The World of Diamonds – Not as Hard as It Seems
*Collaborative post
Those who have been there, can attest to the fact that when the time comes to buy an engagement ring, it is one of the best and most stressful times of your life simultaneously. Does being all fired up to buy an engagement ring, but not knowing where to start, sound familiar? Let me help you in making one of the most important decisions of your life.
What to consider
Other than the diamond, the metal into which it will be set is the second most important thing when considering the parts of an engagement ring. Platinum is a very hard metal, and is unlikely to wear down as quickly as softer metals will. While white gold looks similar to Platinum, it is important to remember that it will wear down more quickly than Platinum. Try to avoid silver entirely when it comes to engagement rings, as it is far too soft.
Money Talks
With the onset of the wedding chapter in your life comes great financial layout. From organising accommodation for out-of-town guests, to booking and paying venues, and finding a cheap engagement ring with that falls within the overall budget can definitely give you sleepless nights.
The four C’s
Although they are not the be-all and end-all of ring shopping, the 4 C’s are a great guideline to help you shop for an engagement ring, and to ensure that you get bang for your buck when it comes to purchase time.
In a nutshell, this is how the 4 C’s work:
The Cut is the most important factor when determining a diamond’s brilliance and overall quality. The four cut grades are ideal, very good, good and poor. The higher the grade the better the sparkle on the stone. Diamond clarity refers to its natural inclusions or purity. Small inclusions are barely visible with the naked eye, but if I can be seen unaided, the value of the stone goes down.
Colour is measured on a scale that ranges from D to Z. A D-grade diamond has no colour or tint in it whatsoever, and is considered to be the most desirable. A D-grade diamond will look pure, even under very strong magnification. Carat refers to the weight of the individual diamond, as well as its size.
Not all stones are created equal
Although Diamonds are by far the most popular stone to include in an engagement ring, they are by no means the only kind. Although a round brilliant diamond probably comes to mind when you think about engagement rings, there is nothing stopping you from pursuing sapphires and rubies, or even emeralds, in the construction of the perfect engagement ring.
Size Matters
It’s very difficult to get the exact measure of someone’s finger size without making them wonder what’s going on. Make sure what your future spouse’s finger size is, before committing to a final ring size, as most jewellers, even those who sell cheap diamond engagement rings, will only offer one resizing free of charge.