Diamonds are a girl’s/women’s best friend; they are forever. These are two facts that will never change when it comes to diamond jewelry. A diamond ring, for instance, is the exemplification of beauty in jewelry, and if you want to appreciate a special person in your life, you can never go wrong with a diamond ring. As diamond jewelry can be expensive, you need to understand many things if you want to buy a unique diamond ring. You cannot just pop into a local jewelry store as you would for any other ring. You have to learn about the grading aspects of diamond quality (4Cs), ring styles, pricing, how to avoid fraudsters and much more.
If you want to find the best ring to impress someone, you need to learn as much as you can. In this article, you will get invaluable insight into what to look for when shopping for a high-quality diamond ring.
1. Start With The Carat Weight Of The Diamond
Whatever the ring style you choose, it is crucial to start by picking the best diamond available. One of the most important aspects to consider when buying a diamond for your ring is its carat weight. Note that carat is not a measure of the size of a diamond but rather the weight. The aspect will have the greatest impact on the overall cost of the ring.
Carat weight also determines the size of the diamond you buy hence the need to focus more on it. To get it right, consider what the recipient of the ring would like. If it is an engagement ring, a 1 carat diamond ring is the minimum standard, as every bride loves a big stone for the special occasion.
2. Determine The Cut Of The Diamond
If you want to buy and gift someone, the perfect diamond ring, take your time to buy a diamond that has an excellently cut. The quality of the cut of the diamond is the most important factor when shopping for a diamond for your ring. With the right cut, your stone reflects more light, adding to the sparkle of the ring. With the perfect cut in proper proportions, the light comes out of the table of the stone. It is thus advisable to go for a diamond with the highest cut your budget can allow.
3. Consider The Shape Of The Diamond
There are multiple shapes to choose from, depending on your preferences and the occasion. They include the round cut and princess shapes which are the most popular, Asscher cut, oval, marquise cut diamonds, brilliant-cut and pear-shaped diamonds, cushion cut, emerald cut diamond, radiant cut and heart-shape are among others.
The shape of a diamond can affect the price depending on the yield from the raw stone. Choose a diamond shape that suits the occasion and one that adds symbolic meaning to your relationship. The shape of the diamond should also suit the size and shape of the recipient’s finger.
4. Check The Color Of The Diamond
Color is also an important factor when buying that dream diamond ring. Diamonds are crystals, and if you want the best quality, you need that colorless look. The grading of the color of a diamond starts from Colorless (grades D-F), all the way to Z that includes even pale yellow diamonds. After the sparkle, color comes next, as this is what the eye notices. For this reason, avoid yellow stones and go for grade H and higher.
5. Choose for Optimal Clarity
In the 4Cs of diamond quality, clarity comes last and for a good reason. You see, diamonds are a natural material, and they will always have imperfections. Clarity grading is all about the visibility of imperfections or inclusions. The reason you should not worry much about such inclusions is that most are not visible to the naked eye. Do not pay through your nose for high clarity diamond whose difference is only notable through a lens in a lab. The ideal clarity grade is VS1 or higher, as inclusions are not visible.
6. Consider Third-Party Certification
When shopping for a diamond ring, look for the stone’s certification by independent third-party labs. The most trusted certifications are from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS). Do not trust in-house certifications done by jewelers because they are subjective.
7. Choose the Ideal Ring Style and Setting
When looking for a unique diamond ring, make sure you understand the common styles and settings that are available in the market. Choose a style that best suits the shape of the diamond you choose, and that the recipient of the ring loves.
Common diamond ring styles include solitaire, three-stone rings, halo rings, rings with a bezel setting, prong setting, channel setting, cathedral setting, tiffany setting, pavé setting, antique/vintage setting and many others. Look for a ring setting that is secure and allows the diamond to shine. The best setting should complement the brilliance of the diamond(s) you have chosen for the ring.
8. Choose the Best Metal For Your Ring
Once you have picked the diamond for your ring, you need to consider the best metal for the ring. The popular choices include yellow gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and titanium. Each of these has its unique characteristics, and your jeweler will help you learn more about them. Look for a durable and easy to maintain metal that does not cause allergic skin reactions.
There are various other things to consider when buying that dream ring; you need to find a reputable jeweler, create a budget and stick to it, look for inspiration from other rings in the market and research about the preferences of the ring’s recipient to know their favorite color, ring shape, and ring metal.
