Diamonds earrings have always been a popular choice for men to give to the one they love. Also, women choose these earrings because these are sturdy and beautiful. Therefore, before setting out to buy the pair that you have coveted, see if these are worth your money.

Diamonds earrings are expensive—a fact in life, really. Before you buy diamonds earrings, it is better to do some background research to determine which cut or shape should you buy. Diamonds are far too expensive for you to make instant decisions.

Four Cs.There are four Cs that you have to watch out for when you set out to buy diamonds earrings. The value of the diamond depends on these 4 Cs; thus, the value of the earrings depends on the 4 Cs too.

Carat. This is a familiar term to most of us because this is how gold is categorized too. However, although a lot of people are familiar with the word, not many know what it actually means. Carat is the measure of the weight and mass of the diamond. The higher the carat, the more expensive the diamond gets; thus, the more expensive your diamonds earrings will be.

Oftentimes, this is used as the main factor that would determine the value and the popularity of the diamond. For example, the Tiffany Yellow Diamond is recalled mostly as a large octahedron that weighed 287 carats (uncut) then was cut to 128 carats. This diamond is known as the largest golden-yellow diamond. It became popular more because it was large than because it was yellow.

Clarity. Diamond, the hardest material of natural origin, is so hard that only another diamond can scratch it. However, in the process of its turning from ordinary carbon into diamond, there are certain defects in its crystal lattice so that various imperfections can be found either inside or on its surface. The internal defects are called inclusions. Of course, diamonds earrings made of material with no defects will be far more expensive than with even a single defect. The more defects, the lesser the price.

Color. Loose Diamonds are commonly transparent and colorless. However, colored ones are rarer and are, therefore, more valuable. In general, diamonds earrings made of darker and more intense coloration will be more expensive than lighter ones. Also, blue, pink, and green ones are more expensive than yellow and brown ones.

Cut. Perfectly cut diamonds are very expensive. Moreover, those cut to different shapes would be more expensive. For example, lily cut or heart-shaped diamonds earrings will be many times more expensive than those with circle cuts.

However, imperfect diamond earrings will actually work to your advantage because, naturally, these will have lesser value than a perfect one; thus, you will be able to own a diamond that is affordable but still beautiful. Furthermore, these imperfections will act as unique fingerprints to determine your diamond. Also, jewelers have a way of hiding the imperfections so that the inclusions will not be visible especially to untrained eyes.
Always, it will be the size, the color, and the cut of the diamond that will determine its beauty. Those with higher clarity are more expensive; but since clarity does not really have an impact on the diamonds earrings’ beauty, it is better that you don’t choose your earrings based on this criterion.

When you have decided to buy your diamonds earrings, be careful in storing them. Remember that diamonds can scratch other diamonds, so make sure that they do not come in contact with each other.

For more information read our loose diamonds guide – <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(’/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Buy-Loose-Diamonds”>how to buy loose diamond</a>.

Buying diamond rings was never too easy. Especially, when you plan to purchase diamond engagement ring or diamond wedding ring, the task becomes tougher. Because, you are not purchasing another diamond ring for you, in-fact you are going to choose an asset as well as a memorabilia of lifetime for you.

Value and Importance of Engagement Ring

The decision of buying an engagement ring is a onetime decision. Your engagement ring is the delegate for all your love, feelings, affection and lifelong commitments towards your would be life partner. You express your willingness to spend whole life with your fiancée with this engagement ring, and she accepts your proposal and expresses her gratitude by presenting back you another engagement ring. This tradition of exchanging rings carries loads of sentiments in itself, so you have to justify its importance by taking utmost care before buying engagement rings.

Things to consider before buying Engagement Ring

You should take care of a few things before buying a diamond engagement ring or wedding ring, like:

• Your budget

• Sufficient idea of choosing the best diamond for you

• The choice of your fiancée or would be better half

• Latest trends in terms of design, and

• Materials used in making of diamond rings.

Buying Engagement Ring Online from Online Jewellery Stores

If you have decided to buy your engagement ring or wedding band from one of several online jewellery stores, then it is a wonderful decision, you just need to take care of few things to make your online engagement ring shopping experience better and pleasant.

