The process of choosing an engagement ring is a lot more complicated than you might think. The ring is one of the most important symbols in our culture, and it’s a tradition that goes back thousands of years. But if you want to make sure your proposal is successful, there are some things you need to do first—like finding the perfect diamond.
Whether you're buying a diamond for yourself or someone else, knowing how to choose the best ring is important. Diamonds are beautiful and have been treasured for thousands of years, but they can be difficult to understand if you don't know what you're looking at. In this guide, we'll cover everything from budgeting to choosing a setting so that when it comes time to buy your engagement ring—or just look at some pretty diamonds—you'll be ready with an expert eye!
You've found the ring of your dreams, but before you can say "yes," you have to figure out how much you're willing to spend. Setting a budget is the most critical step in selecting an engagement ring because it will help determine which diamonds are available and make sure that your purchase fits within your means.
To start, consider what size diamond you want and how much money is already set aside for the purchase of such a valuable piece of jewelry. There are several factors that go into determining how much a diamond should cost—such as cut, clarity and color—but we'll focus on three: carat weight (the size), color grade (the amount of yellow tint) and clarity grade (the amount of visible imperfections). The rule-of-thumb for pricing is 1% per point in carat weight increase; therefore, a one-carat diamond costs about 10% more than a half-carat stone would cost if both were flawless with no color or clarity issues affecting their value. As for grading scales like Colorless IF (Internally Flawless) versus Slightly Included I1-I3; Very Good vs Good Wearable Grades... well those aren't supposed to be taken literally!
Choosing a diamond shape is one of the most important decisions you will make when buying a diamond engagement ring. Diamonds come in many different shapes, from round to princess cut, pear cut, oval cut and emerald cut. The most popular diamond shapes are round and princess cuts because of their versatility for both classic or modern styles.
A round-cut diamond is best suited for those who prefer a more traditional look. Its brilliance and sparkle can be seen in all directions equally well. This makes it perfect for someone who prefers minimal adornment or has small hands since they provide an elegant sparkle without being overpowering on your hand.
A princess cut is another popular choice that provides just as much shine as its counterpart but with more added style due to its pointed corners and edges; this makes it easier to pair with other jewelry pieces such as earrings or necklaces than other shapes like rounds do not allow (elements such as these tend not work well together).
For those who want a more modern look that has just as much sparkle as the round-cut, an emerald cut diamond is the way to go. Its elongated shape gives off a prism effect which allows for more light refraction than other shapes.
A marquise cut diamond is another popular choice for those who want something different than the standard round or princess cuts. Its elongated shape makes it a great option for someone who likes to stand out or has small hands since it provides an elegant sparkle without being overpowering on your hand.
From a practical standpoint, there are several reasons why someone would want to buy a diamond engagement ring. For example, it is well known that diamonds are one of the hardest substances on Earth and can last for years if not centuries without losing their shine or luster. A quality-cut diamond will also retain its brilliance no matter what type of setting it is placed in; this makes them perfect for both everyday wear as well as special occasions like weddings or anniversaries (where they can be worn every day).
The metal of your ring is important because it will determine the durability of the ring. There are many different metals, ranging from white gold to platinum. If you want a durable engagement or wedding band that will last a lifetime, choosing a white gold ring is your best bet. White gold is also less expensive than other metals like silver or platinum.
The setting of your diamond also determines how secure it is. The setting should be made out of strong material that can hold up to daily wear and tear without breaking down over time. If you want to ensure that your diamond stays in place for years to come, choose an engagement ring with a four claw setting which has holes drilled into each claw so it can hold onto both ends of the diamond securely without slipping out easily (like a prong).
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, consider buying an engagement ring with a prong setting. Prongs are less secure than claws but they are also less expensive and easier to repair if damaged.
Clarity is the ultimate measure of how free from inclusions or blemishes a diamond is. A flawless diamond will have no visible inclusions at all, while a diamond with high clarity will have only very small ones that can only be seen under magnification.
Inclusions are tiny imperfections within the stone; they are often caused by defects during its formation, or by foreign particles that got trapped inside it when it was cut off of larger pieces of rough. Blemishes are surface marks or scratches on the diamond (such as those caused by polishing).
Diamonds with higher clarity ratings can cost more because they’re rarer than lower clarity diamonds and require more skill to cut them into perfect gems—but even if you opt for an inexpensive ring, make sure your prospective engagement ring comes with some kind of warranty against cloudiness or other flawsthat could affect the beauty or durability of your diamond.
The cut of a diamond refers to the shape and proportions of its facets, which determine how light bounces off of them and into your eyes when you look at it. A well-cut stone will sparkle brightly and reflect light back towards you in a way that makes it appear larger than it actually is (this is called “fire”). The most popular cuts are round brilliant and princess cut; both are easy to recognize by their ball shape
When choosing the color of your diamond, you should consider its color in relation to what type of jewelry you plan on wearing it with. For example, choosing a yellow or an orange colored stone for an engagement ring will look best when paired with a gold band. On the other hand, if you have chosen white gold as your engagement ring material and are looking for a diamond with more sparkle, then champagne diamonds may be the way to go. The same rule applies to wedding bands as well; if you are opting for platinum instead of gold as part of your wedding ceremony ensemble, then champagne or cognac colored stones would complement it better than yellow or orange ones would (unless those happen to be flattering colors against your skin tone).
Ready to sell your diamond and get the best price? Let Diamond Registry's global connections and expert team help you find the perfect buyer. Visit www.diamondregistry.com/sell-your-ring now to get started. And don't forget to use our trusted diamond price calculator to instantly check and calculate the value of your diamond per carat.
Want to check and calculate diamond per carat instantly? Go to DR’s diamond price calculator to know how. Reliable and trusted carat calculator in the diamond industry since!
