Please Note:
We will be closing for all orders for 2024 on 4 December.
Diamond Source will be closed for Holidays from 18 December until 13 January.
We will be closing for all orders for 2024 on 4 December.
Diamond Source will be closed for Holidays from 18 December until 13 January.
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Choosing a Diamond for an Engagement Ring
Choosing the right diamond for an engagement ring can seem a daunting and stressful task for most. However, sometimes it is a good idea to do a bit of window shopping with your future spouse and get an idea of what she likes. If this isn’t an option then a round diamond is the safest bet. Round diamonds are the most versatile cut and round diamonds exhibit the most brilliance and can be used in most styles of engagement rings. One shouldn’t choose a fancy cut of diamond unless you know that this type of cut is your partner’s favourite.
Once you have settled on a shape, the best way to approach your purchase is to decide on a budget. Buying a diamond is like buying a car, generally you have a budget and then look at the various makes and models that fall within your budget. Don’t forget to allocate an amount for the ring and any smaller diamonds which may also be in there. Once you know what you want to spend you can then look at the various combinations of size, cut, colour and clarity that are available within that number.
One shouldn’t compromise on cut, and the diamond should have a minimum cut grade of VERY GOOD. The options go from a smaller, whiter and cleaner diamond to a larger, off white and included diamond and everything in between. Naturally without budget constraints, one could buy the biggest, whitest and cleanest diamond available. But with a budget one needs to decide on what is important to you and your partner. Is size what counts? Or quality?
Colour and clarity charts for diamonds can be misleading in that people sometimes think that because a diamond is far down the list, for example a K colour and SI2 clarity, this translates into poor quality. This is not true. This simply means the diamond is cheaper as there are more goods available with these specifics. There are beautiful diamonds available in almost all colour and clarity combinations and people are often amazed at what diamond they can buy for their money.
There are I1 clarity diamonds which can be eye clean and yellow diamonds are especially beautiful on an olive skin. There are some K-M colour diamonds which set white in any metal especially if they exhibit a brownish tint. The important thing is to keep an open mind, look at all the combinations available to you, and most importantly, stick to your budget.
Once you have settled on a shape, the best way to approach your purchase is to decide on a budget. Buying a diamond is like buying a car, generally you have a budget and then look at the various makes and models that fall within your budget. Don’t forget to allocate an amount for the ring and any smaller diamonds which may also be in there. Once you know what you want to spend you can then look at the various combinations of size, cut, colour and clarity that are available within that number.
One shouldn’t compromise on cut, and the diamond should have a minimum cut grade of VERY GOOD. The options go from a smaller, whiter and cleaner diamond to a larger, off white and included diamond and everything in between. Naturally without budget constraints, one could buy the biggest, whitest and cleanest diamond available. But with a budget one needs to decide on what is important to you and your partner. Is size what counts? Or quality?
Colour and clarity charts for diamonds can be misleading in that people sometimes think that because a diamond is far down the list, for example a K colour and SI2 clarity, this translates into poor quality. This is not true. This simply means the diamond is cheaper as there are more goods available with these specifics. There are beautiful diamonds available in almost all colour and clarity combinations and people are often amazed at what diamond they can buy for their money.
There are I1 clarity diamonds which can be eye clean and yellow diamonds are especially beautiful on an olive skin. There are some K-M colour diamonds which set white in any metal especially if they exhibit a brownish tint. The important thing is to keep an open mind, look at all the combinations available to you, and most importantly, stick to your budget.
