Image courtesy of David Connor Designs
Image courtesy of Diamond Design by Jason Ree
Image courtesy of L Sanders and Son
Image courtesy of Percy Marks Fine Gems
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You're bursting with happiness and ready to shout from the rooftops that you've finally found the perfect partner in life. And the ring finger of your left hand is suddenly looking very empty... Tradition tells us that an engagement ring is a man's promise to betroth his woman, although originally it might have been a warning to other male predators to keep their beady eyes off!
Today, it means a man loves his partner enough to pay her the supreme tribute of spending his hard-earned dollars on a gift to symbolise his loving commitment.
Swept off your feet by the excitement of getting married, but don't plunge into buying the first ring that takes your fancy. Considering that your final decision will last you a lifetime and possibly handed down through your family, it's worth shopping around to ensure that you will be really happy with your choice in the years to come.
There is a vast choice of both engagement and wedding rings. To find a style that suits your tastes and budget, it's a good idea to shop around. Compare the various styles, quality and value. There are so many variables in making your choice, the more you know about stones, the easier your selection.
So read on...
understanding the 4 C's
cut
There is Cut. And then there's Cut
Many people confuse cut with the shape of a diamond. Most diamonds are cut with a full 58 facets and a good cut, or make, has more scintillation, more sparkle. The shape of a diamond, however, is largely a matter of personal preference and does not affect the value per se. It is the work of a master cutter that allows the diamond to be cut in such a way as to permit the maximum amount of light to be reflected through the diamond. And that's a great reflection on you!
How a diamond handles light
1. When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is reflected from one facet to another and then dispersed through the top of the stone.
2. If the cut of the diamond is too deep, some light escapes through the opposite side of the pavilion.
3. If the cut is too shallow, light escapes through the pavilion before it can be reflected.
carat weight
Bigger is Bigger (And not necessarily better)
This is the size of the diamond measured in carats. One carat is divided into 100 'points', so that a diamond of 75 points weighs .75 carats.
Size is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond. But two diamonds of equal size can have very unequal values, depending on their quality of clarity and colour. And diamonds of high quality can be found in all size ranges.
Representations of actual sizes of diamonds measured in carats
colour
Good Colour is No Colour or Fancy Colour
Diamonds come in many colours, while the majority have a barely perceptible yellow or brown tint. Determining a white diamond's colour is done by measuring the degree to which a diamond approaches colourlessness, allowing the stone to cleanly reflect and refract light. The highest quality and most expensive white diamonds are described as colourless and are very rare. Jewellers evaluate the colour of white diamonds on a letter scale beginning with D (colourless) and moving down through the alphabet. Diamonds with a strong, pure colour are called 'fancies' and can be found in pink, blue, yellow and many other colours. (See 'Coloured Diamonds' later in this chapter.)
clarity
A Rarity
Diamonds, more than any other gemstone, have the capability to produce the maximum amount of brilliance. And a diamond that is virtually free of interior or exterior inclusions (commonly called flaws) is of the highest quality, for nothing interferes with the passage of light through the diamond.
To determine a diamond's clarity, it is viewed under a 10-power magnification by a trained eye. Minute inclusions neither mar its beauty nor endanger its durability. However, the fewer the inclusions the rarer the stone and often the more expensive.
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