First, verify that the store has certified for selling quality jewellery or not, whether they sell hallmarked diamond engagement rings or other diamond jewellery products not. Never forget to check other additional attractive offers by online jewellery stores, enquire about after sell guarantee or services.

Before making final decision, check several online jewellery stores. Compare their offerings and details of diamonds attached with your engagement ring. Having a glance over previous customer’s feedback or testimonials or views of press would be helpful in clarifying the dependability of an online jewellery store.

Online Jewellery Shopping Tips

Some online shops also provide money back or return of items in most of the cases. You can also avail free cleaning and polishing facilities for your diamond engagement ring. During wedding season, most of online jewellery stores provide either free shipping or some amount of discount. Check all these things and you will end up with best diamond engagement ring for your fiancée along with a satisfactory experience of online jewellery shopping.

Few diamond shoppers can walk into a high-end jewelry store and buy a 5-carat, D color, Internally Flawless diamond with Ideal cut parameters. If you are like most diamond shoppers, you have a limited budget. However, you still want to get the biggest and most beautiful diamond within your budget. You can take some simple steps that will ensure you get the biggest diamond possible.

1) Diamonds have price per carat increases at the most popular carat weights (0.50, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 2.00, etc.) because that is what shoppers request when they go into a jewelry store. Your dollars can go further buying a diamond that has a carat weight just under those weights. For example, a diamond that weighs 0.90 carats can be the same millimeter diameter as a diamond weighing 1.00 carat but cost $1000 less.

2) The price of diamonds is very sensitive to color grade, yet most shoppers have a difficult time seeing the difference between some of the color grades. If you buy the lowest color grade that looks beautiful to your eyes, the lower price per carat allows you to buy a bigger diamond with your dollars. The highest color grades (D, E, and F) are categorized as “colorless.” The next color grades (G, H, I, and J) are “near colorless” and the source of beautiful diamonds at much lower prices.

3) A ring with several smaller diamonds is less expensive than a single diamond with the same total carat weight. For example, three 0.50 carat diamonds will cost a fraction of what a single diamond weighing 1.50 carats. The same holds true for a 1.0-carat center stone with 0.25-carat diamonds on each side. If you want a finger full of diamonds with a limited budget, consider several diamonds rather than a solitaire.

4) All diamonds have inclusions; the key is what you can see with your eye. Once a diamond is clean to the eye (VS2 or good SI1 for brilliant cut shapes), higher clarity grades have no impact on the beauty or appearance of a diamond, they only add to the expense. Get the lowest clarity grade you are comfortable with and save a lot of money will no sacrifice in beauty.

5) The shape of the diamond can affect the millimeter size. Of course, you should always get the diamond shape you like best but some shapes do look larger than other shapes. Ovals, marquises and pear shaped diamonds generally look larger than round or square diamonds with the same carat weight.

6) Even diamonds with the same shape and carat weight can be different sizes. The cut of the diamond can influence the millimeter size. Shallower diamonds tend to be bigger in length and width than deeper diamonds. It is similar to two men each weighing 200 pounds, where the smaller waistline probably results in a taller man.

7) The type of setting you select to hold your diamond can influence the diamond’s perceived size as well as affect the dollars you have to spend on the diamond. White gold settings cost about one-third of platinum settings, leaving more money for your diamond. Bezel set diamonds or diamonds with pave around the center stone can make the diamond appear bigger.

Perhaps the most important factor in getting the biggest diamond for your dollars is where you purchase. The retail markup on diamonds can range from well under 10% with online retailers to over 200% at high-end jewelry stores. Finding a retailer with very low overhead and low prices will ensure more of your dollars go for your diamond. Why spend your money for polished marble floors, fancy display cabinets, and elaborate store interiors, all things you cannot wear out of the store?

In the end, you want to go with the diamond that excites you and makes you happy every time you wear it. That is the best indicator that you have made the right decision and have the best diamond for you.

The cut of a diamond is the physical measurement and relative proportion of a polished diamond and is the most important characteristic in producing a diamond’s beauty. A single number does not define cut. Instead, it is a myriad of measurements, relative percentages, angles, finish, and performance of light within the diamond.

The brilliance and sparkle of a diamond is the result of the reflection and refraction of light within a diamond and is the cumulative effect of the many facets on the surface of the three-dimensional diamond shape. What makes judging cut difficult is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Different people perceive the beauty of a diamond differently in terms of what they perceive as beautiful.

