Diamonds Are Forever
Although all sorts of precious and semi-precious stones make their way into engagement rings these days, there is still something to say for the timeless glitter of a diamond. A lot of couples still choose diamonds for their engagement rings. As they say: Diamonds are a girl's best friends.
Unfortunately for the novice buyer, buying a diamond can be somewhat bewildering. What's more, all diamonds aren't created equal. Be sure not to buy just any old rock but carefully look at the features of the stone. The quality of a diamond is measured by its cut, carat weight, clarity and color; also know as the 4 C's.
The Cut refers to the the shape and the proportion of the facets of a diamond cut. Better proportioned facets will reflect more light and give the diamond a brilliant sparkle. A good table percentage is between 55-60%. Diamonds with a better cut are worth more, even though you might not be able to distinguish between them once they've been set in a ring.
Carat is the weight of the diamond in carats. The larger the carat weight, the bigger the diamond. Although sheer size may be impressive, a major flow or crack can really break you heart. Don't go overboard on carat weight and ignore too many other variables. When buying a diamond, get a certificate with an accurate point size.
Clarity is a measure of “purity� of a diamond. It ranges from a flawless diamond (one that is clear throughout) to I3 (a diamond with impurities that can be seen with the naked) eye. Diamonds with higher clarity is significantly more expensive. Really flawless diamonds are rarely used in consumer jewelry, but don't compromise too much. Especially if you can see flaws with the naked eye or a small magnifying class.
Color is the actual color of the diamond that ranges from a sparkly white to yellow and black. White diamonds are usually used in jewelry. The closer the diamond is to a pure white the better. Yellow diamonds look less attractive and are worth less.
In the diamond world size is not everything, and you should get advice from a few different source before making a purchase. Always make sure that your diamond is properly certified (it is a small inconvenience for such a major purchase).
The last thing to too keep in mind is that the entire package of ring and diamond makes a big difference. Talented jewelers can perform wonders with metals and diamonds of any size. If you settle for a slightly less expensive diamond in a superior ring setting the end result might be better than a huge rock in an ugly mounting.
Unfortunately for the novice buyer, buying a diamond can be somewhat bewildering. What's more, all diamonds aren't created equal. Be sure not to buy just any old rock but carefully look at the features of the stone. The quality of a diamond is measured by its cut, carat weight, clarity and color; also know as the 4 C's.
The Cut refers to the the shape and the proportion of the facets of a diamond cut. Better proportioned facets will reflect more light and give the diamond a brilliant sparkle. A good table percentage is between 55-60%. Diamonds with a better cut are worth more, even though you might not be able to distinguish between them once they've been set in a ring.
Carat is the weight of the diamond in carats. The larger the carat weight, the bigger the diamond. Although sheer size may be impressive, a major flow or crack can really break you heart. Don't go overboard on carat weight and ignore too many other variables. When buying a diamond, get a certificate with an accurate point size.
Clarity is a measure of “purity� of a diamond. It ranges from a flawless diamond (one that is clear throughout) to I3 (a diamond with impurities that can be seen with the naked) eye. Diamonds with higher clarity is significantly more expensive. Really flawless diamonds are rarely used in consumer jewelry, but don't compromise too much. Especially if you can see flaws with the naked eye or a small magnifying class.
Color is the actual color of the diamond that ranges from a sparkly white to yellow and black. White diamonds are usually used in jewelry. The closer the diamond is to a pure white the better. Yellow diamonds look less attractive and are worth less.
In the diamond world size is not everything, and you should get advice from a few different source before making a purchase. Always make sure that your diamond is properly certified (it is a small inconvenience for such a major purchase).
The last thing to too keep in mind is that the entire package of ring and diamond makes a big difference. Talented jewelers can perform wonders with metals and diamonds of any size. If you settle for a slightly less expensive diamond in a superior ring setting the end result might be better than a huge rock in an ugly mounting.
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