Besides actually popping the question, one of the most nerve wracking experiences anyone can go through is purchasing a wedding engagement ring. Some people prefer to purchase the wedding engagement ring prior to proposing and being able to present it at the time the future bride (hopefully!) says yes. Many modern brides prefer to choose their own wedding engagement ring after they have become engaged and the shopping expedition often involves both the bride and groom. Whichever strategy your prefer, there are a few tips that can make the search for a wedding engagement ring much easier and less stressful. Taking the time to learn about all the various information you need will definitely help you to feel more confident when you’re looking at a ‘rock.’
The most common wedding engagement ring purchased is the diamond wedding engagement ring. Other stones such as rubies, sapphires and emeralds are coming into fashion but most brides and grooms still prefer the classic and tradition diamond wedding engagement ring. This is usually a significant investment, so it’s important you understand the basic elements in a quality diamond before you open your checkbook or bring out the credit card.
Everyone has heard of the three C’s in reference to diamonds, but do you know what they mean and how to look for them? Take a look at the tips below.
All diamonds have flaws. The term clarity refers to the little inclusions that help you identify it. These flaws won’t hurt your wedding ring’s appearance and most are not even visible to the naked eye. The standard grading scale for clarity is FL (flawless), IF (Internally Flawless – minor surface inclusions), VVS1-VVS2 (Very, very small inclusions), VS1-VS2 (Very small inclusions), SI1-SI2 (Small Inclusions), and I1-I2-I3 (Imperfect- eye visible inclusions). If you are trying to save money, grade SI1 or SI2 is perfect.
When buying a diamond wedding engagement ring, the clearer the diamond is, the better. The standard grading scale for color starts at D and ends at Z. D through G are the colorless and costly diamonds. Grades H through K are near colorless and are usually a good value. Grades L through Z are the questionable looking stones.
Carat is the unit of measurement for your diamond wedding ring. One carat is also measured as 100 points and 6.5 MM in width. Keep in mind that “carat weight” and “total carat weight” are two different things. “Total carat weight” is the sum diamond weight for all the diamonds on the ring. A murky diamond that is one carat does not mean that it is a good buy. A well cut diamond that is.75 carat could be much less expensive and more pleasing to the eye.
Diamond florescent refers to the color produced when the stone is exposed to daylight or florescent light. A diamond with strong yellow florescence will look more tinted when worn in daylight or florescent lighting. A stone with blue florescence may look oily or murky in these light sources. Many experts do not recommend purchasing a diamond with “strong” yellow or “strong” blue fluorescence.
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