The engagement ring is a classic piece of jewellery. Both simple and elegant it remains a very popular choice. You may consider, therefore, that its selection is an easy matter. Well, it’s not! If you want a ring that is bound to impress the next years, there are some things that you have to take into consideration before your final decision.
The design of an engagement ring can be classic or modern, cute, bold, simple or sophisticated. In every case, what your partner likes is the first “obstacle” you have to overcome. Obviously, if you choose the engagement ring together, this makes the whole process easier – your partner will tell you what she likes. But for the more traditional and romantic types who plan to kneel in front of her in order to propose her, the choice becomes a bit more complex. Don’t panic, however! Here are some simple advice that will help you find the perfect engagement ring and make your girl say a cordial and heartwarming “Yes, I do!”
1. Look at what she already wears
Have a look at the rings that she often wears as these will be a good indication about the style she prefers for her daily outings. Keep in mind that the rings she may wear on a special occasion or because they are in fashion may be misleading and distort the whole picture. Because she likes to wear a particular ring for a night outing, this doesn’t mean that she may want to wear this kind of ring every day for the rest of her life.
2. Ask for help
You may want to use some secret weapons in order to find out your partner’s preferences, so why not ask from a close friend or a family member to look for information instead of you? This person must be somebody you trust that he/she will not reveal your intentions, so choose wisely. When you find this person, ask him/her to browse a catalogue or an electronic shop – like ours – with your partner and let her say what she likes and why. Finding out, for example, that your fiancé would like a princess cut diamond or that high quality is more important than size for her is invaluable information that you wouldn’t have learnt otherwise if you hadn’t asked directly, without spoiling the surprise.
3. Platinum or Gold?
The only thing you have to do to in order to find out which metal she prefers is to see the rings she usually wears. Mostly platinum? Yellow gold? Easy! This is your answer. However, there are some things you also have to take into account.
Firstly, if your partner already wears a ring either in the middle or in the ring finger, you have to find out the metal it is made of so as to match it with the engagement ring – and if it is gold, you have to know the carat. If you place rings of different carats one next to the other, the softer, gold ring will be worn away by the harder one within time. For this reason, it is better for the two rings to be in the same carats. However, even if she doesn’t wear any rings, you should know a couple of things about the differences in carats so as to make a wise choice.
Pure gold is extremely soft for jewellery production, so it is not very common. Therefore, in order to make it stronger and more resilient, metals are added. Gold in 9 carats doesn’t wear away easily and is cheaper because it has the most additives. The low percentage of gold, however, means that your ring won’t seem so beautiful and brilliant as it would be if it were in 18 carats. Gold in 18 carats is an ideal choice as it balances between beauty and durability, so that your ring will seem perfect for the next years.
4. Follow the beginner’s guide for the diamond choice.
There are a number of factors you have to take into account when choosing a diamond, but here is a simple guide which will help you choose one that looks wonderful and does not exceed your budget at the same time:
Color
While color D diamonds are absolutely colorless, all diamonds within DH range seem colorless to the naked eye and they have no discernible difference to the untrained. This means that you can choose a color at the end of the G/H and not at the end of the D/E scale, so you will buy a beautiful, colorless diamond at a lower cost.
Cut
A diamond cut can be classified as “ideal”, “very good”, “good”, “fair” and “poor” as cut grades relate to how close to the ideal proportions a diamond is. This is important because a finely cut diamond will capture and reflect light and the rainbow colors, something we expect from such a gem. For this reason, we suggest you accept only a “good”, “very good” or “ideal” diamond cut.
Clarity
Clarity refers to the degree to which some flaws are present on the diamond. Because diamonds are natural elements and are formed deep within the earth, they may have some flaws. The “flawless” diamond (FD) is at the top of the clarity scale. Diamonds of this kind are very rare, they seem absolutely perfect to the unaided eye and they are so clear that even a gemologist would have difficulty in finding imperfections even with a lens or a microscope. As with color, diamond flawlessness costs high but don’t worry. Diamonds within the VVS1 and 2, VS1 and 2, SI1 scale are also good and flawless to the naked eye, allowing you to choose one which is less expensive but still beautiful. Avoid diamonds in the S13, I1, I2 or I3 category as they have imperfections visible to the naked eye.
Carat size
This final factor is what affects the price most. For many people, when it comes to diamonds the biggest is the best. A lot of people think that the bigger the diamond, the more expensive it is but the pricing is a little bit more complex. A 2-carat diamond won’t cost twice as much as a 1-carat diamond of the same quality. Bigger diamonds are rarer than smaller ones and this rareness means that the price per carat increases according to the carat weight. Therefore, the price of a 2-carat diamond is higher than the double cost of a 1-carat diamond of the same quality.
If you try to buy the biggest diamond you can afford, pay attention to the cut, color and clarity as well. Remember that by reducing slightly the number of carats (from 0,54 to 0,51 for example) you will be able to choose better quality regarding color, cut and clarity. So your diamond will be somewhat smaller but it will be of a better quality – with the same cost. Also remember that if your diamond is color H or more, clarity SI2 or more and has a “good” or “very good” cut, you can choose whatever carat size you want and the diamond will be beautiful.
Now you are ready!
With some hidden action and some basic knowledge about diamonds and gold you will be perfectly ready to choose a ring that your partner will adore. Just remember that if the style of the ring reflects her taste and your standards for a well-constructed diamond are slightly above average, it is certain that you will make a good choice.
What are you waiting for? Start looking for the perfect diamond wedding ring for your true love!
