You've found the love of your life, which means the hardest part is finished. Choose the ideal engagement ring now, and make arrangements for a romantic marriage proposal.
The majority of people's first experience with fine jewelry is picking an engagement ring. As our family has been in the jewelry industry for more than three decades, we have assisted thousands of soon-to-be engaged couples in finding the ideal diamond engagement ring, and we continue to share our knowledge with customers on a daily basis.
Since Mary, Duchess of Burgundy, received the first diamond engagement ring from Archduke Maximilian I in 1477, the procedure for purchasing one has altered. With knowledge at your fingertips today, all it takes is a few simple keystrokes to begin looking for diamond settings and stones from other countries. There are still tried-and-true factors to keep in mind when looking for engagement rings, even though you have easy access to diamond inventory online.
Here are our top seven tips:
1. Know Your Budget The first step is to create a budget that fits your life stage and lifestyle. The industry has traditionally advocated a two-month compensation range. This seems a little dated now. It's ultimately a decision that you and your partner make jointly as you begin your life together. You may access an amazing selection of certified diamonds and compare rates when you do your diamond research online. You will therefore have a wide range of options within your means. Prioritizing the 4Cs—carat size, color, clarity, and cut—will help you reduce your options and choose the diamond that offers the best value for its size and the qualities you are looking for.
Once you've decided on a diamond, you may then combine it with a certain setting design to make a ring that is uniquely yours.
2. Start Considering Your Outfit Marilyn Monroe wowed audiences with her legendary performance of "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Of course, any diamond won't cut it. The majority of women are aware of their preferred diamond form. Some people will also have a preference for the metal type and ring setting design. You should pick a ring that not only expresses your love for her but also complements her sense of style and sense of fashion. Today, couples frequently go engagement ring shopping together. But if you really want to catch her off guard, you can think about asking one of her close friends or a member of her family to covertly gather the information you require.
Today, couples frequently go engagement ring shopping together. But if you really want to catch her off guard, you can think about asking one of her close friends or a member of her family to covertly gather the information you require.
Think about her style if you choose to go it alone. Is it traditional and subtle, outspoken and vibrant, or somewhere in the middle? She might prefer the conventional, round brilliant diamond form if she is a traditionalist. Pink or fancy yellow princess-cut diamonds can be the ideal option if her fashion is quite unique. To find out more about the many diamond shapes and beautiful colors, visit or Diamond Education.
Take note of her usual jewelry choices as well. Does she frequently don yellow gold, which contrasts beautifully with her skin tone? Or does she like shinier metals like platinum, white gold, or silver? This will show whether she has a preference for one color over another.
3. The common diamond forms include round, princess, emerald, asscher, radiant, cushion, marquise, pear, oval, and heart. You can narrow down your search by selecting a certain shape on Diamond.com.
The princess cut is the second most popular shape after the round brilliant. Your fiance will adore the round dazzling solitaire if she has traditional tastes. She might prefer an asscher diamond, which is a square emerald cut, or the emerald cut with its long, slender lines if her taste is minimalist and futuristic. To examine and discover more about the various shapes, visit our Diamond Education page.
Due to the decrease in price between platinum and gold over the past two years, platinum has become a more attractive option. The fact that platinum is the only precious metal used in fine jewelry that is up to 95% pure, making it hypoallergenic, is another factor for people with sensitive skin.
Among all the precious metals, gold is the most workable. Silver, copper, nickel, and zinc are alloyed with gold to provide it strength and endurance for daily wear when used in fine jewelry. In terms of gold content, 24 Karat gold is thought to be 100% pure gold. For quality jewelry, both 14K and 18K gold are suggested because they strike a compromise between strength and gold content. Both contain more than 50% pure gold, while jewelry made of 18K has a higher gold content.The many color tones of yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold are determined by the types of metal alloys employed and the amount of each. When choosing a gold color, one should also take into account one's skin tone and the color of the center stone, whether it is a canary yellow diamond or a colored diamond.
5. Evaluate Your Choices for the Setting The traditional solitaire, a sophisticated setting with sidestones, and a matching wedding set are three popular ring setting designs. Remember to think about the wedding band and how it will appear with the engagement ring when selecting the ring setting that the diamond will be fitted in.
5. Evaluate Your Choices for the Setting The traditional solitaire, a sophisticated setting with sidestones, and a matching wedding set are three popular ring setting designs. Remember to think about the wedding band and how it will appear with the engagement ring when selecting the ring setting that the diamond will be fitted in.
Due to the decrease in price between platinum and gold over the past two years, platinum has become a more attractive option. The fact that platinum is the only precious metal used in fine jewelry that is up to 95% pure, making it hypoallergenic, is another factor for people with sensitive skin.
Among all the precious metals, gold is the most workable. Silver, copper, nickel, and zinc are alloyed with gold to provide it strength and endurance for daily wear when used in fine jewelry. In terms of gold content, 24 Karat gold is thought to be 100% pure gold. For quality jewelry, both 14K and 18K gold are suggested because they strike a compromise between strength and gold content. Both include more than 50% pure gold, with 18K jewelry having a higher gold content.
