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