You’ve found the ‘one’ and think it’s time to propose, but you want to find the perfect diamond to make the engagement extra special and just don’t know where to start?
With so many different cuts and settings to look at, it can be hard to know where to start. Pair that with horror stories surrounding diamond sourcing and the confusion of certification, diamond shopping can be a complete minefield.
So, to make the process easier for you, we’ve put together our top tips to help you get started.
The Four C’s
Cut, colour, clarity and carat weight: these are the four things that every diamond is graded against. It’s these characteristics that shape the beauty of a diamond but the cut is potentially the most important. If the cut is excellent, it will reflect the most amount of light to optimise on sparkle, but if the cut is poor, it will have no sparkle. You’ll also want to spend time considering the carat weight as this will be dependent on your budget but will also influence the size of your mineral.
Shape
When you start shopping, you’ll find diamonds of all shapes and sizes. Key shapes include the round brilliant cut – this is the shape that will first come to mind when considering diamonds. Then you have the modern Princess Cut, sophisticated Emerald Cut and your romantic Cushion Cut among others. The main thing to consider here is the overall look you want to achieve – Romantic? Fashionable? Or sophisticated?
Setting
Then, to match your shape, you’ll want the perfect setting. The setting’s come with their own personalities and can define the overall look and feel of the ring. Solitaires are designed to hold one diamond only and can come in classic, vintage and contemporary styles. There are also options for multi-stone settings that can come in glamorous halo styles or even a three-stone style.
Certified
One of the most important factors when buying a diamond is confirming it’s certified. Without certification, you could be buying a diamond that is man-made or artificially enhanced. On your certificate, you should find information about its carat weight, colour and clarity grades along with girdle thickness and symmetry. And, if you’ve chosen a Round Brilliant diamond, information about the cut grade should also be included. It should also be certified by an internationally recognised diamond laboratory.
Ethically Sourced
It’s vital that you only buy ethically sourced diamonds. Conflict or bloodstones are traded to finance hostilities by rebel movements so always find a source that is moral and clean. With legal selling, the revenues are put back into communities, providing education, healthcare and underprivileged communities a reliable income.
Ring buying is an exciting time, so don’t let stress, confusion or concern ruin it for you. Focus on finding the perfect diamond for you and your other half while doing a bit of research and you should end up with a purchase that makes you both happy. For more support, while diamond shopping, visit: https://yourdiamondguru.com/a-guide-to-vvs-diamonds/
