Buy A Diamond Engagement Ring Without Making A Mistake
Lulu Dallas
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.
Some important diamond basics: Carats are the unit of measure in which diamonds are weighed. While the size of the diamond you purchase is important, the biggest stones are not always best. You must also consider the shape, cut, and clarity of a diamond to determine it's value. Diamonds come in many shapes--pear, round, square, rectangular, marquise, oval and even heart-shaped. Cut does not refer to the shape, it refers to the number and angle of the facets cut into the stone. Facets reflect light and determine the diamonds sparkle and brilliance. A diamond that is too broad and shallow will not reflect as much light. A narrow deep diamond will have similar problems. The brilliant round cut in a yellow gold setting is the most common and one of the most attractive choices. Your significant other may prefer bolder and more daring shapes and settings so pay attention to her other jewelry and hints she may drop about her likes and dislikes.
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.
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