The Five Cs of Buying a Diamond Engagement Ring
Most men in the western world buy their girlfriend a diamond engagement ring when they propose marriage. It is the same for men buying a diamond engagement ring in Auckland. It is important to make the right decision when choosing the ring for two reasons. First it is going to cost you a lot of money. Secondly and more importantly, if it is the wrong design then your fiancée will not be happy. For most women showing of the ring to their girlfriends is one of their greatest joys so if she is not happy with it, you most definitely will not be happy either.
So how do you choose the right engagement ring?
So how do you choose the right engagement ring?
Jewellers talk of the Four Cs – Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat. Just as important is the fifth C – cost. So what are the four Cs and how do they affect you?
Cut: This is often said to be the most important factor in determining the overall look of a diamond and is the only one caused by man. It is a mark of the skill of a jeweller to cut and polish the raw stone so that the facets reflect light which make the diamond sparkle.
The angle and size of the cuts create the brilliance or fire of the stone that causes the gasps of joy or awe.
Another aspect of the cut is the shape of the stone. The round brilliant cut is the standard with 57 facets and creates the most light reflection. There are eleven other cuts which produce less reflection down to the baguette which produces only 45% of the round brilliant cut.
Colour: To the uninitiated, most diamonds look similar in colour i.e. they do not have any colour. However, the jewellery industry has 23 grades of colour going from D through to Z. D is the most transparent and rarest and therefore is the most expensive. Most diamonds are H or I being a combination of a good colour and also a more affordable price.
Clarity: Again for most people a diamond looks clear with few obvious marks. However, jewellers look at a diamond through a magnifying glass to find slight faults known as inclusions. The grades are established by The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and are used around the world.
A perfect diamond is known as Flawless having perfect surface polish and no internal flaws. The worst is graded as I3 and these imperfections can be seen with the naked eye. For many people a diamond in the SI1 category which is Slight Internal flaws is a combination of a good looking diamond at a reasonable price.
Carat: The final C is probably the most famous and is the carat or the weight of the stone. A carat is only 0.2 gm and that is further divided into 100 points. A diamond will be sold as 65 points or 1.34 carats. For the average person a diamond for an engagement ring is between 50 and 100 points or half and one carat.
How much should I pay?
This is the fifth C - cost. How much you spend is your choice but do not expect it to be a financial investment. Just like a new car, rings lose significant value as soon as you walk out of the door. So pick an amount you feel comfortable with and do not feel you need to compete with anyone else.
Summary
Despite all of this knowledge, when you are looking for a diamond ring, for greater security you can ask for a “cert stone”. These have been assessed by electronic calibration in independent gem labs so you know for sure exactly what you will be buying.
And finally, it is probably best not to surprise her and buy something you think looks good. Instead, look at what styles of jewellery she talks about in magazines and TV shows. Listen to what she says about other engagement rings and even take a few examples of what she already has to a jeweller. This way you may not ensure a successful marriage but you can make a great start by buying a diamond ring she will love.
Cut: This is often said to be the most important factor in determining the overall look of a diamond and is the only one caused by man. It is a mark of the skill of a jeweller to cut and polish the raw stone so that the facets reflect light which make the diamond sparkle.
The angle and size of the cuts create the brilliance or fire of the stone that causes the gasps of joy or awe.
Another aspect of the cut is the shape of the stone. The round brilliant cut is the standard with 57 facets and creates the most light reflection. There are eleven other cuts which produce less reflection down to the baguette which produces only 45% of the round brilliant cut.
Colour: To the uninitiated, most diamonds look similar in colour i.e. they do not have any colour. However, the jewellery industry has 23 grades of colour going from D through to Z. D is the most transparent and rarest and therefore is the most expensive. Most diamonds are H or I being a combination of a good colour and also a more affordable price.
Clarity: Again for most people a diamond looks clear with few obvious marks. However, jewellers look at a diamond through a magnifying glass to find slight faults known as inclusions. The grades are established by The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and are used around the world.
A perfect diamond is known as Flawless having perfect surface polish and no internal flaws. The worst is graded as I3 and these imperfections can be seen with the naked eye. For many people a diamond in the SI1 category which is Slight Internal flaws is a combination of a good looking diamond at a reasonable price.
Carat: The final C is probably the most famous and is the carat or the weight of the stone. A carat is only 0.2 gm and that is further divided into 100 points. A diamond will be sold as 65 points or 1.34 carats. For the average person a diamond for an engagement ring is between 50 and 100 points or half and one carat.
How much should I pay?
This is the fifth C - cost. How much you spend is your choice but do not expect it to be a financial investment. Just like a new car, rings lose significant value as soon as you walk out of the door. So pick an amount you feel comfortable with and do not feel you need to compete with anyone else.
Summary
Despite all of this knowledge, when you are looking for a diamond ring, for greater security you can ask for a “cert stone”. These have been assessed by electronic calibration in independent gem labs so you know for sure exactly what you will be buying.
And finally, it is probably best not to surprise her and buy something you think looks good. Instead, look at what styles of jewellery she talks about in magazines and TV shows. Listen to what she says about other engagement rings and even take a few examples of what she already has to a jeweller. This way you may not ensure a successful marriage but you can make a great start by buying a diamond ring she will love.