Well guys, if you’re anything like I was when I first went shopping for an engagement ring, the sum total of your knowledge is that it’s supposed to be a diamond and the bigger the better. Well, the bad news is you may not know as much as you think, neither of those things being strictly true, though they COULD be true. No need to worry, the good news is that I’m here to lay it all out for you. I’ve done the research, found the information and am here to impart it.
Some Engagement Ring Basics
The easiest and surest way to buy the perfect engagement ring is to take your intended along with you. Does that kill the romance? Perhaps but it results in a choice that she’ll love, and she’ll be wearing that ring forever! Still, this article is predicated on the idea that you’ll not be taking this particular piece of advice, so without further ado, here are some basic ring buying tips with which you need to be familiar.
First of all, the goal is to buy a ring that she will love, not like, LOVE. Again, she’ll be wearing this for the rest of her life. The best way to go about that is to model this new ring after jewelry that she already owns. Now is not the time to be trying something new and exciting; you want something that she’ll be comfortable wearing and that will match the jewelry she loves to wear.
For example, if the majority of the jewelry she wears is silver or platinum, you want to be sure and avoid a gold setting. If she has a thing for rubies, maybe a diamond is the wrong stone. I know that sounds odd, but it does happen. And if all of her jewelry is in a vintage style, you need to emulate that with the engagement ring.
Second, if you have any recently engaged friends, find out what your girl thinks about her friend’s engagement ring. What does she like about it? What doesn’t she like? If that’s not possible, take her into a jewelry store on some pretext or other and stop by the ring counter, you know, while you’re there. Let her look, and listen to every word that comes out of her mouth. Paying attention will give you a window into what she wants, and in this regard, you should definitely want whatever she wants.
The Diamond
The traditional gem choice is diamond of course, but it doesn’t have to be your choice. Some women aren’t fond of diamonds or just harbor a preference for another gem. Rubies or sapphires are both hard enough to hold up well to daily wear and tear. You should know your beloved’s desire by now, but if not, don’t be afraid to ask one of her friends. Just be sure to swear them to secrecy first. But since diamonds are the go-to gem for engagement rings, that’s what I’ll focus on.
Diamonds come in many shapes and sizes, not just rounded as is most prevalent, and, like so many things in life, all are not created equal. Bigger does not always mean better, nor does it always mean more expensive. Do I have your attention? You see, diamonds are judged by what people in the industry call the four C’s. These are:
- Cut – The precision with which the jeweler cut the diamond into its current shape. The better the cut, the more sparkle the diamond emits in light, even low light.
- Clarity – As it sounds, clarity is a scale determining how clear or devoid of imperfections a particular diamond happens to be.
- Color – This actually measures the lack of color. A high quality diamond is almost colorless while a lower quality gem will be tinted.
- Carat Weight – Yes, that’s right, carat merely refers to a diamond’s weight. It translates to size, obviously, but a big ugly diamond is still an ugly diamond.
Therefore, a larger diamond with poor cut, clarity, and/or color can be worth less than a smaller diamond with superior cut, clarity, and/or color. Think of a diamond’s value as a sliding scale with each of the four C’s making up a percentage. If all are maxed, the scale is maxed. If one is less than perfect, and they’re always less than perfect, the price declines relative to that flaw.
If you would like more information on this subject, and there is a lot more information to be had, you should check out the American Gem Society or GIA. Both sites are full of information about gems and how to purchase the best ones. If you are interested in more than just diamonds, or would like more information on diamonds, they are both excellent resources.
Knowledge is Power
All of this information is important to know, if for no other reason, than so you have some idea of whether or not you’re getting appropriate value for your dollar. Some flaws are so small they can only be seen by a machine, but those are not the ones which should concern you unless you are shelling out some serious money. Visible flaws are more important and, if they are present, should result in a lower price.
You can also use your new knowledge of the four c’s to discover if a particular aspect of the diamond is considered most important by your intended. Then you can find a diamond that meets her particular needs while still remaining inside your budget.
As you can see, buying an engagement ring is not a simple affair, but finding the right one for your beloved can be achieved with a little work. Regardless of the intense amount of effort you expend in the search, the look on your future fiance’s face when you offer her the right ring will make it all worth it. Just make sure that you take the time and make the effort if you’re doing it alone. This is the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with, and she’s worth it.
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