How to Choose a Stone for an Engagement Ring

The stone is the most important part of an engagement ring, so it is important to know how to pick a quality one within your budget. Consider more than price-tag and size--know your fiancée and your budget in order to best choose a stone when you buy an engagement ring.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• budget
• a prioritized list

1. Study up on the four C's. You'll be buying a diamond, so you'll want to know what affects a diamonds quality. Read on for a brief rundown.

2. Know about carat. Carats are the size of the diamond. Bigger is, presumably better and also more expensive.
   

3. Learn about cut. Cut affects how much a diamond will sparkle. Different sized stones will sparkle more with different cuts.

4. Understand color. Color ranks from D to Z. A diamond with a rank of D is completely clear while a rank of Z is a little yellow. In theory, clearer is better but the difference between a J and a D is indiscernible by the naked eye, but the price difference is huge.
   

5. Be clear on clarity. Judging clarity is about the same as judging color. The scale is flawless, internally flawless, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3. VS and SI diamonds are the most economical choice, as the flaws are only visible through a microscope.

6. Decide on a budget. Traditionally, you should save up about two to three month's salary to pay for the ring. But don't be limited to that. If you can afford a bit more or can find a beautiful ring for less, go for it.
   

7. Prioritize the four C's. When comparing diamonds, choose an aspect and then compare other diamonds with similar ratings. For example, if you want a 2.0 carat diamond, then compare the clarity, cut and color of other 2.0 carat diamonds.

8. Compare stones loose. It's easier to see imperfections and innate quality in a diamond when they aren't mounted.

9. Choose a ring and setting. Choosing the perfect ring and setting can make or break a diamond. After you decide upon a stone, decide upon a setting that fits your fiancée's preferences and personality.
   

Tips & Warnings

• Always make sure a diamond is certified. Ask to see documentation proving that it was appraised by an industry recognized association such as the GIA, IGI, EGL or AGS.
• Haggle. Tell the jeweler about 10% less than your budget and go from there.
• When trying to find out your girlfriend's likes and dislikes, ask some of her friends or listen closely to her for hints.
• You can get rings off the Internet. Avoid this at all cost.
• Be sure you know the origin of your stone so you know it wasn't used to fund a bloody coup or mass genocide in some war ravaged country. These are called conflict diamonds or blood diamonds.