| When you buy a diamond ring for your beloved | | | | diamond with exquisite clarity, a good cut, and |
| intended, there are a number of factors to | | | | good color is going to outweigh anything it lacks in |
| consider. Not least, of course, is the quality of the | | | | carat size. |
| diamond you're buying. Diamonds can run from | | | | One thing to remember as well is that many |
| inexpensive too expensive, but if you want one | | | | "imperfect" diamonds can be perfectly lovely and |
| that's as close to "perfect" as possible, you'll | | | | make a very nice ring; jewelers are artists, and |
| certainly want one that is also as pristine as | | | | can hide imperfections deftly under prongs, or by |
| possible. That means, you'll generally consider the | | | | placing them against backings that will shade |
| four "Cs" of diamond quality: color, cut, clarity, and | | | | certain areas of the diamond that are less |
| carat. | | | | perfect. Therefore, you can certainly buy a |
| In general, how well diamond is cut is going to | | | | diamond it's going to cost you less, but will still |
| determine how sparkly it is and how well it | | | | look absolutely lovely. |
| reflects light. A more extensive diamond is going | | | | You also have to consider the shape of the |
| to have a better cut, while a less expensive | | | | diamond, such as if it will be oval, heart-shaped, |
| diamond will generally have a poorer cut. | | | | round and so on. Again, these are all factors that |
| The diamond's color is also a factor. The more | | | | are a matter of taste rather than "right or |
| "color" it has, the more it's going to be able to | | | | wrong," so go on what your fiancee is going to |
| reflect the colors of the rainbow, acting as a | | | | like. Remember this is one piece of handmade |
| prism of sorts. | | | | jewellery that she will treasure forever. |
| The diamond's clarity is also important, in that it | | | | Finally, do take your budget into account. Although |
| has as few imperfections as possible. The less | | | | most people would certainly want to buy the |
| "perfect" it is, the less brilliant it's going to appear, | | | | most expensive ring no matter the cost, it's a |
| and the less expensive it will be. | | | | good bet that if your beloved is practical at all, |
| Finally, the diamond's carat refers to how much it | | | | she's not going to want you to be dropping half |
| weighs, or its size. In general, the larger a diamond | | | | your year's salary on a diamond ring. So sit down, |
| is AND the more of the previous characteristics it | | | | figure out how much you can afford to spend, |
| has, the more expensive it is. | | | | and go from there. (And hey -- if she really loves |
| Those things describe what you look for in a | | | | you, she's not going to much care what kind of |
| diamond if you want a more "perfect" one, but | | | | ring she gets, as long as it's been thoughtfully |
| tastes comes into play, here, too. That is, if your | | | | chosen and is beautiful in its own right. |
| intended life simple, small and elegant, a small | | | | |