Diamond Engagement Rings

Diamond engagement rings are the largest investment many men make in any one gift item in their lives. As a result, some thought and consideration must be put into the purchase of an engagement ring. Generally, engagement rings are comprised of a precious metal and diamonds. Choosing the metal is often an easier choice, choosing the perfect diamond can be a little more challenging. The following guide to the four Cs will help you when shopping for engagement rings.

Carat

The first C is carat. This is the diamond’s actual size. There are 100 points in each carat so a ¾ carat diamond has 75 points and a ½ carat diamond has 50. People mistakenly believe the bigger the diamond the better. But, that is not always the case. Well cut, small diamonds may be considerably more beautiful than a poorly cut three carat diamond. So, size is important but it is not all that matters.

Cut

Some people don’t think of cut as being one of the most important of the four Cs, but it actually could be the most important of all. That is because the better a stone is cut the more it will sparkle. Cut can really make a diamond brilliant with lots of fire, so this is an important C to keep in mind.

Remember, too, that modern cut diamonds generally have a better cut than older diamonds thanks to new technology. Keep this in mind when shopping for engagement rings.

Colour

A diamond’s natural color is known as the third C, color. Nature decides what color a diamond will have and the rarest are the colorless diamonds. These have grades of D, E, and F, and you are not likely to find many of these. They are rare and expensive and unbelievably beautiful. The closer other diamonds are to colorless the more they will cost. So, count on a G color diamond costing more than an I color diamond.

Clarity

Clarity, the final C, indicates how pure the diamond is. Diamonds are extracted from the earth and they have inclusions, natural elements that are caught inside the stone, in almost all cases. The fewer inclusions a stone has the better its clarity. Likewise, the more inclusions, or birthmarks as they are sometimes called, the lower the clarity grade.

This introductory guide to the four Cs of diamonds should prepare you to begin shopping for engagement rings and the perfect diamond. If you would like to discuss your particular diamond requirements and receive free expert advice from one of our trained diamond specialists please do call us we would be very pleased to help.