A Guide To Purchasing Your Engagement Ring

=When shopping for an engagement ring (perhaps one of life\’s most important major purchases) there are a number of factors to consider. This handy guide should go some way towards helping you make an informed decision as we take you through the numerous options available and explain them in unpatronising detail. When selecting the diamond (or diamonds) for your engagement ring the major factors you\’ll need to take into account are the carat weight, colour, clarity, cut and shape of the diamond.

The Carat rating of a diamond basically refers to its weight, not its size, as some people wrongly believe. Carats are graded on a point system with 3 carats equalling 300 points, using this as a litmus test we can see that a 1-carat diamond is 100 points and a quarter carat diamond is 25 points. Clarity refers to how pure the diamond is in terms of inclusions and blemishes with flawless diamonds obviously worth more than noticeably flawed ones. The Colour meanwhile is rather self-explanatory, the more internal colouring there is on a diamond, the less pure it is and therefore the less it is worth. A diamonds colour and clarity are both graded on specific scales.

The Cut of the diamond is in deference to how well the diamond cutter carves the diamond and how that effects the finish of the diamond, the way it\’s angles match up and the general aesthetics of it including how well it refracts light. And finally the Shape refers to the outward appearance of the diamond, which can be shaped by a skilled cutter into any number of designs. The round diamond is the most expensive and popular but other less conventional shapes like the heart and the marquise are also popular.

Of course it\’s not just the diamond itself you have to think about when buying your engagement ring, the band itself and the way it compliments the diamond is of almost equal importance. The Style of your engagement ring can be customised into one of 3 main options. The most popular and conventional option is the \’solitaire\’, which sees a single diamond set into a sparse ring whereas for more elaborate tastes there are the \’trilogy\’ and \’shoulder-set\’ options to consider. The trilogy sets 3 similarly sized diamonds into a ring and the shoulder set compliments the main diamond with a dozen tiny ones studded around the ring.

Finally the way your diamond sets into your engagement ring needs to be considered with your options here being (mercifully) a little more limited. The basic \’claw\’ option refers to the fine metal clasps that hold the diamond into the ring and they come in 3, 4 or 6 claw options. The rub-over setting meanwhile sets the diamond into your engagement ring via a rim of fine protective metal that wraps around the stone. Other factors such as the type of metal used on the band (platinum, gold or palladium) also need to be taken into consideration but the diamond itself is of prime importance and with this guide you should have no difficulty in finding the right one for your fianc.

If you want know more about engagement rings be sure to visit Diamonds N Diamonds jewellery experts.

A Guide To Purchasing Your Engagement Ring