We often mark special occasions by giving something precious and jewelry is usually the gift of choice for personal milestones. Engagements, weddings and anniversaries call for more precious stones and for this reason a diamond is the stone of choice.
A diamond represents love, commitment and eternity; the main elements of a happy relationship. This is the reason why finding the right diamond is such an emotional affair. In order to choose the perfect diamond you must consider the band, the setting and the stone.
Here are the main things that you need to consider.
The Band
Bands can be made out of silver, white gold, yellow gold or platinum. It is not really practical or sensible to use silver bands with diamonds because silver just does not have the qualities to match it. If you especially like silver you could use white gold which looks similar but has better properties.
For a classic engagement band you can choose a solid metal to go along with a diamond solitaire. Today couples go for more elaborate rings which include some side stones as well but this is more costly.
The Setting
The setting or the part of the ring that keeps the diamond in place is the second consideration. The prong setting is the most common setting that is used for solitaire diamond rings. Each type of setting offers a different look so you must know beforehand the look that you want to go for.
The Diamond
Diamonds are forever; at least that’s what the song says. To find that perfect diamond that lasts forever you need to pay attention to the four characteristics outlined below.
Cut – The cut of the diamond refers to the finish, polish and proportion of the diamond. The cut determines the brilliance of the diamond.
Clarity – Clarity defines the purity or clearness of the diamond. Each diamond is given a grade. An “F” grade means that the diamond is flawless while an “I” means that the diamond has inclusions. Most diamonds fall somewhere in between these two grades.
Diamonds with inclusions are sometimes acceptable if the inclusions are not visible to the naked eye.
Color – Diamonds also receive a grade based on the color of the diamond which varies from yellow to white. Colorless diamonds are the more widely accepted diamonds and these are graded J, K and L.
Carat – Carat refers to the weight of the diamond. One carat is the equivalent of .20 grams and the more carats a diamond have the pricier it will get. Keep in mind that the other characteristics of the diamond also influence the price but carats have a significant bearing.
Shape
The shape while not part of the 4Cs is also another important aspect of choosing a diamond. The round diamond is the most traditional shape but there are other shapes as well. These include fancy cut diamonds like the oval, marquise, pear, heart, princess, emerald and cushion and asscher cuts.
Buying a diamond is an important purchase and should never be rushed. Take your time and even when you think that you’ve found the right diamond step back and give it some thought. The time and effort that you take to find the perfect diamond is worth it because the time that you take now could bring you a lifetime of happiness.
Which one of the four characteristics of a diamond matters most to you?
This content was created by AI