*This is a collaborative post*
The world is awash with ring designs, stone options and jewelry stores to choose from – no wonder that most people panic at the thought of buying an engagement ring! Let’s not kid around – it is a massive purchase, and because it is symbolic of the love you have for your significant other, not to mention the significant financial commitment that goes with buying a ring, many people put themselves under great pressure to “do it right”.
Factors that count
The 4 C’s carry legendary status in the diamond world. Far from being the be-all and end-all of diamond buying, they do offer a great resource to refer to when making the selection of the right diamond. Cut, color, clarity, and carat weight ultimately inform any purchase decision you are likely to make, and the combination of the four determine overall value of the diamond.
Cut
This refers to the angles and proportions of the stone after processing. This is the only one of the 3 C’s that is not guided by nature, but rather by human intervention and a diamond cutter. The trick with cutting diamonds is to cut it in such a way that it reflects light between its component facets, allowing the light to leave the top of the stone, which is what gives a diamond its sparkle.
Carat weight
A diamond’s size and weight is measured in carats, and the average size for an engagement ring is in the one to two carat range. Don’t feel pressurised by these number though – it is perfectly possible to get a cheap diamond ring that communicates your love.
Color
Many people are surprised to learn that diamonds come in a range of colors. The color of diamonds is graded from D (colorless) to Z (yellow). Absolutely colorless diamonds are the rarest and most expensive, while white diamonds are the most popular. But despite all the grades, diamond color actually comes down to personal taste
Clarity
Inclusions are the tiny imperfections that occur on diamonds, and even a stone that looks flawless to the naked eye can have inclusions as a result of the carbon activity over the years that the diamond spent in formation. The clarity of the diamond is determined by these small imperfections, and the fewer inclusions, the more valuable the diamond.
Keep it personal
Designing a ring with a private jeweller can be a way to save money, particularly if they work privately and do not have to charge money to cover floor space in the form of a physical store. This is one of a few routes you could pursue when you are on the hunt for a cheap diamond engagement ring. Another benefit of this route is personalised attention – something which is not always readily available when taking the chain store route. A private jeweller will be far more likely to help you with personalised requests than an off-the-shelf purchase would have been.
