| Deciding to propose to the special somebody in | | | | cut diamonds, however, they are significantly |
| your life is a huge decision, one that will lead you | | | | more cost-effective than either very good or |
| down a path of even more decisions. Of course, | | | | ideal cut diamonds, making them more accessible. |
| the first thing that needs to be decided after | | | | • Fair & Poor – these cuts of |
| you've decided to propose is what type of | | | | diamond simply fail to reflect a sufficient amount |
| engagement ring to get. Between diamonds and | | | | of the light that enters them. Usually found in |
| settings there are so many choices that it can be | | | | discount or promotional jewelry, it is nearly |
| overwhelming. Hopefully this can be cleared up. | | | | impossible to find these diamond cuts at any |
| The Diamond | | | | quality seller of diamonds and engagement rings. |
| While you're probably more than familiar with the | | | | The Setting |
| 4 C's of diamonds, there are other things to | | | | As important as the diamond is, the Setting may |
| consider when choosing a diamond, chief amongst | | | | be just as important. You can have a great |
| them, the shape. Here we’ll focus on the | | | | diamond, but put that diamond into the wrong |
| shape and two of the C’s; cut and carat. | | | | Setting and it can lose a lot of its luster and |
| Clarity and color can be saved for another day. | | | | appeal. While there aren't nearly as many Setting |
| The Shape | | | | types as there are shapes and cuts of diamonds, |
| With so many shapes out there it can be | | | | there are enough that when combined with the |
| confusing as to the actual differences, so let's | | | | diamond cuts and shapes you have enough |
| simply talk about each of them and their individual | | | | combinations to make choosing tricky. |
| merits. | | | | The Setting |
| • Round – the most basic of | | | | • Prong – arguably the most |
| diamonds, and the only shape not considered | | | | common setting, the prong setting is commonly |
| "fancy," this shape is very much how it sounds | | | | known as the Tiffany setting. Small metal prongs, |
| – a rounded diamond in the shape of a | | | | typically 4 or 6, are used to clasp over the |
| circle. | | | | diamond and keep it in place within the setting |
| • Princess – arguably the most | | | | while giving an optimal view of the diamond at all |
| popular shape, this squared diamond has only | | | | angles. When choosing this setting it’s wise |
| grown in popularity while still being a relatively new | | | | to consider which metal you’ll be choosing |
| shape. The princess diamond tends to find its way | | | | as you may want something stronger than gold, |
| into solitaire engagement rings more than any of | | | | such as Palladium or Platinum, to ensure that your |
| the other shapes. | | | | diamond doesn’t come out of the setting. |
| • Emerald – a rectangular shaped | | | | • Channel – in this setting the |
| diamond, this shape is reflective of a classic and | | | | stones are placed between vertical walls of metal, |
| aristocratic elegance. Unlike other diamonds, the | | | | side by side, with no metal separating the |
| emerald shaped diamond is not a brilliant cut but | | | | diamonds from each other. With the diamonds |
| rather a step cut, being comprised of larger, | | | | sunk into the ring itself they are nearly flush with |
| planar facets that resemble stair steps and act | | | | the surface of the ring. This setting is considered |
| like mirrors. | | | | both very contemporary and very classic and |
| • Marquise – long and slender, this | | | | allows one to achieve a number of looks. This |
| shape, originally commissioned by Louis XIV of | | | | setting is very popular in wedding rings and |
| France, is wonderful for maximizing the carat | | | | anniversary bands. |
| within the setting. The marquise shape will | | | | • Basket – similar to the prong |
| accentuate the length of the fingers and works | | | | setting, but instead of just the prongs holding the |
| well on a person with longer fingers. | | | | diamond in place there is an additional band of |
| • Oval – as the name implies, this | | | | metal that secures the prongs to help reduce any |
| diamond shape is a very simple oval. This shape | | | | movement of the prongs and ensure the security |
| works very well with smaller hands and shorter | | | | of the diamond within the setting. |
| fingers, giving them the illusion of added length. | | | | • Bar – with the bar setting, |
| • Pear – a hybrid shape combining | | | | diamonds are placed between bars of metal that |
| the best elements of the oval and marquise | | | | run perpendicular to the band of the engagement |
| shapes, it resembles nothing so much as a | | | | ring. This setting is a very contemporary look that |
| teardrop. Typically used in pendants and earrings, | | | | allows for excellent display of the diamonds. |
| this shape compliments short to average length | | | | • Pave – with the pave setting |
| fingers, helping to give the illusion of longer fingers | | | | many small gemstones are placed inside of |
| much like the oval shaped diamond does. | | | | tapered holes to create a “paved” |
| • Heart – essentially a pear shaped | | | | appearance. The diamonds are typically set in |
| diamond with a cleft at the top, the heart shaped | | | | white gold to help create a sparkle finish that will |
| diamond is the ultimate symbol of romance. This | | | | bring the stones to prominence. |
| shaped diamond is frequently seen in pendants | | | | • Bezel – this setting involves |
| but is more than acceptable as a choice in a ring. | | | | placing the diamond in a mount that comes up |
| • Radiant – this square or | | | | and envelopes the diamond. Without any prongs, |
| rectangular shaped diamond does an excellent job | | | | this mount is great for those that lead an active |
| of combining the elegant and classic appeal of the | | | | lifestyle, don't want to worry about scratching |
| emerald shape with the brilliance of the round | | | | themselves or others, or for those whose job |
| shape. | | | | requires that they wear latex gloves on a regular |
| • Trillion – a wedge of brilliant fire, | | | | basis. Bezel settings can have straight edges, |
