Size is not everything when it comes to buying diamonds for engagement rings. Even the largest diamond can lack fire and brilliance if it doesn’t include the four c’s of high quality diamonds. Engagement rings that have diamonds with good cut, color, clarity and carat will be beautiful for a lifetime and well worth the price.
Carat, a weight measurement equal to 0.2 grams, is perhaps the easiest diamond grade to understand. Engagement ring settings that feature solitaire diamonds often have very large carat stones because they are central to the ring. However the diamond should also be a perfect as possible since any flaws will be very noticeable.
Color is also important in determining what engagement rings will fit in your budget and style range. The color or colorlessness of a diamond is graded with a letter. G grade diamonds are colorless to the eye and will capture and enhance light once they are cut. Many diamonds may have a very slight tint of yellow, which will make them less expensive, but not necessarily a bad choice. Yellow gold settings are very well matched with very slight yellow colorations in diamonds.
Diamonds for engagement rings should be free from external or internal marks, blemishes or bubble type formations. Inclusions inside the diamond will impact on reflection of light and damages to the surface will likewise detract from the appearance of the gem.
The larger and more central the diamond is in the setting the better quality it should be with regards to at least cut, color and clarity. Every diamond in engagement ring settings or other jewelry is going to have some slight flaw, but the larger the stone size the more important a flawless appearance will be.
Cut is not the same as shape when it comes to diamonds, although many people use the two terms somewhat interchangeably. Cut refers to the angles or facets within the diamond that reflect light, creating the fire seen in diamonds. If the facets are not correctly placed there is no sparkle or depth to the diamond. With a poor cut even the best color, clarity and carat diamonds will not look appealing in engagement ring settings.
Getting to know a bit about the 4 C’s of diamonds takes just a bit of time and practice. Looking at antique engagement rings is a good way to start, especially if you know what the diamond description is in the ring. This practice will help you in moving forward when shopping for diamonds to put in a setting or in traditional types of engagement rings.
Engagement rings that feature the best possible cut, color, clarity and carat to fit your budget are really the best option. Many jewelers can help maximize the beauty your choices in engagement rings by changing the shape of the diamond to maximize the 4 c’s given the style of ring you have selected.
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