Diamond rings have long been the preferred piece of jewelry to mark an engagement. Every woman would love to have a diamond engagement ring, but purchasing one can be very intimidating for a man. Diamond rings are not cheap- the best thing a man can do before buying a diamond ring is to educate himself about diamonds.
The main aspects that determine the price of a diamond are the 4 C's- cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. The cut does not refer to the shape of the diamond. Instead the cut of a diamond is determined by the proportions of the diamond and the uniformity of the diamond's facets. The depth, width, and uniformity of a diamond are responsible for creating the sparkle and brilliance of a diamond. When buying a diamond ring look for a diamond that is ideal cut- these stones have the proper proportions to provide excellent brilliance.
Diamonds come in many different colors in nature, but the most desirable diamond is a colorless diamond. Diamond color is rated from D to Z. Diamonds rated D, E, or F are considered colorless. This grade of diamond can be very expensive. Diamonds rated G, H, I, or J are considered near colorless. A diamonds ranked lower than a J is not as desirable due to its faint yellow color.
Diamond clarity ratings are based on the imperfections found inside and on the surface of a diamond. The clarity rating can effect the price of the diamond. A flawless (Fl) diamond is very rare and very expensive. An included diamond (I1, I2, or I3) has flaws that are visible and may effect the brilliance of the diamond. The ratings in between are good quality diamonds and any imperfection that is present can only be seen under magnification by an experienced jeweler.
The term carat refers to the weight of the diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams of weight. The larger the carat weight the more expensive the diamond. But do not confuse carat weight with size; a dense 1 carat diamond may look smaller than another 1 carat diamond. How big a diamond looks can be greatly impacted by the shape of the diamond as well as the cut.