Morgan Elizabeth Weddings When the time comes, and your significant other is ready to pick out a ring, there are many things to consider. We recommend the first step be to set a budget, which will help direct the search in the right way. There are many options when thinking of a stone for an engagement ring; the classic diamond, which can be either natural or lab created, or gemstones, such as an emerald, sapphire, or moissanite which is clear in color much like a diamond.
For this post, we are focusing on the most popular of the options, the diamond. Diamonds. They’re gorgeous. That we already know. But who would have thought that something so sparkly would come with so many details to consider? After deciding the budget, there are 4C’s to consider. Carat, Clarity, Color, and Clarity. These need to be considered in both natural and lab created diamonds. Lab diamonds have the same chemical composition as a natural diamond, which makes them a great budget friendly option.
The characteristic most people tend to focus on is carat, which is the overall weight of the diamond. This can be a little misleading, since there are other factors that play into how the size of the diamond actually looks and will come across to the eye. Different shaped stones will have different surface areas, which is really the factor that plays into how large a diamond looks. For example, some diamonds are shallow, like an oval, which appear larger, whereas a princess cut diamond (square) or cushion cut diamond are diamonds that will hold some of that carat weight in its depth. Basically, some diamonds could have a larger carat weight, but look smaller than a different shaped stone or a smaller carat. Pay attention to the dimensions!
For a ring that truly sparkles, the cut of a diamond is said to be the most important “C”. This will determine how the light reflects off your stone, and therefore how sparkly it will be. Regardless of your budget, we recommend you try to and prioritize this category and get the best cut you can afford.
Next comes color. The color of a diamond is graded on a scale from D-Z. D is the highest rating which would be a stone that is colorless, making it the most desirable. The further down the scale the diamonds are graded, a yellow hue will start to become visible to the naked eye. Keep in mind, the subtle differences in color between the different grades are not always visible to the naked eye. For example, you may not be able to tell the difference between F and a G color, but you will most likely see the yellow tint when you compare a J color to an E. The color of the metal setting of the ring can also play a factor in which color grade diamond should be selected. For a diamond that will be set in white gold or platinum, we recommend keeping the rating above an H. If the setting selected is yellow gold, a diamond with a lower color grade (I-J) can be a good choice to make your budget go further.
The 4th C is clarity. This is categorized by the imperfections in a stone or the lack of imperfections making a stone flawless. Most companies grade these diamonds starting at flawless and going to I1/I2/I3, Ie having the most visible inclusions. See the scale below for the full range from no inclusions to most.
FL → IF → VVS1/2 → VS1/2 → SI1/2/3 → I1/2/3.
FL – Flawless, IF – Internally Flawless, VVS1/2 – Very Very Slightly Included, VS1/2 – Very Slightly Included, S1/2/3 – Slightly Included, I1/2/3 – Included.
We recommend selecting a diamond that is VS1/2 or higher. Unless you’ll be staring at your ring through a microscope all day, FL or IF are rarely necessary making this a great category to save a few more bucks.
So, to sum it all up: Diamonds are gorgeous, but can be expensive. Here are our recommended steps:
- Our first recommendation is to set a budget and stick to it.
- Lab created diamonds are a great, cheaper alternative.
- Once you have that nailed down, start your search, and remember the 4 C’s!
- For a diamond that really sparkles, the most important factor is the Cut, followed by Color, then Clarity.
- Once you have these 3C’s nailed down, you then have some freedom with the Carat. But remember, bigger is not always necessarily better! Look at the dimensions and compare the surface area!Remember to search around online. Often times you will find a greater selection and at a cheaper price than at chain jewelry stores. If nothing else, you will have a basis of comparison when you head into your local brick and mortar!
And as always if you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to us on our contact page or social media pages!
