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Article #83: Buying The Engagement Ring

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The most widespread of engagement can be detected by an expert gemologist.
traditions is the groom presenting his A rare diamond.
bride to be with a ring. Most frequently, F: Colorless. Slight color detected by an
the engagement ring is a diamond ring. expert gemologist, but still considered a
Even though diamonds are the most desired "colorless" grade. A high-quality
by brides to be, diamonds are not the diamond.
only precious stones used in engagement Another essential factor determining the
rings. price of a diamond is its cut. Just like
If your choice of engagement ring is a color, cut, is equally difficult to judge
diamond ring, be prepared to spend. The for the untrained eye. The grading
diamond jewelry retail market is a $30 certificate that typically comes with the
billion market. Over $5 billion is spent diamond will give you a good idea.
on engagement ring in the U.S. market. Independent testing laboratories, such
To the untrained eye, most diamonds look the GIA, provide certificates with a
very similar. Most people differentiate diamond's grading from excellent to poor.
between diamonds based on size, shape, A certified diamond also means a bigger
and price. A lower price usually means price tag.
lower diamond quality, not necessarily a The clarity of a diamond simply refers to
bargain. its purity. Most diamonds have minuscule
Judging diamond quality requires skill markings called "inclusions". A flawless
and experience, and it involves grading a (no inclusions) diamond is very rare and
ring based on a combination of valuable, while a diamond riddled with
characteristics such as cut, clarity, inclusions is less expensive. Clarity is
color and carat weight. The above ranked from "flawless" (FL) to
characteristics are called the "4 Cs". A "imperfect" (I1 to I2). Most diamonds
diamond's weight is measured in carats, fall between those with very, very small
equivalent to one fifth of a gram. inclusions (VVS1) to rocks with slightly
Usually diamonds range from 0.25 up to larger inclusions (S1). If you are
several carats. Weight is only one way of willing to compromise on clarity, you can
valuing a diamond, color is another. expect to save. To verify a diamond's
Colorless diamonds are the most rare and clarity, examine the laboratory
they are the most valuable. Colored certificate.
diamonds with a hint of yellow are more If you're on a tight budget, try to stay
common and less expensive. away from the big name jewelry stores.
Diamond colors are coded from D to Z. A D Brand name usually comes with a larger
grade is the most valuable and Z is least price tag. Buying wholesale may be an
valuable. Diamonds graded D-F are option. Normally the wholesaler's core
considered colorless and they are the business is selling diamonds to
most valuable. Many reputable jewelry retailers, but they also sell to the
stores do not sell K thru Z grade public. Because they do not advertise in
diamonds. the traditional methods, nor are they
The most valuable color grades: located in shopping malls, you have to
D: Absolutely colorless. The highest seek them out. You will find some
color grade, which is extremely rare. wholesalers listed as diamond merchants
E: Colorless. Only minute traces of color in the Yellow Pages.






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