The things you need to know before you go engagement ring shopping
If you've finally decided to go ahead and buy an engagement ring for your loved one, there are a few things you should know before you actually buy anything. These tips will help you get a better sense of what to look for in diamonds, and how you can get the best bang for your buck.
Make sure you understand what the 4 Cs are
As with any other trade, rings come with their own lingo and the one thing you should know above any other is the meaning of the 4 Cs. Here is a quick rundown of what the 4 Cs mean, and what you should look for in that regard when shopping for a ring.
- Color -The less color a diamond presents, the rarer it is and therefore better
- Cut - A diamond is able to handle light differently based on the quality of its cut
- Clarity- If a diamond has a lot of blemishes or inclusions, its clarity will suffer and thus the clearer a diamond is, the higher it speaks about its quality
- Carat - The size of the diamond can be determined by its carat weight
Now that you know what all this means, you can start making decisions for yourself such as which of these characteristics is most important to you, and by extent which rings are the best choice for you as well.
Understand the importance of the ring band
You might think that the stone is the most important part of the ring, and partially you would be right. However that doesn't mean that you shouldn't give any attention to the band. The band is actually very important as well because it rounds up the piece, quite literally. So make sure not to slap your stone on just any old band. Take the time to research and assess what band goes best with the type of stone you have picked out.
Proper testing before buying
One of the main reasons for which you want a diamond for your engagement ring is because of the way it interacts with light. However, different diamonds will yield different effects in this regard. So make sure you test it properly before you actually commit to one ring or another, so that you know exactly how it will behave under different conditions. Test it against high degrees of lighting, but also low lighting conditions and diffused lighting conditions. The more you test it, the more you'll know about what it can do with the light it is given.
Buying a diamond ring isn't as easy as just slamming your wallet on the store counter, so make sure you invest the time to make it a worthwhile gesture.