| the trillion shaped diamond was first developed in | | | | scalloped edges, or can be molded to any shape |
| Amsterdam. Traditionally a triangle shaped | | | | to accommodate varying stones. |
| diamond, the amount of point at the corners is | | | | • Half-Bezel – similar in design to |
| often open for interpretation, but these diamonds | | | | the bezel setting. The half-bezel setting does not |
| work well as both a compliment to a center | | | | completely surround the diamond, allowing |
| stone, a unique center stone in themselves, or as | | | | additional light to reach the stone and create a |
| a pair of earrings. | | | | higher degree of brilliance. |
| • Baguette – very reminiscent of | | | | • Tension – This type of setting |
| the emerald shaped diamond, this shape of | | | | uses the ring itself as the entire mounting, |
| diamond is frequently used as side stones to a | | | | eschewing the use of prongs. Typically employing |
| larger center stone. Much like the emerald shaped | | | | stronger metals and a thicker band to help |
| diamond, the baguette shape doesn’t | | | | maintain the tension on the stone, this setting |
| feature nearly the sparkle of brilliant shaped | | | | does an excellent job of highlighting the diamond |
| diamonds, but does offer a classic beauty that is | | | | by giving it the appearance of floating within the |
| hard to match. | | | | ring. |
| The shape is only the first part of what to look | | | | As you can see, there are more than enough |
| for, at least initially, when considering a diamond | | | | options to make choosing that perfect diamond |
| for an engagement ring. | | | | engagement ring tricky, so now that you're |
| The Carat | | | | aware of the options here's some advice on |
| Carats are essentially a way to measure the | | | | getting the ring that she'll love and cherish for as |
| weight of diamonds. While the use of the carat | | | | long as you're together. |
| measuring system may date back to ancient | | | | • Talk to Her – find out what it is |
| Oriental bazaars and the carob seed, in the | | | | she wants from a ring. Does she want a solitaire |
| present we know that the more carats in the | | | | ring or has she had her heart set on a three |
| diamond, the bigger it is. | | | | stone diamond ring since she was a little girl? Is it |
| While the size of the diamond that you get can | | | | princess shape or no shape, or will she be happy |
| be determinate on a number of factors, not the | | | | with anything as long as it comes from you? Is |
| least of which is cost, the Setting and Mounting | | | | there a particular metal that she would prefer for |
| that you choose can also have an influence on the | | | | the actual band of the ring? |
| size of the diamond that you get for your ring. | | | | • Be Aware of Your Budget – |
| The Cut | | | | sure, tradition says you're supposed to spend two |
| Of the 4 C’s of a diamond, the cut is the | | | | months salary on the ring, but depending on what |
| only part that is actually influenced by humans, | | | | your salary is that could mean you're also not |
| nature getting to decide on the carat, clarity, and | | | | eating for a couple of weeks. Be realistic with |
| color of an individual diamond. Cut refers to the | | | | yourself when you start shopping for a ring, get |
| angles and proportions a jeweler creates when | | | | her what she wants, but also make sure that you |
| taking a rough diamond and transforming it into a | | | | won't have to take out a second mortgage just |
| beautiful, polished diamond. The cut of the | | | | to buy the ring she's wanted since she was 12 |
| diamond should not be confused with the shape | | | | years old. |
| of the diamond. A well cut diamond will reflect light | | | | • Show Her What You're Looking At |
| from one mirrored facet to another internally, | | | | – if you're ready to propose the odds are |
| finally dispersing and reflecting the light through | | | | pretty good that she's ready for you to propose. |
| the top of the stone, giving it that sparkle that | | | | If the proposal is no secret then have her help |
| diamonds are beloved for. | | | | you pick out the ring, or propose with a small, |
| There are a few ways that diamonds are graded | | | | inexpensive ring and then take her with you to |
| for their cut, all of which are influenced by the | | | | pick out her real engagement ring. That way you |
| diameter, table, crown, girdle, pavilion, cutlet, and | | | | can be sure that she gets what she wants. |
| depth of the stone, and those include: | | | | • Talk to an Expert – You might |
| • Ideal – this is the best cut | | | | be surprised that the person behind the counter |
| available and represents the top 15% of all | | | | at the store or checking email online is actually an |
| diamond cuts. The ideal cut carries with it the | | | | expert. If you're not sure just know that it's |
| highest possible grades of symmetry and polish | | | | better to ask questions then to get it wrong. Tell |
| and should be sought after when looking for the | | | | those experts about how your better half lives, |
| best available diamonds. | | | | what they've mentioned they'd want in a ring, |
| • Very Good – diamonds graded | | | | what they do for a living. All those things can give |
| at very good are still nothing short of amazing, | | | | the person you're talking to a better idea of what |
| but they do tend to trade in some of the brilliance | | | | kind of diamond engagement ring would work |
| seen in an ideal diamond cut for added size. While | | | | best for the most important person in your life. |
| a more cost-effective option, they may tend to | | | | Picking out an engagement ring can be intimidating. |
| move outside the appearance range for some | | | | Between the diamonds and the settings there are |
| buyers. Very good diamonds represent the top | | | | more options than is really reasonable to look at. |
| 25% of diamond cuts. | | | | Knowing what your better half wants can help |
| • Good Cut – representing the top | | | | narrow down that list and ensure that you get |
| 35% of diamond cuts, good cut diamonds are still | | | | the ring that will have her saying yes over and |
| quality cuts, but they will show a significant lack of | | | | over again. |
| brilliance when compared to very good and ideal | | | | |