subject: How To Choose A Diamond [print this page] There are many times in life when you will need to make an important decision. It could be about the type of college that you are going to be attending or perhaps even the individual that you are going to marry. In a man's life, there is often a decision that is quite difficult, especially because it only occurs once in a lifetime. That decision is on how to choose a diamond to give as an engagement ring. Although there certainly are a number of different things that need to be considered when you are choosing a diamond, there are a few that will help to guide you through the process.
First of all, you need to understand the four C's of diamonds. Those are cut, clarity, color and carat weight. Although you are going to need to consider all of these when choosing a diamond for your significant other, there is a specific order that will generally help you to get the perfect diamond for the amount of money that you have available.
First of all, the cut of the diamond is generally going to be specified before you ever start to shop. This is something that must be followed very closely, as most women tend to have a preference as to which cut they enjoy seeing on their finger. If the engagement is going to be a surprise, you may not have any idea as to the cut of diamond that they prefer. You will need to ask a trusted friend or family member to find out that information for you, as well as the size of the ring. Just make sure that they are on board with the fact that you are keeping the engagement a secret so that they don't ruin the surprise for you.
The next thing that you need to decide when you design an engagement ring is the size of the diamond, or carat weight. A little bit of leeway should be given in this regard, as it is possible to save money on the size of the ring if you lighten it up just a little bit. The reason why that is the case, is because when you cross a carat, you are going to be paying more money. If you choose a diamond that is slightly under a full carat size, regardless of whether it is one, two or three carrots, you will pay less for it than the full carat size.
A little bit of play is also possible when choosing the color and clarity of the ring. These are the things that can be determined with the jeweler, as you can generally stay within your budget if you choose one grade less of either the color or clarity. Make sure that you get a good look at the diamond before you purchase it and have it set in the ring. You will generally be able to determine if you are happy with the overall look and with the fact that it is going to be something that will be on the finger of your significant other for many years to come.
