With the Engagement and the Wedding season coming up, I would like to share a few tips to keep in mind to buy that Perfect Engagement Ring! Here is the Ultimate guide :
Choose the shape of the stone
Knowing what diamond shape you want in your ring, helps focus to choose the right ring. Every shape (or cut) is priced differently. Round cuts are the most expensive whereas the Fancy shape diamonds such as Pears, Marquise, Ovals, Emeralds, Heart shape are less expensive. The most important step is to decide on the shape of the diamond.
Choose a Metal for Your Band
Traditionally, engagement rings are made from Yellow Gold, White Gold, Silver, or Platinum. Choose the type of metal which suits your design, lifestyle and budget.
Have a Carat Size in Mind
It is very important to keep the ideal carat size in mind. If you choose a less common carat size, you can save money. Diamond prices increase significantly when they weigh the most desired weights for eg: think half and whole carat weights (.50, 1, 1.5, etc.). โBuy a diamond that is just shy of these common weights, and youโll save money and no one will be able to tell itโs a .92 carat instead of a 1 carat.
Get Measured Correctly
Make sure to get measured correctly, the ring must not feel too tight or loose on wearing it, It must be very comfortable.
Be Smart About the Quality of the Color, Clarity and Cut
Colour is more important as carat weight increases because the colour is easier to perceive in a larger diamond. Ppt for G-H in diamonds over 1 carat, and I-J for those under 1 carat.
Save big by choosing the right colour that will still look colourless to the naked eye once set in a ring. Yellow metal makes slight amounts of yellow in a diamond less obvious hence you could even go down to a K colour, while White metal makes the colour in yellow diamonds more apparent, the suitable colours is I or J colour.
Clarity
The larger the diamond, the easier imperfections are to detect; therefore Clarity becomes more important. For diamonds over 2 carats, a clarity grade of VS2 or higher is the safest bet for avoiding any signs of visible inclusions. In diamonds between 1 and 2 carats, clarity grades of SI1 or better will not have inclusions easily visible to the naked eye.
In diamonds under 1 carat, clarity should be considered the least important of the traditional 4 Cs.
Cut
A cut grade is the most important factor in determining the overall appearance of a diamond. The cut of the diamond gives it that gorgeous sparkle, therefore a poorly cut diamond will seem dull even with excellent Clarity and Color.
For superior Brilliance, choose a diamond with a Cut grade of Very Good or Excellent for round diamonds, and Good or better in fancy shape diamonds. Make sure its Symmetry and Polish are Very Good or Excellent.
For those on a budget, primarily concerned with size, a diamond of Fair โ Good cut may be an acceptable choice, though the diamond will lack the scintillation and brilliance of a well-cut diamond.
Tip: Instead of investing in higher Color or Clarity, invest in higher Cut โ the most important factor in a diamondโs Brilliance.
Always Buy Certified
An engagement ring is one of lifeโs most expensive purchases, make sure you buy a certified stone from an accredited laboratory such as the American Gem Society or the Gemological Institute of America. Diamonds certified by the other labs can have inflated grades, giving the customer the illusion of getting a great deal, when in reality one has only gotten a lower quality diamond.
Make Sure the Certificate Matches the Diamond you buy.
Most of the stones are laser inscribed on the girdle with the certificate report number and this can be checked with a magnifying loupe. Many have inclusions so you can look at the diamond and see if you can match the imperfections to the map on the certificate too.
These were a few tips which should be kept in mind before purchasing Engagement Ring!