How to Buy a Diamond Engagement Ring

When most people go shopping for an engagement ring, they look for a diamond ring. Diamond engagement rings are worn by most brides-to-be and should reflect the woman's particular style and tastes. You should know some basics about diamond engagement rings before you make this significant purchase.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Know the Four Cs

1. Consider the cut of the diamond. The cut is not the actual shape of the diamond. It is actually the depth, width and height of the diamond. All proportions of a diamond should be taken into consideration before buying a ring.
2. Find out the clarity of the diamond. There is never going to be a perfect diamond that is absolutely clear, but your goal is to find a diamond that will not look flawed and cloudy when admired.
3. Examine the color of the diamond in the engagement ring. The more yellow the diamond, the less value it holds.
4. Inquire about the diamond's carat. A bigger carat diamond will be flashier and will likely be more expensive as well.

Choosing the Ring

5. Choose the diamond shape. The most popular shapes include round, oval, square, marquis, pear shaped and heart shaped. Look at the different shapes and decide which one fits her style.
6. Decide on the size of the diamond. Depending on your budget, you will want to get an idea on how many carats you want to feature in the ring. More carats equal a larger diamond.
7. Find a setting that will look nice with the diamond and band. A setting can allow the diamond to jut out to make it look larger or lay close to the diamond in order to avoid snagging on clothes. You can also choose how many stones that you want to have in the setting.
8. Pick the ring's metal. Once you decide on the diamond shape, you will want to consider the material that you want to use with the ring. The three choices that most couples use are platinum, white gold and yellow gold.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not choose a diamond based on size alone. A larger diamond doesn't necessarily look nicer than a smaller, but higher quality stone.
• You can choose to engrave the diamond ring as well. Put a small message from the heart on the inside of the engagement ring.