Before you can dive into the world of engagement ring shopping, you should know a thing or two about the kind of look you’re interested in. To help you master this task, here are important factors to keep in mind when shopping for diamond engagement rings.
The Setting
The setting is the part of the ring that will showcase your significant other’s style and personality. The ring’s setting is what will keep the central stone in its place. It needs to be both functional and decorative. You’ll have several choices when choosing a ring setting, the most popular ones being Prong, Cathedral, Bezel, Channel, Bar Channel and Pavé. The setting you choose will play a large part in the ring’s final look.
The Stones
Centre Stone
As the largest stone on your diamond engagement ring, it’s the centrepiece of your ring. All other aspects of the ring will work to enhance the centre stone.
Solitaire
Solitaire rings house a single, eye-catching stone. However, it’s because that’s the only stone on the entire ring. It creates a simple timeless design that will draw everyone’s attention.
Three Stones
This style refers to an engagement ring that has one larger stone in the middle as well as one smaller stone on either side. The three stone ring is said to represent the past, present and future of the relationship.
Halo
A halo ring has a central stone that’s surrounded by a circle of much smaller stones, creating a halo effect. This extra feature makes the centre stone appear even larger than it really is and can be customized to fit any shape center stone.
The Four Cs
Cut
The cut of a diamond refers to both the shape of the stone. Popular diamond cuts include round, princess, oval, emerald, pear and heart, but there are many more to choose from. On the other hand, cut also refers to an additional method of evaluating diamonds, having less to do with the shape and more to do with how light is reflected. Ranked using a five-point scale, stick to looking for stones ranked towards the top of the scale.
Clarity
Using magnification tools, a jeweller will look for imperfections in the diamond while also evaluating the size, location, nature and effect of the flaw. Keep in mind though, no diamond is 100% free of imperfections, but the less there are, the more valuable the diamond is.
Colour
The less colouring a diamond contains, the more valuable the stone is. The colour grading given to a diamond, determined based on a 23-point scale ranging from D to Z, plays an important role when considering the price and quality of the diamond. If you’re looking at a D-grade diamond, then you’re looking at the best of the best, with a price to match.
Carat
A carat is a unit of measurement to figure out the weight of a single diamond, measuring in at around 200 milligrams for one carat. While it’s safe to assume that larger diamonds will be more expensive, the stone’s cut, clarity and colour also factor into the price and can have a huge impact on it.
At Diamonds For Less, you’re guaranteed to find high-quality diamond earrings and diamond rings, engagement rings, wedding bands and other gorgeous diamond jewellery your partner will love. Located in Toronto, Ontario, we sell quality diamonds at wholesale prices, suitable for a variety of budgets. A family run business for over 30 years, stop by our Toronto jewellery store and pick out a diamond engagement ring with confidence.
Read our educational 4Cs Diamond Buying Guide