. A diamond that is to broad and shallow or too deep and narrow will lack sparkle regardless of how much it weighs. The Round Brilliant diamond is by far the most common shape and cut but your soon-to-be wife's style may demand the bolder look of a square or elegance of a marquise.
Diamonds can also vary in color. Generally, the less color the better when it comes to the the diamond in an engagement ring, but some colored diamonds are quite rare and valuable. Watch out for stones that appear unflatteringly yellowish or cloudy. Clarity goes hand in had with color. Imperfections and flaws in the stones, although they may be imperceptible to the average person's eye, lower the value of diamonds.
Now that you have picked a diamond it's time to look at settings. The variety of styles is staggering. The solitaire set in yellow gold is possibly the most common setting. White gold, titanium, and platinum are also excellent choices. Be sure your setting has a sturdy set of prongs to hold the diamond in place. The beauty of the center stone is often accentuated with smaller stones. This is an easy way to make the diamond look bigger. A Bezel setting completely surrounds the center stone. When choosing the setting take your fianc's personality into account. If she prefers simple elegant clothing she will likely admire the same quality in a ring. Author: Lulu Dallas :: Hits: 8 :: Added: Thu Jan 03 2008 ::
