| There is much to consider when | | | | diamonds are very, very rare, extremely |
| purchasing a diamond - especially | | | | expensive and difficult to find. Poor |
| diamond engagement rings! The tradition | | | | quality diamonds are a lot cheaper and |
| of presenting a woman with a diamond | | | | more common but the sparkle and beauty |
| engagement ring when proposing began in | | | | of them is obviously diminished. |
| 1477 when Archduke Maximilian presented | | | | Color ranges from D-Z and then the fancy |
| a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy - and | | | | colors such as blue, pink, yellow, etc. |
| in most cases, the woman you plan to | | | | D color will be the highest quality, the |
| propose to will expect a ring to | | | | clearest, and the highest priced. |
| accompany that proposal! | | | | Quality decreases as you move down this |
| First, do a little detective work to | | | | alphabet scale until you get to the |
| find out what your fiance would like to | | | | fancy colors in which the price rises |
| have. After all, she will be wearing it | | | | again. The color of the diamond changes |
| for a very long time. So you can subtly | | | | from colorless to yellow to brownish as |
| get her opinion on the subject by | | | | you get to Z. You generally want to get |
| suggesting that a friend is seeking your | | | | a color somewhere between F and I or |
| help in picking out a ring for his | | | | colorless to near colorless to stay in a |
| fiance and ask your fiance's opinion. | | | | better price and quality range. Fancy |
| She will most likely describe to you | | | | colors are not traditional for |
| exactly what she would like. You could | | | | engagement rings but again it's a matter |
| also enlist her friend, sister, mother, | | | | of preference. |
| etc, to go shopping with her and see | | | | Clarity ranges from Perfect to |
| what she tries on at the jewelry store. | | | | imperfect. Perfect diamond have no flaws |
| Or the friend could start up a | | | | and are the most expensive and least |
| conversation about engagement rings and | | | | available. Imperfect diamonds have eye |
| what's popular and what you fiance's | | | | visible flaws such as black carbon |
| opinion is on the subject. | | | | spots, cloudiness, and crystal like |
| Next, determine how much ring you can | | | | imperfections. The in-betweens are VVS1, |
| afford. Most people use the two or three | | | | VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2,and SI3. You |
| months salary rule. This means that the | | | | will most practically and affordably |
| ring should cost the equivalent of two | | | | want to stay in-between in the SI range. |
| months of your current salary. Because | | | | The diamonds in this range are eye clean |
| you have other bills to pay, saving up | | | | and attractive. |
| this amount of money may take quite a | | | | Carat weight and cut are a matter of |
| bit of time. You should consider | | | | personal preference. The higher the |
| financing. Simply go to the jeweler of | | | | carat weight, the bigger the diamond. |
| your choice and tell them that you plan | | | | Common practice is to buy one carat |
| to buy an engagement ring, and that | | | | total weight or one carat solitaire with |
| financing will be necessary. Go ahead | | | | side diamonds. |
| and get the credit check out of the way, | | | | And as far as cut, which is the shape of |
| find out what your payments will be, and | | | | the diamond, there is a variety of |
| how much of a down payment is required. | | | | shapes available which can be viewed on |
| Make sure that the jewelry store you buy | | | | an education page. Princess cut or |
| the ring from will allow you to return | | | | square cut is the most popular diamond |
| the ring, if that is required, or allow | | | | shape these days. |
| your girlfriend to exchange it for | | | | The different metals you have to choose |
| another if she is not happy with it! | | | | from for the setting and the band of the |
| You will want to take into consideration | | | | ring are white gold, yellow gold and |
| how your fiance feels about jewelry. If | | | | platinum. Platinum is the rarest and |
| she's really into jewelry, you will want | | | | most expensive of the precious metals. |
| to get her as much ring as you possible | | | | Some ladies prefer white gold, some |
| can. Say she's not into wearing jewelry | | | | prefer platinum and so on. White gold is |
| so much. You could get her a less | | | | in highest demand over yellow gold as of |
| expensive ring with a lower profile (not | | | | recent. Platinum is, of course, the most |
| so raised off the finger and not so | | | | sought after due to it's rarity but it |
| flashy) and she will be very pleased. | | | | is not the most affordable due to recent |
| Just take notice on how much and what | | | | price rises in the platinum market. |
| type jewelry she wears and what her | | | | There is also the matter of which |
| opinions are on the subject and use your | | | | style...solitaire, solitaire with side |
| best judgment. | | | | diamonds, cluster, 3 stone rings and so |
| Quality is very important. There is a | | | | on. 3 Stone Diamond Engagement Rings are |
| great range of color, clarity, carat | | | | extremely popular. There is also a |
| weights and cuts. All these aspects of | | | | variety of carat weights, yellow or |
| diamond engagement ring buying can be | | | | white gold, platinum and different cuts |
| very confusing and intimidating if you | | | | (shapes) available to choose from. |
| don't know much about it. Perfect | | | | |