Have you been trying to decide how to buy a diamond ring?  Are you thinking of getting one for yourself or for your loved one but just don’t know the first thing about how to pick the one that will be just right?

 

There are a number of things that you should do to prepare yourself for a purchase, not just looking to see which one looks good to you.  Now, it’s not that you don’t have good taste, you probably do, but you want to get the best ring for the money that you want to spend.

 

The simplest way to start is to go online and look at some of the diamond sites and see the different styles, the different types of cuts, and the metal you like the best for your setting and band and get an idea of the costs of the different sizes of stones.  There are so many variables that come into play when you are wondering how to buy a diamond ring. 

 

Which cut will look best on you or your loved one makes a major difference in your choice.   If your fingers are kind of stubby you probably don’t want a wide band with a small stone.  If your fingers are long and tapered you may want to go with a larger stone and wider band.  Do you want a cluster or stones or just one?

 

Write down your priorities in order of importance to you prior to actually going shopping.  It will help you to stay focused.

 

How do you know which stone is a good one and whether it is worth the money that is being asked for it?  There are some general rules that apply to give you a guide to follow. 

 

      1.)The four Cs are carat, cut, color and clarity.  The better each of those four

characteristics, the more expensive the diamond will be.

2.)  A diamond's characteristics are listed in a grading report, which is basically a       certificate issued by industry groups like the GIA (All things considered a GIA certificate is probably the best) or the American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL). Never buy a diamond online without a grading report, preferably one issued by one of these two bodies.

3.)  The rarest and most expensive diamonds — and those highest on the clarity scale, are "flawless" and "internally flawless."  Consider whether you want to pay for that level of diamond knowing that a “very, very slightly included" (VVS1 and VVS2); "very slightly included" (VS1 and VS2); "slightly included" (SI1 to SI3) and finally, "included diamonds" (I1 to I3). (The term "included" means imperfections.) The best value is in VS2 stones, which have slight inclusions visible only under 10X magnification. In most cases a VS2 is what you will want to purchase since it is an excellent stone but much less expensive than the flawless or internally flawless stone.

What Gives a Diamond its Color?
In its purest state, a diamond is composed of carbon atoms and is colorless, like the De Beers Millennium Star. When certain impurity atoms replace carbon atoms, they impart tints of color. Yellow diamonds and most blue ones result from nitrogen and boron, respectively, trapped in the diamond’s structure. Diamonds that are pick to red and orange in color have imperfections at the atomic level which scientists call “color centers.” Green, blue-green, and a small number of blue diamonds are a special case. Their colors result from exposure to radiation over millions of years in the Earth. In all of these cases, portions of white light striking the diamond are absorbed. The remaining portions of light that are not absorbed are transmitted to the eye and result in the color we see.

 

 

4.)    Be sure to compare the different diamonds available, in the cut you prefer, there may be just a couple in one store, go to more than one store and look at what they have to offer.  Look online too; you will see many more rings online than you will in the store.

 

5.)    Talk to the clerk, ask questions but remember that you make the final choice, the sales clerk is SUPPOSED to sell you a diamond, it’s their job so don’t let them pressure you into purchasing a diamond until you are ready and feel informed.

 

6.)    Diamond weights, not sizes, are measured in metric carats. A single carat weighs about as much as a small paper clip. Carats are divided into fractions or decimal points. Jewelers should disclose precise amounts and ranges.

 

7.)    Seek out a cut that maximizes brilliance, fire and sparkle.  Ask for an independent grading report–your diamond's detailed genealogy. Don't buy a costly stone without one, since it's your guarantee that you're getting what you've paid for. Once you have decided on a diamond you should take a valuable diamond to an independent appraiser. If necessary, buy it first.  Just make sure that the store has money back guarantee policy, if the appraisal does not verify the stone is what was represented to you, take it back and get your money back!

 

8.)    Pay by credit card if possible.  If the stone isn’t what was represented and the store is not being cooperative in refunding your money (giving you a credit back on your card) you can notify the credit card company and usually, get a refund (companies do not want the credit card companies to do a chargeback nor do they want the reputation of not being reputable.) Of course you will have to give the diamond back to the store to do this…sorry….no freebies!

 

9.)    If you are buying an engagement ring don't think of the diamonds in engagement rings as an investment. You're already paying a markup of 100 percent or more when you buy retail.

 

A diamond that is masterfully cut displays maximum brilliance and fire.  A diamond that is well cut reflects light from one facet to another and disperses it back through the top of the stone.  What everyone wants is to be able to have a diamond that makes people take notice on how beautiful it is, regardless of the size.

</span>A diamond's body color can range from totally colorless to light yellow. The whiter, or more colorless the stone, the more costly it is because the absence of color is more rare. Also, the less color in the stone, the easier it is for light to pass through and be dispersed back into the spectrum of colors, like a rainbow.

</span>It is very rare to find a diamond that is completely pure or free of inclusions - minerals or crystals trapped within the stone at the time it was formed.  Without ten-power magnification, you may never see these tiny inclusions. But they are the fingerprint that makes each diamond unique.

</span>The size of a diamond is defined by its weight, which is expressed in carats. One carat weighs one-fifth of a gram, and is divided into 100 points, think of it as the same as pennies to a dollar.  One carat weighs 200 milligrams, or one-fifth (.2) of a gram. This standard has been in use worldwide since 1914, when it was proposed by the International Committee on Weights and Measures. Note that the term "carat" - which is a measurement for precious gems - is different from the term "karat," which refers to gold quality in the United States.

</span>The way a stone is cut can affect its appearance in other ways. If the diamond has a deep cut, it actually looks smaller than another diamond of the same weight that is cut well. Likewise, a diamond that has a spread cut (cut shallow) will appear larger than another diamond of the same weight that is cut well. A diamond that is cut either too deep or too spread is typically undesirable.

</span>A diamond may exhibit the color of its setting, which is why most ring settings will have a white gold or platinum head. White gold and platinum have the least effect on the diamond's color. Conversely, a diamond with more body color is often best enhanced by a yellow gold setting. Of course, the setting you choose is a matter of personal preference.

Some diamonds naturally exhibit a bluish tint when viewed in daylight or under fluorescent lighting. Under candlelight or normal incandescent lights, the blue disappears. This blue tint is the result of the stone's degree of fluorescence. It is not considered either good or bad, but simply an inherent characteristic of the stone.

</span>Hear the word "diamond" and the first image that comes to mind is likely a classic round sparkly gem. No surprise, considering that 75% of all diamonds sold today, particularly engagement rings, are the round brilliant cut.

However, if your tastes lean to the less traditional, you can also choose from a wide selection of attractive diamond shapes on the market today. These are collectively known as fancy cuts.  There is the round cut, Emerald, Marquise, Oval, Princess, Heart, Cushion, Radiant, Baguette, Tapered baguette, Trilliant and Pear.

</span>The shape you choose does not affect the quality of the stone. If the stone is cut well, its brilliance and value endure no matter which shape you choose. The shape of the rough diamond crystal usually dictates the shape of the stone to be cut. All are cut for maximum fire and brilliance, but the shapes of the facets vary with the cut.

Because a round diamond is symmetrical, it reflects nearly all light that enters it, making it the most brilliant of all diamond shapes. Fancy shapes are cut to different proportions, so they filter light differently.

So now you have a basic understanding of what a diamond is - how to buy a diamond ring and can begin the search for the perfect stone for you.  Most of the time a diamond is considered the stone for women, but in fact, a beautiful diamond ring on a man is extremely handsome.  So, go buy a diamond ring, wear it with pride and know that you did the research to make sure the ring you have is just what you wanted!