When it comes to jewelry, diamond rings are the best. They make every moment and every event extra special and memorable. No wonder most jewelry lovers choose them to mark their special occasions.
Finding the right ring is essential, whether you want to get a diamond ring for your engagement, as a gift for a loved one, or a treat to yourself. But this can be a tedious task considering all the styles, sizes, designs, etc., available for you to choose from in the market. Therefore, shopping with the best jewellery experts available in your location is vital.
In this article, you’ll discover a few tips you can follow to find the perfect design of a diamond ring.
1. Consider the 4 C’s
When buying a diamond ring, there are four diamond distinguishing features you will need to consider: cut, clarity, color, and carat. These are known as the 4 C’s of diamonds. They define the appearance, price, and quality of your diamond ring.
I. Cut
Cutting diamonds is an art aimed solely at enhancing the beauty and the radiance of the stone. There are various ways to cut diamonds, and each method creates different facet patterns, accurately designed to maximize how the gem reflects and refracts light.
Ii. Color
The quality of a diamond is, in general, determined by its lack of color. Pure diamonds are the brightest, whitest, and have the most flawlessness. But naturally colored diamonds have become more fashionable in the recent past. Certain specific colors are exceedingly rare and valuable.
Iii. Clarity
All diamonds have imperfections, but the number of flaws in a diamond, type of inclusion, and location, are the things that matter to determine the overall clarity.
There are several types of inclusions including, needles, pinpoints, crystals, etc. Inclusions can either be black or white carbon.
Diamonds are of different classes depending on their clarity grade. The clarity grade varies from flawless (FL) to Included (I).
Below is the complete diamond clarity grade starting from the most perfect to the most imperfect
- Flawless (FL)
- Internally Flawless (IF)
- Very Very Slightly Included (VVS)
- Very Slightly Included (VS)
- Slightly Included (SI)
- Included (I)
Clarity determines how valuable your diamond ring is. The fewer the flaws, the more valuable it is. The reverse is true.
Iv. Carat
Carat is the unit that measures the weight of diamonds, not the size as some people would assume. One carat diamond is equivalent to 0.2 grams. Two diamonds of the same carat weight but have different shapes can be very different in size.
2. The Shape Matters
The shape is another factor you need to consider when buying a diamond ring. It would really help to know what diamond shape you, your significant other, or any other person wants to make your search easier. Each diamond shape has a different price. The price per carat is also different.
Round-shaped diamonds are more popular and more expensive compared to fancy-shaped diamonds. There are several reasons for that;
- They have a higher market demand
- They are costly to manufacture
- Their incredible radiance
Fancy-shaped diamonds are of many different types. Examples include princess, heart, oval, radiant, cushion, emerald, marquise, asscher, and pear shaped diamond rings. They are more affordable than round diamonds, and their quality is also good. In reality, if you choose fancy-shaped diamond rings, you can save 25% or more in price.
3. Think of the Metal
The other key factor to consider when purchasing a diamond ring is the metal used to make the band. Many people often overlook this component though it is equally important as any other part of the ring.
Below are metals you can expect to see
- Platinum
- White Gold
- Yellow Gold
- Rose Gold
- Silver
Factors you might want to consider to choose a specific metal for the band are
- Color of the metal
- Your skin tone or that of the person you intend to buy the diamond ring for
- The durability of the metal material
- Your budget
4. Think of the Diamond Ring Setting
Many people focus solely on the diamond when choosing a diamond ring. They forget that a beautiful diamond ring is not just about the diamond but a combination of several key components, which make a whole. The setting is one of those components. It is the basic structure of the ring. The diamond will sit on this structure, providing context, stylish additions, and the appeal of your chosen ring at a whole new level.
In general, diamond ring setting comes in four different forms, which include;
- The solitaire
- Three stone
- The halo
- The cluster
Conclusion
Buying a diamond ring is not a task that anyone should take lightly. It is neither a task that anyone should take without commitment, passion, and above all, confidence. Just like most things, once you find that ideal diamond ring you are looking for, then nothing else could possibly be good enough. When that happens, you’ll know.
Consider this your ultimate guide the next time you want to buy a diamond ring.