Posted by admin Bridal Jewelry 0
Buying the perfect ring for your engagement or wedding is a daunting task. The size of the diamond is a big question to ask, especially since an engagement ring is a symbol of your relationship with your partner and it will hopefully stay that way for a long time. So how do you go about buying the perfect-sized diamond for your ring?
At first glance, it all comes down to your budget, really. It should be your primary concern how much you and your partner are looking to spend comfortably on an engagement ring. Of course, there are several finance options to spread your repayments over an extended period of time, so that you can go for a better option if you want.
There is a principle to diamond buying, popularized over the years in the jewelry industry, and that is the principle of the “4Cs” of diamond buying: Carat Size, Cut, Color and Clarity. So when you are buying, it really is not all about size; it is about mixing and matching all those elements until you get the perfect fit for your budget and aesthetic needs.
So think about it like this: if your partner is generally a fan of larger jewelry pieces, you may go for a larger carat size while still staying within budget by compromising on the other quality aspects like color and clarity. Or if your partner prefers something minimalistic or simple, you may go for a smaller diamond with better quality features that really make the diamond stand out. In the end, it all comes down to how you manage it.
You should know what your partner’s expectations are regarding the ring. Ask around; maybe her friends will know. Or try to figure it out yourself by the type of jewelry she already owns.
When a jeweler displays his diamonds, he will always be ready to help you out with any information you want and guide you through the 4Cs and give you his opinion. But if you really have something in mind, you can get a certified diamond. A certified diamond is a stone that has been graded by a gemological organization. In the United States, the popular certificates are issued by the Gemological Institute of America. Several other popular certificates exist, including HRD, IGL and EGL.
Now down to the specifics. When you are buying a diamond, girdle and spread are also two aspects to look at. If you are looking for a large-sized diamond, a thin girdle is the way to go. But be careful to not choose a very thin one, because diamonds with thinner girdles are just as vulnerable to getting chipped when being set in the ring.
Thinner girdles mean a better spread of the diamond, but the risk of it getting chipped is also present. So if bigger size is not really the preference, you can go for medium girdles, which reduce the spread and can add to the weight.
There’s such a thing in diamond terminology called “magic weight”. Magic weights are a half carat, three-quarters of a carat, one carat, one-and-a-half carat, two carats and so on. There are also such things as “under-sizes”. Under-sizes are nothing but carat weights marginally below the magic weights. If you want some kind of value for money, why not go for a 0.95 carat diamond instead of a one carat diamond? The difference is negligible, although the savings you can make are substantial.
In the end it comes down to: what does she want?
Do you have a lot of friends and tend to go to many social events and parties? Do you live in a place where lifestyle matters? What is her profession? All these questions are important when buying a diamond. So take care to evaluate everything before you buy her the perfect diamond, because, after all, it is a symbol of your love.
