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It is traditional for the groom to present the
bride-to-be with an engagement ring.
Engagement rings are commonly diamond rings, with $5 billion
of the $30 billion diamond jewelry market in the U.S. being
spent on engagement rings. While a diamond is the preferred
precious stone, being the most expensive and therefore the
most precious, diamonds are not the only gems used in
engagement rings.
To the untrained eye, all high-quality diamonds look equally
beautiful. Most people base their evaluation of a diamond on
its size, shape, and price. A lower price is not necessarily
a bargain, as it may mean a smaller gem or lower gem
quality.
The Four C’s: Carat Weight
Estimating diamond quality accurately requires skill,
knowledge, and experience. The diamond is graded in
accordance with a combination of characteristics such as
cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. These characteristics
are called the 4 c’s. Weight is measured in carats, with one
carat being one fifth of a gram. Most diamonds range from
0.25 to several carats. The largest cut diamond in the
world, the Cullinan, weighs 530.20 carats. It is set in the
scepter of King Edward VII and kept in the Tower of London.
Needless to say, it is not for sale!
The Four C’s: Color
Color is an important factor in evaluating diamond quality.
Colorless diamonds are the rarest and most valuable of all
diamonds. Diamonds with a hint of yellow are less pure and
less expensive. Colorless diamonds are color graded A
through D, with A being the most transparent and most
expensive. Diamonds with a color grade from D to F are
considered colorless and are more expensive than diamonds
with a color grade from G to Z. A diamond with a Z color
grade is the least expensive of all color grades.
High-quality jewelry stores usually do not sell diamonds
with color grades of K to Z.
Absolutely colorless diamonds of grades A through D are very
rare and extraordinary. Diamonds with a color grade of E or
F are still considered rare finds, and even an expert
gemologist can only detect minute to slight traces of color.
The Four C’s: Cut
The next factor important in determining the value of a
diamond is its cut. As with the other characteristics, cut
is difficult for the untrained eye to judge. Cut is judged
on a scale that ranges from excellent to poor. The grading
certificate that comes with a certified diamond will state
the grading of its cut. A certified diamond, graded by an
independent testing institution such as the GIA, costs more,
but you are also assured of the diamond’s quality.
The Four C’s: Clarity
Clarity refers to the diamond’s purity or lack of flaws.
Most diamonds have minute imperfections called inclusions. A
flawless diamond is extremely rare and, of course, extremely
valuable. The more inclusions, the less expensive a diamond.
Clarity is graded on a scale from flawless (FL) to imperfect
(I1 to I2). Most diamonds fall in between those with very
small inclusions (VVS1) to those with slightly larger
inclusions (S1). To confirm the clarity of a diamond,
examine the laboratory certificate. If you are willing to
compromise on clarity, you can save money in purchasing a
diamond.
Another way to save money is to avoid big-name jewelry
stores. If money is tight but you must purchase a diamond
ring, you might buy wholesale. While the main business of
wholesalers is to sell to retailers, they will also sell to
the public. However, you have to seek them out because they
don’t advertise in the same venues as retail jewelry stores.
You can easily find jewelry wholesalers on the Internet or
listed as diamond merchants in the phone book.
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From all of us here at engagement rings guide - For the
celebration that is uniquely yours - may your engagement,
wedding and the rest of your life be filled with happiness.
Some of our other pages about engagements and jewelry.
Please feel free to browse our articles. We hope we can be
of service by helping you find the information you need to
make your engagement and wedding something to be remembered.
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