The Ultimate Guide To Buying an Engagement Ring

By Heards Jewellers

Find the girl who is the “one.” Check. Ask her father for her hand in marriage. Check. Plan the perfect proposal. Check. Buy engagement ring. Hmmmm….. Buying an engagement ring can be an overwhelming task. There’s a lot of pressure on this purchase. It’s a symbol of your love for your girlfriend, and it’s a token of your willingness to take the relationship to the next level. Plus, it doesn’t help that your fiancé will be showing off the ring to her friends and family.

For many men, the purchase of their lady’s engagement ring will be their first experience in the wild world of jewelry. When they walk into a jewellery store they’re inundated with terms and concepts that they’ve never heard before. Tiffany setting? Inclusions? Eternity band?

Don’t fear. We’ve put together a great guide to help you purchase an engagement ring that your girlfriend will be blown away by.

Many people are confused about how diamonds are priced. The best explanation is that asking for the price of a diamond is like asking for the price of a house. A real estate agent can't quote you a price for a house without knowing its size, condition, location, etc. This process is the same one used when buying a diamond.

A diamond's beauty, rarity, and price depend on the interplay of all the 4Cs—cut, clarity, carat, and colour.

The 4Cs are used throughout the world to classify the rarity of diamonds. Diamonds with the combination of the highest 4C ratings are more rare and, consequently, more expensive. No one C is more important than another in terms of beauty and it is important to note that each of the 4Cs will not diminish in value over time.

Once you have established those 4C characteristics that are most important to you, we can then begin to show you various options and prices.

CARAT

Refers to the weight of a diamond. Carat is often confused with size even though it is actually a measure of weight. A 1-carat diamond costs exactly twice the price of a half-carat diamond, right? Wrong. Since larger diamonds are found less frequently in nature, which places them at the rarest level of the Diamond Quality Pyramid, a 1-carat diamond will cost more than twice a 1/2-carat diamond (assuming colour, clarity and cut remain constant). Cut and mounting can make a diamond appear larger (or smaller) than its actual weight. We can help you to find the right diamond and setting to optimize the beauty of your stone.

CLARITY

Refers to the presence of inclusions in a diamond. Inclusions are natural identifying characteristics such as minerals or fractures, appearing while diamonds are formed in the earth. They may look like tiny crystals, clouds or feathers. To view inclusions, jewellers use a magnifying loupe. This tool allows jewellers to see a diamond at 10 times its actual size so that inclusions are easier to see. The position of inclusions can affect the value of a diamond. There are very few flawless diamonds found in nature, thus these diamonds are much more valuable. Inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection, known as clarity, which was established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The clarity scale, ranging from F (Flawless) to I (Included), is based on the visibility of inclusions at a magnification of 10x. Some inclusions can be hidden by a mounting, thus having little effect on the beauty of a diamond. An inclusion in the middle or top of a diamond could impact the dispersion of light, sometimes making the diamond less brilliant. The greater a diamond's clarity, the more brilliant, valuable and rare it is—and the higher it is on the Diamond Quality Pyramid.

COLOUR

Refers to the degree to which a diamond is colourless. Diamonds range in colour from icy winter whites to warm summer whites. Diamonds are graded on a colour scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) which ranges from D (colourless) to Z. Colour differences are very subtle and it is very difficult to see the difference between, say, an E and an F. Therefore, colours are graded under controlled lighting conditions and are compared to a master set for accuracy. Truly colourless stones, graded D, treasured for their rarity, are highest on the Diamond Quality Pyramid. Colour, however, ultimately comes down to personal taste. We can show you a variety of colour grades next to one another to help you determine your colour preference.

CUT

Refers to the angles and proportions of a diamond. Based on scientific formulas, a well-cut diamond will internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another and disperse and reflect it through the top of the stone. This results in a display of brilliance and fire, thereby placing well-cut diamonds higher on the Diamond Quality Pyramid than deep or shallow-cut diamonds. Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow lose or leak light through the side or bottom, resulting in less brilliance and ultimately, value. Cut also refers to shape—round, square, pear, or heart for example. Since a round diamond is symmetrical and capable of reflecting nearly all the light that enters, it is the most brilliant of all diamond shapes and follows specific proportional guidelines.

What to Spend?

When you start to think about buying a diamond—and the love it will symbolise—you naturally want the best you can afford and a beautiful stone you will treasure forever.

Diamonds can be found in a range of prices - and you're certain to find one that suits your taste and what you plan to spend. If you're about to buy a Diamond Engagement Ring, you may want to consider spending the commonly accepted guideline of two months' salary. But it's up to you to settle on a diamond that will truly represent your deepest emotions and the promise for the future you will share.

Where to buy?

As a manufacturing jeweller we offer an extensive range of beautiful engagement rings in store. Should you require something a bit more unique and different we are able to provide a custom make service. Once you have established what style of ring is most preferable we will be able to provide you with a computer generated image, which ultimately assist with the overview of the ring before we make it.