How to Buy a 3-Carat Diamond Engagement Ring

Diamonds that come in a variety of colors are called fancy diamonds.

Because you already know what size of diamond you want, there are a few things to consider before you buy a ring. You need to pay attention to the quality of the diamond and pick a setting that suits your taste.

Color

The Gemalogical Institute of America's color-grading scale is the industry standard. The scale starts at D, representing colorless, and ends at Z, which represents near colorless. The closer the diamond is to D, the more it's worth. If you don't want a white diamond, consider buying a fancy, or colored, diamond. They come in gold, blue, pink and other colors.

Clarity

Under a microscope, you can see the blemishes in many diamonds. Diamonds with fewer flaws or no flaws, however, are of higher quality and cost more. The Gemalogical Institute of America's International Diamond Grading System grades clarity from flawless (FL) to diamonds with obvious inclusions, or blemishes (I3).

Cut

Diamonds are cut in a variety of shapes that affect how they reflect the light. Cuts include princess (square cut), round, pear, heart, emerald and others.

Setting Style

Choose from classic solitaire settings, tension settings, antique styles and those with diamond and gemstone accents. Pay attention to how many prongs hold the diamond, which can affect how securely it's fastened and how well the light can hit it.

Metals

Settings often come in yellow gold, platinum and white gold. Platinum is a naturally white metal and feels heavier than white gold. White gold is less expensive than platinum but requires rhodium plating every 12 to 18 months to keep its white appearance.

References

• The Gemalogical Society: About the Four C's
• Adiamor: Ring Guide