Diamond engagement rings can be among the most costly purchases that you will ever make. Such a ring is supposed to last a lifetime. With the right information you will be able to spend your budget on the perfect diamond through your newfound ability to pinpoint quality diamonds.
When first looking at diamond engagement rings you will need to choose the shape. Find a shape that she will like. You can choose from round, oval, princess-cut, emerald-cut, Asscher-cut, marquise-cut, radiant-cut, pear-shaped, and heart-shaped diamonds. The majority of diamonds that are cut today are set with a round diamond. The second most popular shape is the princess-cut diamond.
The next thing you need to consider when finding diamond engagement rings is the size of diamond your intended fiancé would like. You will find a large range of diamond sizes are available within a given budget.
And of course, you’ll need to ascertain the quality of the diamond. It is important to be educated in the buying of diamonds so you know exactly what your money is going towards.
First look at the cut. The cut of a diamond has the biggest affect on how much it sparkles. This is also called brilliance. Even with the perfect color and clarity, if the cut is poor, it will make the diamond look very dull.
The second thing to look at when buying a diamond ring is the color. Colorless diamonds are the most highly valued and are priced accordingly. When looking for the best value, you should choose a colorless or near-colorless diamond that has no apparent color, in the grades of D-J.
Third, you should look at the clarity of the diamond. Diamonds that are completely free from internal flaws or inclusions are very rare and highly valued. The highest level of diamond clarity is a diamond with no inclusions visible, even under magnification.
The last thing you should consider when attempting to find the perfect diamond is the carat weight. Because larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds, the diamond value rises exponentially with that carat weight. If you have a clear understanding of cut, color, and clarity, you can balance the overall quality of the diamond to get the most perfect one.
The most important step in choosing diamond engagement rings is evaluating the diamond certificate, referred to by diamond grading labs as a grading report. A grading report documents the characteristics of a diamond, like the four C’s (color, cut, clarity, and carat. Before purchasing a diamond, look over a copy of its grading report, because it is your personal guarantee of quality for that diamond.
Diamonds are the hardest matter on earth. They are distinctively resistant to damage by heat or scratching, and can be cut or polished only by another diamond — but an enormously hard blow to the girdle can cause a diamond to chip. By having your diamond set in a relatively protective setting, and remaining conscious of it on your finger, you can keep your diamond intact for a lifetime. Exposure during normal wear to perspiration and household chemicals, like chlorine and hairspray, can cause buildup that dulls the surface of a diamond. You should have periodic cleanings to keep the diamond brilliant and refractive.
A solution of part ammonia and parts water can be used to clean diamond jewelry at home. If you are going to clean it, use this solution and a toothbrush and it will increase the brilliance of the diamond. Jewelry should be stored in a soft cloth that will prevent it from being worn or from scratching other jewelry.
By Jessica Maughan