The ultimate engagement ring buying guide

After you have considered the four Cs (color, cut, clarity, and carat) of the diamond you want to purchase for her, there remain several items you must think about before making that final step – the purchase.

Is she a solitaire or a cluster type of gal?

Will she like a pronged setting that catches on her clothes, annoying her to no end?

Or should you pick the smooth bezel setting, which is more of a modern trend?

What shape of stone do you think she’ll like?

Maybe she’s not even that much into diamonds. If that’s the case you could buy her something like a beautiful sapphire engagement ring.

Additionally, another engagement ring style trending at the moment is bluestone rings, which include blue agate, aquamarine, blue fluorite, hawks eye, and blue moonstone.

But if you’re set on purchasing a diamond, then this article is for you.

Whether or not you know a facet from a pavé, we’re here to give you some guidance in choosing her the perfect engagement ring. So, let’s jump straight in, shall we?

Fully understanding the four Cs

diamond ring
Photo: StockSnap, Pixabay

Before we get into other facets of choosing a ring, let’s refresh our knowledge about the four Cs just in case.

Colour

The colour of a diamond is graded on a scale ranging from D (which is colorless) to Z (which is a light yellow), with D being the color most people are looking for.

Some pricy exceptions to the rule do exist, such as those diamonds that possess a scarce greenish or reddish color.

Blues, yellows, and pinks are the most common color options out there.

Clarity

Clarity is defined as how many inclusions or tiny imperfections a stone contains.

These specks are only visible under a magnifying glass and are a feature of almost every naturally occurring diamond.

These inclusions are formed as a result of the diamond’s crystallization process under the earth’s crust. The only diamonds that don’t have inclusions are lab-grown diamonds.

Carat

The carat (ct) represents the weight of the stone in question and is one of the ways jewelers measure a stone’s value.

In most cases, the higher the carat number of a single stone, the more it will cost you.

A shallower cut diamond can give off a larger appearance than a deeper-cut stone that weighs more.

Selecting the shape of her diamond

A girl in a jewelry store tries on her finger a gold ring with diamonds on the background of a shop window. Woman jeweler. Buying and shopping.
Photo: Romsvetnik, BS

After the four Cs, it’s now time to choose what shape her diamond should be.

The shape of her diamond will be a matter of her preference, so it’s a great idea to find out or even take her ring shopping if you want.

Bellow is a short list of some of the most common diamond shapes.

  • This is a classic and timeless shape meant for a girl who likes it retro.
  • This is a square-shaped diamond and is trending at the moment.
  • This shape is graceful, featuring a tapered outline. It bespeaks elegance.
  • This is a diamond with an elongated shape, making it look sophisticated. An excellent choice for a girl who likes something unique.
  • This shape is unabashedly romantic and is a perfect symbol of your love for her.

Choosing the perfect style of engagement ring

sale, consumerism, shopping and people concept - happy couple choosing engagement ring at jewelry store in mall
Photo: Dolgachov, BS

When it comes to choosing the perfect style of an engagement ring for your bride-to-be, artificial intelligence (AI) just made things a lot easier.

Thanks to an LA-based jewelry company called RockHer Jewellery, you can now use their AI-powered “diamond search engine to find the perfect diamond for her.

This high-tech AI-powered diamond expert takes personalizing engagement rings to a whole new level.

RockHer believes couples should find a ring that is specially tailored to the gal’s particular taste and style.

The company also believes that you should get the ring you want without the hefty price tag most people have grown to expect in the diamond industry.

As for the AI diamond search engine: It’s called ROSI, and it’s powered by RockHer’s secret algorithm which considers a customer’s budget, their taste, and other preferences, including a diamond’s size and quality (the four Cs).

ROSI can evaluate millions of diamonds from around the world to determine which one is perfect for you.

Avoiding low quality and conflict diamonds

Expert help. Female jeweler showing engagement rings to a young loving couple at the store
Photo: Serhii Bobyk, BS

There are millions of diamond floating around the world. Some of those diamonds are very high quality, some are nearly worthless, while others come from dubious origins.

In between those categories exist the “dodgy” diamonds and should be avoided by those who have little knowledge about the diamond industry.

While it’s relatively simple to recognize poor quality diamonds, it’s not as easy to identify dodgy diamonds. These types of diamonds could be considered as “not quite right.”

With the thousands of online shops selling diamonds, it can be quite competitive.

Thus, most diamonds you find offered by these “jewelers” are not in their stock and not screened in any way whatsoever.

In most cases, the owners of these sites are more or less diamond brokers for various diamond suppliers.

This is why most online diamond sellers have little documentation, as well as few details surrounding their products.

Require a GIA certification report and an expert’s opinion

Close-up Of A Male Jeweler's Hand Looking At Diamond Through Magnifying Loupe
Photo: AndreyPopov, BS

To be sure that the diamond you purchase is of good value and not from any known conflict zone, it’s always best that the diamond comes with a GIA certification report.

These reports are also known as “Full Diamond Certification Reports,” and include information such as clarity grades VS2 – S12.

However, even though a Full Diamond Certification Report provides a full plotting diagram, the diamond should still be inspected by a trained diamond specialist.

Buying a diamond is an investment, and like with any investment you need to be sure that you’re getting exactly what you paid for.

Mike Smith
Mike Smith
Executive Editor at Best in Australia. Mike has spent over a decade covering news related to business leaders and entrepreneurs around Australia and across the world. You can contact Mike here.
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