The different color tones of yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold are determined by the types of metal alloys employed and the percentage of each. While choosing a gold ring, additional considerations include skin tone and the hue of the center stone, which may be a color diamond or a canary yellow diamond.
Among all the precious metals, gold is the most workable. Silver, copper, nickel, and zinc are alloyed with gold to provide it strength and endurance for daily wear when used in fine jewelry. In terms of gold content, 24 Karat gold is thought to be 100% pure gold. For quality jewelry, both 14K and 18K gold are suggested because they strike a compromise between strength and gold content. Both include more than 50% pure gold, with 18K jewelry having a higher gold content. The different color tones of yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold are determined by the types of metal alloys employed and the percentage of each. While choosing a gold ring, additional considerations include skin tone and the hue of the center stone, which may be a color diamond or a canary yellow diamond. This also gives men greater creative and personal freedom in selecting their own wedding bands.
Among all the precious metals, gold is the most workable. Silver, copper, nickel, and zinc are alloyed with gold to provide it strength and endurance for daily wear when used in fine jewelry. In terms of gold content, 24 Karat gold is thought to be 100% pure gold. For quality jewelry, both 14K and 18K gold are suggested because they strike a compromise between strength and gold content. Both include more than 50% pure gold, with 18K jewelry having a higher gold content. The different color tones of yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold are determined by the types of metal alloys employed and the percentage of each. While choosing a gold ring, additional considerations include skin tone and the hue of the center stone, which may be a color diamond or a canary yellow diamond. This also gives men greater creative and personal freedom in selecting their own wedding bands.
6. Make the Purchase A pressure-free environment is optimal for your shopping experience. Make a plan so you have enough time to research the qualities of diamonds and the factors that affect their price.
You should also be aware that every one of our diamonds comes from reputable suppliers and has been verified by the Kimberley Process, an international certification system that uses stringent criteria to regulate the production of rough diamonds and thwart the entry of illegal stones into the legal diamond trade. The most reputable grading organizations in the world, such as the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the AGSL (American Gemological Society Laboratories), and the IGI (International Gemological Institute), have also certified the quality of our loose diamonds, giving you and your fiancée peace of mind regarding both the social responsibility and the excellence of your purchase.
7. Before placing the ring on your partner's finger, one final step is to have it insured. Although your diamond's grading report has a wealth of information about its qualities, you'll need to have the worth of your ring assessed in order to determine insurance coverage. Every few years, you might even want to think about having the ring reassessed.
Get input from the bride-to-be
If you're being discreet, look at the jewelry she wears on a day-to-day basis; is it classic or vintage in style? Is she prone to wear larger pieces or dainty? The other option is to ask someone close to her, like a sister or a best friend, for insight.
Let's talk carats and points
As soon as you've decided shape, you need to look at the carat or weight of the diamond; carat is how diamonds and other precious gemstones are measured—in "carat" weight. One carat, for example, equals 1/5 of a gram.
There are 100 points in a carat and as points or carats increase, so does the price of the diamond.Determining the size of the diamond, and then the cut and color is really going to help establish your budget parameters.
Pick your color
According to Bob Hoskins, senior gemologist for Whiteflash.com, choosing the color of a diamond is the third most crucial decision in the selecting process. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Color Grading Scale is used to grade the color of diamonds, with D being the whitest and N and lower having pronounced yellow tones. According to Hoskins, who graded diamonds for the Gemology Institute of America (GIA) and instructed multiple courses on colored stones, "E and F have no visible color tones to the human eye." According to Hoskins, diamonds stay nearly colorless from the G to J range, but from J to M, you start to notice a very slight hint of yellow.
The cut - make and sparkle
How important is clarity and what are inclusions?
Establish a budget and stick to it
You should be able to create a budget or at the very least have a number in mind after determining the four Cs. As a general guideline, save two months' worth of salary. Gavin suggests looking at your alternatives for diamonds and settings to get a basic notion of what you'd like to spend if you're afraid to set a price.
Select a jeweler either online or in your neighborhood
Time to shop! Grades and fingerprints
Set the diamond
In order to locate the best deal within your budget, shop around and compare prices. You can contrast stones with comparable carat weights and quality traits by using certified diamonds that come with a GIA, AGSL, or IGI grading report.
Before deciding, be sure to research your jeweler's return policy and commitment to the Kimberley Process.
You should also be aware that every one of our diamonds comes from reputable suppliers and has been verified by the Kimberley Process, an international certification system that uses stringent criteria to regulate the production of rough diamonds and thwart the entry of illegal stones into the legal diamond trade. The most reputable grading organizations in the world, such as the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the AGSL (American Gemological Society Laboratories), and the IGI (International Gemological Institute), have also certified the quality of our loose diamonds, giving you and your fiancée peace of mind regarding both the social responsibility and the excellence of your purchase.
