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Shopping for Diamonds
When buying loose
diamonds for engagement rings or wedding
rings, remember to start off with a budget. There is a modern
convention that the engagement ring should have a value equal to approximately
two month's salary. Once you have a budget, you can find out more
information on the type of loose diamond that you want.
Popular shapes for a center diamond stone are emerald, heart, marquise,
oval, pear, princess, radiant and round. The most traditional and
popular shape is a round diamond. A round diamond shows the most brilliance
and sparkle while also hiding imperfections because of its cut and
shape. The other diamond shapes are sometimes more expensive because
of the difficulty of cutting a diamond into various shapes. When picking
out a diamond shape, think of her style and preferences. Does she
like the traditional? Then a round diamond
solitaire ring would be a good style for her. Is she modern and
likes the more trendy style? A princess or emerald diamond shape may
be her favorite. Speak to her friends and do a bit of investigation
work; she may already have an ideal diamond ring in mind.
Study the Four C's, Cut, Clarity, Color and Carats, to be better informed.
The most important C is the cut.
The diamond
cut determines the brilliance of the diamonds. If a diamond is
poorly cut, the light is lost through the sides and bottom of the
diamond and there will be no radiance. When looking for a loose diamond,
look for an Ideal to Good cut. You can find more information regarding
diamond cuts in our Cut section.
The next C is color. Diamonds that are colorless or near colorless
are the most prized. When picking out a loose
diamond, look for stones graded D-H, which are colorless or near
colorless. For more information about color, look in our Color section.
The third C to think about is diamond clarity. Clarity is the clearness
of a diamond. The most valued diamonds are the clearest. When shopping
for a diamond, look for diamonds with grades from FL to SI2. Stones
from VS1 to S2 are the best value because they are lower in price
without too many inclusions. For more information regarding clarity,
look in our Clarity section.
The last C to look for is carat. The carat determines the size of
the diamond. Dollars per carat increase exponentially. A one-carat
diamond is worth more than several small diamonds that equal a carat.
When deciding on the carat size for diamond rings, think of the size
of the hand. If the hand is small, large diamond rings may look too
big and gaudy, but small diamond rings may look too small on big hands.
Determine the style and size of person who will be wearing the diamond
rings. They may like the subtle size or a larger size to show
off the diamond rings. For more information about carats, look in
our diamond carats section.
Once you have picked your
loose diamonds, you need to find the right diamond setting. There
are several types: bar, bezel, channel, chevron, invisible, pave and
prong. Each style is different and good for different reasons. Prong
settings are very popular because they display the diamond high and
beautifully. However, the bezel setting is better for those who are
more active because the diamond is more secured and less likely to
come loose. Look in our diamond settings section to find out more
information about the setting that's right for you.
Now that you have the shape, Four C's, and setting in mind, you can
go out and buy the perfect loose
diamond for your loved one. Remember to do some research and to
ask questions about the products when you are browsing. After your
hard work, you will be rewarded with a beautiful diamond ring at better
price and value.
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