subject: Vintage Diamond Engagement Rings - Buying The Engagement Ring [print this page] The most widespread of engagement traditions is the groom giving his bride-to-be with a ring. Most often, the engagement ring is a diamond ring. Even though diamonds are the most preferred by brides-to-be, diamonds aren't the sole valuable stones used in engagement rings.
If your selection of engagement ring is a diamond ring, be ready to spend. The diamond jewelry retail market is a $30 billion market. More than $5 billion is invested in engagement ring in the U.S. market.
To the untrained eye, most diamonds appear very the same. Most people differentiate between diamonds based on size, shape, and cost. A lower cost usually indicates lower diamond quality, not always a bargain.
Judging diamond quality needs skill and experience, and it entails grading a ring depending on a combination of characteristics for example cut, clarity, color and carat weight. The above characteristics are called the "4 Cs". A diamond's weight is measured in carats, equivalent to one fifth of a gram.
Diamond colors are coded from D to Z. A D grade is the best precious and Z is least valuable. Diamonds graded D-F are regarded colorless and they are the most valuable. Many respectable jewelry shops don't sell K thru Z grade diamonds.
The most precious color grades:
D: Totally colorless. The highest color grade, which is very rare. E: Colorless. Only tiny traces of colour could be observed by an expert gemologist. A rare diamond. F: Colorless. Slight color observed by an expert gemologist, but still regarded a "colorless" grade. A high-quality diamond.
One more essential factor identifying the price of a diamond is its cut. Just like colour, cut, is just as difficult to judge for the untrained eye. The grading certificate that usually comes with the diamond will provide you a great idea. Independent testing laboratories, such the GIA, provide certificates with a diamond's grading from excellent to poor. A certified diamond also indicates a bigger price tag.
The clarity of a diamond merely refers to its purity. Most diamonds have minuscule markings known as "inclusions". A flawless (no inclusions) diamond is really rare and valuable, while a diamond riddled with inclusions is less expensive. Clarity is ranked from "flawless" (FL) to "imperfect" (I1 to I2). Most diamonds fall between those with very, very little inclusions (VVS1) to rocks with slightly bigger inclusions (S1). If you're inclined to bargain on clarity, you can anticipate to save. To validate a diamond's clarity, check out the laboratory certificate.
If you're on a tight budget, try to avoid the big name jewelry shops. Brand name generally comes with a bigger price tag.
