If you are not a fan of jewelry yourself, do not let that get in the way of giving your fiance an engagement ring that she will treasure. This is not about you, it is about her. If you put in the time and effort to save up for and find the engagement ring of her dreams, she will love you even more. She will have dreamt of this ring for a long time, so you owe it to her to not make it a disappointment.
An engagement ring is a personal gift, but your fiance will also want others to notice it. She wants others to look and say ‘wow, I want one like that’. What follows is a short guide on what to consider to ensure that the diamond engagement ring that you choose has that wow factor…
Carat : Refers to the unit of weight for diamonds, with one carat being equal to 0.20 grams. It will depend on quality also but, generally, the more carats a single diamond is, the higher its value. Two half-carat diamonds taken together will not cost as much as one one-carat diamond, as the one-carat stone is more rare.
Color : It is a common mistake to think that all diamonds are the same color, or that all diamonds are colorless. Most diamonds that you will find in stores will have a slight yellow tint to them. A slight yellow tint is fine, as totally colorless are extremely expensive.
Cut : The symmetry, proportions, finish and polish are all of the utmost importance. It is easy to know a well cut diamond when you see it because it will literally sparkle. You can use your eye to judge this, but if you are paying a lot of money then ask for specific details too.
Clarity : A diamond engagement ring should be clear and pure. All diamonds are assessed and internal (inclusions) and external (blemishes) are noted down. There is a scale that you refer to, with F, meaning flawless, being at the top, and I3, meaning inclusions clearly visible, at the bottom.
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