3. Buying The Engagement Ring

Posted on 24 September 2010 by admin

3. Buying The Engagement Ring

Buying an engagement ring is a huge decision. Not only will this be the one piece of jewellery worn by the love of your life signifying that she has committed her life to you, her one special man but there is also the financial aspect. The best thing before buying an engagement ring is to become educated about this type of jewellery.

Knowing and understanding information about diamonds is what will put you in control of the situation, meaning when you do shop for an engagement ring, you can “talk the talk”. The result is that you will be able to buy the best ring for the money that you have.

3.1 Diamond Anatomy

First, just as a person would learn all they can about a particular car before buying it, the same is true when buying an engagement ring. The more you know, the better prepared you will be in making a good purchase. Unfortunately, many people will simply walk into a jewellery store, look at a few rings and in a matter of 30 minutes, they make a purchase.

Let us start by saying that diamonds are actually crystals comprised entirely of carbon atoms, which are arranged in a cubic or isometric matrix. With a cubic crystal, it expands outward in all directions during the initial growth, moving at identical rates. The process involves the crystal forming without any type of interference, which makes it pure and a perfect octahedral shape.

Now, the key word is “interference” since most crystals encounter some type of interference during the growing process to include heat, pressure, other elements and at times, even other crystals. When this happens, the crystal becomes altered to a certain degree. The crystal’s form and characteristics are changed, meaning it is no longer perfect.

Once the crystal reaches the Earth’s surface, it’s future colour, clarity and shape can be determined by a gemologist, with the diamond’s uniqueness being determined by the molecular composition and crystal structure. These very qualities are what are found in the polished diamond chosen for the engagement ring.

Taking time to learn about diamonds and various metals puts you in the driver’s seat so you can ask intelligent questions and identify when untruths are told. Knowing a diamond’s anatomy is important in helping to understand the difference between buying an average ring versus a spectacular ring.

3.2 Reputable Jewellers

There are many ways to find a reputable jeweller, start by asking friends and family for recommendations. Additionally, local stores in the community that have been established for years would be options to consider. Once the search has been narrowed down, a search can be performed at the Office Of Consumer And Business Affairs where you can view any past and present complaints.

Another option can be found on the internet. Doing a Google search will assist you in finding quality jewellery stores within your specific area and best of all the service is FREE! In addition to considering local businesses, great options are available on the internet. Online auction sites such as eBay are loaded with beautiful, quality engagement rings but with this or any online auction, checking all the information, obtaining certification and having contact with the seller to ask questions is imperative.

Even so, the most important aspect of buying an engagement ring online is to make sure the seller offers a 100% guarantee, stating if not satisfied for any reason after the purchase, the diamond engagement ring can be returned for a full refund. Once the purchase is complete, another jeweller should inspect the ring to ensure that the ring purchased is exactly what was presented.

Again, having the right wording in the contract is what will provide the best protection. This would include a clause stating that once the second jeweller has checked the ring, if there has been any misrepresentation on the part of the original seller, a full refund will be given within an agreed upon timeframe.

Although most jewellers and online auction sellers are honest and reputable, you owe it to yourself and your future bride to know exactly what to look for when shopping and buying. Additional information is provided in this post, detailing with specifics about carat, clarity, colour and cut as well as other key facts that will help you become an expert!

3.3 Beyond The Naked Eye

Most people have been in a jewellery store where they have seen jewellers showing pieces of jewellery to customers, using a magnification loupe. What many buyers are not aware of is that they too can look through the loupe merely by asking to do so. When ready to buy an engagement ring, you too should always ask to see every ring you are interested in through a loupe.

Typically, jewellers will show a diamond engagement ring using a 2x or 5x loupe. However, you need to insist that a 10x loupe be used rather than the weaker option. This means that you will be able to see with ten times the magnification, showing imperfections much clearer. If for some reason the jeweller is hesitant or refuses to comply, then it is time for you to find a different jewellery store.

Unfortunately, using a less powerful loupe is a ploy used by some jewellers when trying to hide a less than perfect diamond engagement ring being presented as a higher grade one. Therefore, looking at the diamond prior to making the purchase is crucial. Additionally, you should never feel rushed through the process. Instead, take about five to ten minutes or whatever time is needed to look at the ring.

This will provide you with the appropriate time necessary to identify any inclusions and it will serve to convince the jeweller that you know what you are looking at and for, again giving you an advantage when negotiating the purchase. The next step would be to ask the jeweller for a pair of diamond tweezers.

Focusing the loupe a couple of inches from the engagement ring under good lighting, the facets should be checked to ensure they are tight. Finally, the diamond should be examined from the top down, which helps to see if the diamond is centred and the shape is correct. When doing this, the bottom of the diamond should be seen coming to a precise point.

The money spent on an engagement ring is hard earned. Therefore, you need to remind yourself that you have every right to see the diamond engagement ring for what it really is. If flaws are found that were not mentioned or misrepresented, again, this can easily be turned to your advantage in getting a better price.

