| Buying an engagement ring can be a stressful | | | | If you want to know how to buy a diamond the |
| experience for many man. How much should you | | | | right way, you will need to know your woman |
| spend? What kind of design should you choose? | | | | and know her well. The look of the ring should |
| White gold, yellow gold or platinum? Finding the | | | | correspond with her style. Take note of her other |
| perfect ring for your beloved doesn't have to be | | | | jewelry. Are they simple or dramatic pieces that |
| hard. If you would like some guidance in this | | | | draw attention? Observe her hair and clothing |
| department, here are some tips on how to buy a | | | | choices. Are they casual, bold, sporty or wild? |
| diamond ring. | | | | Chances are, these are good indicators of what |
| Familiarize Yourself With The 4 C's | | | | she would want in a ring. Another thing to |
| The 4 c's are the variables that are used to | | | | remember is that she will be wearing it every |
| calculate the value of a gemstone. They are cut, | | | | day, so it should suit her fingers and be |
| color, clarity and carat. Cut refers to the | | | | comfortable to wear. |
| proportions, finish, polish and symmetry of a | | | | Hit The Shops |
| stone. These factors determine the fire and | | | | It's time to visit jewelry stores. Find a jeweler |
| brilliance of a gemstone. Well cut diamonds are | | | | who is willing to spend some time showing you |
| sold at a premium while poorly cut diamonds are | | | | gemstones. Look at as may diamonds as you can |
| sold at discounted prices. Color describes the | | | | that match your specifications and budget. When |
| amount of color the stone contains. It can range | | | | comparing prices, do make sure that you |
| from colorless to yellow or brown. Colors can | | | | compare apples to apples. However, this may be |
| additionally range from intense yellow to brown, | | | | easier said than done. For instance, relatively |
| green, blue, pink and red. These are known as | | | | minor differences in cut/proportion can have an |
| fancy colors, which are rare, therefore more | | | | impact on a stone's beauty and price. Lastly, it is |
| valuable. Clarity describes the clearness of purity | | | | imperative that you do not compare the price of |
| of a stone. This is determined by the size, | | | | a certified diamond with one that is not, or one |
| number, nature and location of the external | | | | that has been certified by an unknown laboratory. |
| (blemishes) and internal (inclusions) imperfections. | | | | You may be surprised that the quality asserted |
| The less flaws a diamond has, the more valuable. | | | | by a no name lab might not match those of a |
| Carat is the unit weight for the gemstone. There | | | | reputable lab. This could mean that you are paying |
| are 100 points in a carat, which is equal to 0.20 | | | | more money for something that is less than what |
| grams. The value per carat increases with carat | | | | you thought it was. |
| size. This is because larger, rough diamonds are | | | | Ask For A Certificate |
| more rare. Decide and write down, in order of | | | | If you want to buy a high quality stone, it is |
| importance, which one of the 4 c's are most | | | | recommended that you only buy from a |
| important to you. | | | | reputable jeweler. This is so they can provide you |
| Set Your Budget | | | | with a certificate for authenticity. This certificate |
| Now you need to set a budget for your | | | | is a blueprint of the diamond and it outlines the |
| engagement ring. You may hear a lot of | | | | qualities of the stone. There are several |
| suggestions, with the most popular being "two | | | | independent laboratories, with the most popular |
| month's salary." While this might seem like sound | | | | being the Gemological Institute Of America (GIA). |
| advice, it may not always be the best idea. For | | | | Other well known laboratories and institutes |
| example, if you are in school or paying off | | | | include the Diamond High Council (HRD), |
| student loans, the "two month" guideline probably | | | | International Gemological Institute (IGI) and |
| isn't the best route to take. You should spend | | | | European Gemological Laboratory (EGL). |
| what you are comfortable with, considering your | | | | You've found the woman of your dreams and |
| current economic position. If it's two month's | | | | you plan to marry her. The next step is to get |
| salary, then go for it. Whatever the case, just be | | | | her the ring of her dreams. Now that you know |
| sure that you are doing your best to get the | | | | how to buy a diamond, this task will be less |
| most beautiful diamond ring that you can afford. | | | | arduous. Next up, the million dollar question: will she |
| Know Your Lady | | | | say yes? |