Shopping for an engagement ring isn’t easy for a man, especially when it comes to figuring out the lingo. It’s not just a case of finding a pretty ring – you need to think about the material, the shape and the cut of the diamond.
To make your search that little bit easier, here you’ll discover how to decode engagement ring lingo.
The four C’s – What are they?
The first hurdle you’re going to come across when shopping for an engagement ring is the four C’s. So, what exactly are these four C’s and why do they matter?
The four C’s in engagement ring shopping, stand for:
- Cut
- Clarity
- Colour
- Carat
The cut of the diamond determines how sparkly it is and the general shape of the stone. There’s a lot of shapes on offer, with some of the most common being the princess, round and emerald. While the shape isn’t overly important, you’ll want to make sure the cut hasn’t compromised the diamond’s sparkle.
With the clarity of the diamond, it’s easy to get too caught up in trying to find the clearest diamond possible. The truth is, most imperfections are completely invisible to the eye. They can also add a uniqueness to the diamond too. So, don’t worry too much about trying to choose a diamond with perfect clarity.
When looking at the color of the diamond, you’ll find the scale runs from D to Z. D is the rarest, white coloured diamond and will ultimately be more expensive. Again, the color isn’t overly important.
Finally, carat determines the weight of the diamond. You’ll typically find most engagement rings come in a one or half a carat weight.
Breaking down the styles
As well as the four C’s, you’re also going to need to learn more about the different styles of engagement rings. There’s a surprising number of different styles to choose from including:
- Baguette
- Bezel
- Halo
- Pave
A baguette style ring offers long, clean lines which are typically used within side stones. They’re quite a popular choice, especially the baguette princess cut rings. Bezel rings feature a metal which basically protects the stone, completely surrounding it so only the top of the diamond is visible. You can also find half bezel rings which surround only the bottom portion of the stone.
Halo rings feature one large stone and a collection of smaller stones around it, while Pave refers to a set of stones which are secured close together. You can take a look at the different styles on offer online. Just be sure to choose a reliable jeweller like F. Hinds for quality engagement rings.
Choosing the best materials
Finally, you’ll want to familiarise yourself with the different materials on offer. While yellow gold remains the most popular choice, you’ll also want to consider platinum, rose and white gold rings.
Ultimately, it all comes down to personal choice. Although engagement ring shopping can be daunting, you need to remember she’s going to be happy with practically any ring. Women are much less caught up on the four C’s and the different materials than they used to be. So, just focus on finding a ring which matches her personal style.
