Picking the right diamond for your engagement ring is one of the most personal decisions that you get to make in this world. To help simplify your search, experts use the 4 Cs: Diamond quality is judged based on four parameters which are known as the four Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat. Knowledge about these four characteristics will help you in choosing the best diamond which meets your requirement and appropriately priced.
Cut: The Sparkle Factor
What’s more, the cut of a diamond has been considered one of the most important factors that define the shine. It’s not what it sounds like it means, referring to the actual shape of the diamond, such as round or pear, but how the facets of the diamond reflect light. A well-cut diamond will create light in the stone, which will make it look alive hence bright.
Color: Color, color and color again Next to color, texture is an effective way of finding the right hue
Diamonds may be colorless or have slight yellow, or brownish tint. The fewer the colours of a diamond, the higher the value of it. Look at the from D – colorless to Z – light yellow or brown color concentration is graded. Diamonds which have been assigned D, E and F color grades are considered the whitest and are therefore the most popular among consumers because of their pristine, clear, or icy look.
However, the diamonds that come with G-H rating are nearly colorless and cost much lesser than the diamonds in D-E range. It is for this very reason that in a yellow or rose gold engagement ring setting, a slightly warmer diamond falls in the 1-J range, will look completely colourless and that offer great value prospects.
Clarity: Perfection vs. Perception
Clarity quantitates the number of inclusions or internal imperfections and blemishes or external imperfection Some faults are present in most gems but they are not usually visible to the naked eye as most of them are microscopic in nature. Clarity is rated based on Flawless, Good, Fair, Poor and Included.
However, it is also important to remember that even though exceptionally clear diamonds exist it is possible to save a lot of money getting a diamond that despite having some inclusions visible only with the help of a microscope is absolutely useless in any practical applied sense. VS1 (Very Slightly Included) and SI1 (Slightly Included) stones will therefore blend both beauty and reasonable rates and therefore they are preferred when the eye cannot see the difference between the diamonds.
Carat: Weight Vs. Visual Size
Carat denotes the weight of a diamond, but people tend to refer carat as the size of the diamond. Bigger stones are scarcer and costlier, but diamond carat age can’t determine a diamond’s beauty alone. The wonderful world of diamonds is well illustrated by the fact that a well-cut small diamond can sparkle more than a large bronze diamond.
Thus, depending on your budget and taste, it is possible to choose a carat weight desired. A neatly chosen one-carat diamond engagement ring is beautiful; however, a ‘zero’ carat stone can equally make a woman’s finger look elegant. A ring labelled as genuine 9-carat diamond will appear almost identical to the above, and yet still cost much less. The other Cs will enable you to find the appropriate diamond after understanding and gauging how much carat you want.
Timeless Tips to Select Your Ideal Engagement Ring
Thinking further than the 4 Cs, consider the shape and how this diamond will complement other aspects of the engagement ring. Are you a person who loves that traditional shine of the round brilliant cut or do you have an inclination towards the cuts which are not conventional such as emerald, pear etc. The setting, whether you choose a plain solitaire, or a complex halo will determine the way your diamond looks and feels.
Final Thoughts
Picking the right diamond for one’s engagement ring is a very private decision. Four characteristics or factors known as the 4 C’s helps to make an informed decision on the type and size of a diamond one can afford. Whether it was a traditional diamond ring or a more contemporary one, it is significant that the engagement ring you put on your woman’s finger is one that tells your special story.
