| Even before you've started budgeting for your | | | | Once you've picked out your stone, you might |
| wedding, chances are your husband to be has | | | | want to consider taking it to a certified gemologist |
| probably already spent a lot of money on your | | | | for an appraisal. It's much easier to appraise the |
| ring. | | | | stone before it is put into a setting than after. |
| No two diamonds are alike and the majority of | | | | When a stone is in a setting, the color grading |
| brides all want diamonds. But even though you've | | | | becomes iffy because the metal will affect the |
| heard the phrase "diamonds are a girl's best | | | | appearance and color of the diamond. You also |
| friend" that doesn't necessarily mean all brides are | | | | cannot always see all of the stone because the |
| in love with their diamonds. | | | | edges can be covered with metal. |
| Hopefully, you will be shopping for a diamond only | | | | Sometimes appraisals can vary and differ from |
| once, so its important that you do it right and | | | | one appraiser to another. An appraisal is |
| know what to look for. | | | | subjective because color and clarity grading are |
| One of the biggest misconceptions people have | | | | not perfect sciences. Often, what you will get is |
| about diamonds is that a diamond is a diamond. | | | | the opinion of the appraiser, so it may not hurt to |
| People tend to look at the design and settings and | | | | have more than one opinion. Even in the labs |
| overall look of the ring instead of considering what | | | | when the initial grading is done, the final grading is |
| they are really spending the money on - which is | | | | usually the average opinion between 2 or three |
| the stone itself. The most important thing you will | | | | gemologists. |
| want to remember about buying a diamond ring is | | | | In the end, just make sure that after you have |
| that the stone is what is most important, not the | | | | had it appraised, and if you don't like the results |
| setting. | | | | that you can take it back for a full refund. |
| In determining the value of a diamond there is | | | | What if you just want to know if your diamond is |
| what we call the four "C's". | | | | real or not? A sure way to tell is by holding up a |
| Cut: the diamond's shape. Some popular shapes | | | | newspaper to it. If you can read the newspaper, |
| are round, square, oval, pear, heart and marquise. | | | | you don't have a real diamond. Gemologists will |
| Color: the less color in a diamond, the more | | | | use what is called a diamond reader. They hold |
| valuable. | | | | this small tool over your diamond and if it beeps, |
| Clarity: the less inclusions or birthmarks within the | | | | it's real. |
| diamond the more valuable. | | | | In the early 1400's diamonds were used to |
| Carat: the weight or size of the diamond. | | | | represent enduring love because of their hardness. |
| A diamond is not just a financial investment; it is | | | | Today, giving a diamond before marriage is a |
| also an emotional investment and one of the big | | | | tradition that has only been around for the last |
| ones that couples make in their lives. So if you're | | | | 100 years, but will always remain a symbol of |
| going to buy a stone, you will want it to be one | | | | enduring love. |
| of the prettiest ones in the room. | | | | |