7. Before placing the ring on your partner's finger, one final step is to have it insured. Although your diamond's grading report has a wealth of information about its qualities, you'll need to have the worth of your ring assessed in order to determine insurance coverage. Every few years, you might even want to think about having the ring reassessed.
Get input from the bride-to-be
If you're being discreet, look at the jewelry she wears on a day-to-day basis; is it classic or vintage in style? Is she prone to wear larger pieces or dainty? The other option is to ask someone close to her, like a sister or a best friend, for insight.Let's talk carats and points
As soon as you've decided shape, you need to look at the carat or weight of the diamond; carat is how diamonds and other precious gemstones are measured—in "carat" weight. One carat, for example, equals 1/5 of a gram.
There are 100 points in a carat and as points or carats increase, so does the price of the diamond.Determining the size of the diamond, and then the cut and color is really going to help establish your budget parameters.
Pick your color
According to Bob Hoskins, senior gemologist for Whiteflash.com, choosing the color of a diamond is the third most crucial decision in the selecting process. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Color Grading Scale is used to grade the color of diamonds, with D being the whitest and N and lower having pronounced yellow tones. According to Hoskins, who graded diamonds for the Gemology Institute of America (GIA) and instructed multiple courses on colored stones, "E and F have no visible color tones to the human eye." According to Hoskins, diamonds stay nearly colorless from the G to J range, but from J to M, you start to notice a very slight hint of yellow.
The cut - make and sparkle
Of the four Cs, cut is the most crucial and, arguably, the most ill-defined and contentious. Gavin adds, "It's not only about the shape of a diamond. When we discuss "cut," we mean the precise dimensions, angles, symmetry, and polish that have an impact on how the diamond reflects light and sparkles.
Since the cut is the sole characteristic of a diamond that can be manipulated by a human and requires accuracy, diamond dealers also refer to it as "make." Each diamond's facet, or tiny plane surface, must be precisely cut to line up with the one across from it. Because this influences the diamond's propensity to sparkle, or what we refer to in the industry as "brilliance," Gavin says there isn't much room for error.
How important is clarity and what are inclusions?
The clarity of a diamond is measured using a grading system developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), or how clear the stone looks when magnified. The majority of diamonds have some crystalline cracks or uneven crystal development, called "inclusions."
From Internally Flawless (IF) to included, the Gemological Institute of America's GIA Clarity Grading Scale rates gems' clarity (I3). The greatest grades are Flawless (F) and Internally Flawless (IF), with VVS1 and 2 or very slight flaws coming in second and third. Hoskins states that these inclusions "are difficult to spot even with magnification."
Diamonds with a SI1 or SI2 rating will contain minute imperfections that can be observed under a microscope but, depending on the particular stone, may not be visible to the naked eye. According to Hoskins, grades I1, I2, and I3 denote inclusions that are visible both at close range and without a magnifying glass.
"Your level of comfort and affordability will determine the clarity of the stone you purchase," he explains. His words of wisdom: Because to the precision of the cut, inclusions are more difficult to discern in ideal cut and super ideal cut diamonds.
You should be able to create a budget or at the very least have a number in mind after determining the four Cs. As a general guideline, save two months' worth of salary. Gavin suggests looking at your alternatives for diamonds and settings to get a basic notion of what you'd like to spend if you're afraid to set a price.
Select a jeweler either online or in your neighborhood
Compared to the nearby neighborhood jeweler, you have more options. Independently owned shops, national chains, and now, because to the Internet revolution, online diamond shops like Whiteflash.com, are all available.
Make sure the jeweler is trustworthy and a member of the American Gem Society regardless of who you purchase from (AGS). Check with your local Better Business Bureau if you're unsure of the jeweler's reputation, advises Gavin. Additionally, you can check to see if the staff members are knowledgeable about diamonds, read customer reviews, and review the company's return and repair policies.
Time to shop! Grades and fingerprints
Make sure you will receive a grading report with your transaction before you submit the order. "Be sure the transaction is contingent upon an independent appraiser's assessment," recommends Gavin if a grading report won't be provided with your diamond.
Another choice is to request a diamond fingerprint. This three-dimensional representation of a diamond shows the four Cs as well as the stone's overall measurements and embellishments. Please note any omissions and flaws. Gavin adds, "After you receive the diamond, be sure it is the diamond you ordered by carefully reviewing all of the documentation, including the bill of sale and drawing.
Set the diamond
You must choose the setting if you bought a loose diamond. And the choices are limitless, just like diamonds. Think about solitaire, three-stone setups, or a unique creation.
If you decide to go the homemade way, Gavin and Hoskins both advise giving yourself four to six weeks before popping the question. If you're simply having trouble making a choice, propose with the diamond already selected and decide on the setting later — together!
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DISCLAIMER: Some of the photos, links, articles are not owned by the site, and/ or not being stored by the site. Comments are views expressed by the readers. www.the nextbridetobe.blogspot.com may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right of freedom to express.If you think we should remove those aforementioned elements due to copyright infrequent, feel free to tell us, and we will comply.
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