Buying a Diamond Ring?

Lets face it people. Nothing says you love your significant other like giving them a diamond ring. Since the early 1930's, diamonds have been a symbol of love and affection. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent marketing the idea that true love is signified by a diamond ring purchase, Commonly called an engagement ring. The De beers slogan " A diamond is forever " was cleverly marketed and is as accepted in our society as eating American apple pie.

Therefore, if you really love your woman or man, and you want to take your relationship to the next level, then the hunt for that perfect engagement ring is on ! Ideally, one must part with the traditional two month salary and set it aside for that perfect engagement ring. Once this has been accomplished, its time to get serious and do some research so you don't get ripped off or at the very least, get mislead and pay more for the diamond than its worth.

Based upon what your budget is, the four C's of diamond grading is a great qualifier when shopping around for your diamond. They are Carat, Clarity, Cut and color. The size of the diamond is only a small indictor of the overall price. A lot of the Four C's Criteria is based on what's in style at the time and your significant others personal taste. Some people like big bling no matter what the quality of the stone. For them, a two carat rock is all they want regardless of clarity or cut. You could get a good deal on a large cloudy gray diamond, full of inclusions if you know what your looking for.

If your spouse to be prefers a clear or colorless stone, then the clarity of a diamond is of the highest importance. That's when you need to familiarize yourself with the clarity grade scale offered by the GIA. Grades range on a sliding scale from flawless to be included, denoted by a series of letters and numbers.

D ) The highest color grade which is extremely rare. The diamond is perfectly white.

E ) Colorless. Only minute traces of color can be seen by an expert gemologist. Also, very rare.

F ) Colorless. Slight color can be seen by an expert gemologist, but is still considered colorless. This is a high quality diamond.

G-H ) Nearly colorless. The color can be noticeable when in comparison to a diamond with a better grade. These diamonds are an excellent value.

I-J ) Nearly Colorless. Color slightly detectable. Still and excellent value.

K-M ) Yellowish or Brownish Color. Color is detectable with the naked eye.

N-Z ) Yellowish or Brownish Color. Color is detectable from a mile away.

Tips to Remember

2. The diamond has been clarity enhanced. This means that the clarity of the stone has been enhanced by the jeweler. The most common practice is called fracture filled or laser drilled. They laser the inclusions out of the diamond. This leaves tunnels or lines in the diamond, they then fill the fractures with glass. This is a neat process, and you will never know it if they don't tell you.

3. Heat treated or HTTP (High temperature/High pressure annealing.) Through this process, they can take a brown diamond and turn it colorless. These are sold by the name, Pegasus or Bellataire diamonds.

4. Cultured diamonds. These are grown in labs. Sometimes synthetic diamonds are referred to as Cultured. This is incorrect. If the jeweler is trying to pass off a synthetic diamond as a cultured diamond, move on....

All these above mention treatments are ok as long as you know what you getting. When the details about the different types of treatments are disclosed to you, then you know that you can trust that the jeweler is honest and you can make a better buying descision on the diamond with that certain treatment in mind. It is only dishonest when these facts are not disclosed and the customer believes he or she is getting a better quality diamond than what it actually is. diamond ring