Buying Diamond Engagement Rings

Buying Diamond Engagement Rings

Buying Diamond Engagement Rings can be a difficult endeavor.  In this article, we discuss the best ways of buying diamond engagement rings.  Furthermore, we examine the best selling styles and diamond shapes available as well as trending designs for engagement rings.  Knowing what style she likes is imperative.  Setting a budget is also a great way to know your boundaries.

Buying Diamond Engagement Rings and Pricing

In America, the average couple buying diamond engagement rings spends approximately $5,431.  This figure comes from theknot.com.  Furthermore, while budgets can differ from one couple to another, diamond jewelry is typically an investment in more ways than one.  Prior to making a purchase, picking up a book from author Antoinette Matlins is a good idea.  Her books include "Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide" and "Engagement & Wedding Rings: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love" among other titles.   In this book, she educates the buyer with tips and knowledge on the best way to buying diamond engagement rings as well as loose diamonds and gems.

The Four C's

The four factors judged to determine the quality and rarity of the stone are color, clarity, carat, and cut, also known as the four C's.  The color of a diamond is graded on an alphabetical scale that starts with the letter D and continues throughout the rest of the alphabet to Z.  Matlins explains that D is the rarest color grade.  Akin to looking through "crystal clear spring water." Each subsequent grade down the color spectrum towards Z displays a little more yellow tint. Additionally, the color has a profound effect on cost because of the rarity of colors.  The Clarity refers to the internal characteristics of the diamond as it formed in nature.  This clarity grade has a 10-grade scale and also impacts the diamond's rarity and value considerably.  Carat goes by the diamond's weight and not the millimeter or even its size.  The cut is imperative when it comes to brilliance and fire.  This includes fashioning the diamond from rough to the beautiful, fiery, sparkly stone.  The diamonds cut directly affects how light travels throughout the stone.  Differences in cutting have tremendous impact on its value.  Estimates of up to as much as 40 percent as mentioned.

Round Shape Diamonds

Round shapes are still the best industry sellers, while cushion cuts and princess cuts compete for second place.  Smaller size diamond goods in the .75 carat range are the most popular for center stones in engagement rings; .90's are also doing very well.  The most popular clarity range is the Si1 also known as the "slightly included, level 1" with the I1 clarities becoming more popular due to price point.  The average color for these items are in the H-I clarity, H being near colorless and I having the slightest of yellow tinges.  Eye clean J color diamonds are selling in larger carat sizes, especially within the 2-3 carat range.  18 karat gold and platinum remain the most popular metals while 14 and 10 karat gold and palladium are also a popular alloy. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/diamonds-decoded-experts-guide-buying-engagement-ring/story?id=19630519 Engagement Rings