3.4 Certification

Regardless of where the engagement ring is purchased, it should be certified. This means that the ring has been inspected by an independent appraiser and comes with a document outlining what is being bought. Since there are just four types of approved appraisers, the stamp of approval should include one of the following:

AGS.
EGL.
GIA.
IGI.

When shopping for the perfect engagement ring, it is important to receive this certificate but if one is not offered, again, find another jeweller.

3.5 The Four C’s

The four C’s include carat, clarity, colour and cut, with clarity being the most important. Each of these is important and crucial in the decision-making process.

3.5.1 Carat

Carat is the reference to the stone’s weight. Each carat is divided into 100 points. Therefore, a 10-point diamond weighs one-tenth of a carat, a 50-point diamond would equal a half carat and so on. Typically, a larger size carat would cost more but keep in mind that the quality is the factor that will affect the price the most.

Carat should not be confused with karat, which is completely different. The carat, as mentioned above, is the size/weight of the diamond while the karat has to do with the gold or metal of the band and setting.

3.5.2 Clarity

Clarity is a reference to flaws or imperfections seen in the diamond. When diamonds are looked at, the goal is to find one with the fewest imperfections possible. However, the fewer imperfections a diamond has, the greater the price. When a diamond has few flaws, it shines more, giving it a much more brilliant appearance.

The important thing to remember is that all diamonds have imperfections, even the most expensive diamonds in the world. Since most flaws can not be seen by the naked eye, the professional’s expertise and your newfound knowledge will be depended upon, which is another reason why working with a reputable jeweller is so critical. Working within your specific budget, you will know exactly the level of perfection that you can afford.

Clarity is rated on a scale that includes the following:

Flawless.
Internally flawless.
VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3.

At the top of the scale is “flawless”, which does not mean that the diamond is without flaws, just that they can not be seen unless examined under 10x magnification. On the bottom of the scale is “I3”, which refers to imperfections that can be seen clearly without assistance.

Another way to look at this would be as follows:

F1-Flawless.
IF – Internally flawless – some surface flaws.
WS1/WS2 – Very, very small inclusions.
VS1/VS2 – Very small inclusions.
SI1/SI2 – Small inclusions.
I1/I2/I3 – Imperfect.

If you are not sure what level to consider, you can always feel confident buying a ring with a VS or SI rating. These diamonds are beautiful and fit within most budgets. Additionally, while the diamond will have some imperfections, they can not be seen.

3.5.3 Colour

When most people think of a diamond, they envision a clear, shiny stone. While it is true that the standard diamond will range in colour from very clear to a yellowish tint, if you happen to have unlimited funds, you might even consider buying a fancy stone that includes colours such as pink, blue and so on.

For the standard diamond, the goal is to buy one with as little colour as possible. A diamond with a yellow tinge means that the stone is poor quality (unless it is a fancy yellow diamond, which actually looks different). The colour of the stone is rated by the Gemological Association Of Australia using a letter scale. Most colour is difficult to see and will actually appear more as a shade.

Excluding special coloured diamonds, a diamond with the least amount of colour is best. Finding a diamond with a D rating is the best and most expensive while those falling within the N to Z range are not as clear and not as costly.

The ratings include the following:

D, E, F – Colourless.
G, H, I, J – Near colourless.
K, L, M – Faint yellow.
N to Z – Very light or light yellow.

3.5.4 Cut

The cut of a diamond is the shape. Going back into history, the cut of most engagement rings was round. The only time a different cut was seen, was if the suitor had the financial means to have the diamond customised. Thanks to technology, a wide array of cuts has been created, offering you many more options.

Today, the round and oval cuts are still very popular. However, when it comes to price, several factors would need to be considered. For instance, if you were to compare a 1-carat round cut diamond and a 1-carat princess cut side by side the princess cut would look larger.

Additionally, because the princess cut has more angles, meaning the diamond cutter had to spend more time and effort to create this particular cut, the price would be greater. When an engagement ring has a quality cut, it means that all the faces are aligned and in proper proportion. Some cuts have perfect alignment and proportion, which is more difficult to achieve.

Other cuts available on the market today include:

Brilliant.
Emerald.
Heart.
Marquise.
Oval.
Pear.
Princess.
Radiant.
Round.
Teardrop.

Second to the round cut, the princess cut is very popular. This particular cut has an appearance that is perfect for most women. As mentioned, the princess cut will look larger than other cuts of the same carat simply because of their shape. For the round cut, it will actually hold it’s value longer than other cuts.

Interestingly, while the engagement ring is purchased for a proposal, you might also consider the aspect of investment, which many couples do. Numerous studies have been performed, matching the various cuts to personality. I have listed a few of the results below:

Heart – Sentimental, sensitive, trusting, feminine.
Marquise – Assertive, career oriented, extroverted, innovative.
Oval – Individualistic, creative, organised, willing to take chances.
Pear – Conforming, adaptable, considerate.
Rectangle / Square – Conservative, honest, efficient, disciplined.
Round – Family focused, dependable, non-aggressive.

By following the guidelines of the four C’s, you can choose an incredible engagement ring that is unique to the woman you love and one that will last a lifetime.