In recent years, major diamond grading laboratories like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS) have established cut grades to help the consumer make better decisions for purchasing diamonds based on cut characteristics. However, the cut grading systems are different from each other and constantly changing. As a result, there is no single official cut grade but the current systems are a giant leap ahead of the past with no cut grades.

The quality of the cut is most visible in terms of how light performs in a diamond to produce Brightness, Fire, and Scintillation.

Brightness is the visual effect of all the internal and external reflections of white light. This brightness (also known as brilliance) results primarily from the angles of the facets and the relative size of the top facet called the table.

Fire is the visual effect of rainbow colored flashes of light caused by the separation of white light into various colors when the diamond acts as a prism.

Scintillation is the visual effect of sparkle and patterns of light and darkness. Sparkle is the points of light that flash as the diamond, the light source or the observer moves. The arrangement and contrast between the bright and dark areas is important to what the eye perceives as beautiful. An all-bright diamond or an all-dark diamond is less attractive than a diamond with a balanced, symmetrical and contrasting pattern of reflection.

Some of the more important diamond measurements influencing the cut grade are depth percentage, table percentage, crown angle, and pavilion angle. The initial cut grade research focused on round brilliant diamond shapes but the grading laboratories are slowly introducing cut grades for the fancy shapes like the princess, emerald, oval, radiant, cushion and others. Each diamond shape has its own set of cut parameters that produce the optimal light performance and beauty for that particular diamond shape.

If the cut of the diamond is the key to its beauty, why would anyone purchase a diamond without great cut? Probably the main reason is lack of knowledge by the consumer. Until recent years, it has been difficult for the consumer to assess the cut of the diamond because jewelers focused on color, clarity and carat weight. The jeweler used the bright lights in the showroom to mask the light performance of the diamond. As the diamond shopper becomes more aware of what constitutes cut and has access to the GIA or AGS cut grades on the diamond grading reports, they will be able to filter out the average and poor cut diamonds in their purchase decisions.

Sometimes budget is a factor in purchasing something less than the best cut. However, cut is typically a real bargain since there is little visual difference between the top echelons of diamond cut and the price difference between average and exceptional cut is often minimal. Perhaps the real cost of getting better cut in a diamond, is the time and effort to learn about cut and to find a retailer who can provide diamonds with exceptional cut at reasonable prices.

Once a diamond shopper has determined what shape of diamond they want to purchase, they need to research what cut parameters contribute to desirable appearance. Some diamond shoppers fall into a trap of narrowly defining their acceptable range for every diamond measurement, not realizing that the beauty of the diamond results from the interrelationships of all the facets. Simply picking the middle of the range for each parameter can lead to a mediocre result. The cut grades are an attempt to rate how a combination of factors work together in the diamond.

Regardless of the cut grade systems today or in the future, only the diamond shopper can determine what is most appealing to their eye. Cut is critical to the beauty of the diamond so making the best diamond purchase decision means understanding the importance of cut and finding that special diamond that is beautiful to behold.

Few men are experts on buying wedding rings. For most men, it’s a process of becoming educated quickly and then searching desperately for the right ring. The amount of money they’re expected to pay for the ring seems fluid, changing each year to accommodate retailers. At the same time, there’s a lot of conflicting advice. In an effort to help smooth the process, making it easier and less stressful, we’ll provide you with 7 quick tips for buying the perfect wedding ring.

Tip #1: Know Your Metals

In the past, most wedding rings were gold and had a golden tone to them. Yellow gold rings are still popular today, but there are other options available. White gold is becoming more prevalent because it allows the stone to stand out. On the other hand, platinum has become increasingly fashionable. It’s more expensive than yellow or white gold, but it’s also more durable.

Tip #2: Know Your Purity

If you plan to buy a wedding ring made from yellow or white gold, you’ll need to understand the purity of the metal. In most cases, gold rings come in 14k, 18k, and 24k. The greater the number of karats, the higher the purity of the gold. 24k gold is more expensive than 14k or 18k. It’s also softer and more prone to becoming scratched.

Tip #3: Know Your 4 C’s

Most wedding rings will have at least one diamond. The quality of the diamond is determined by what are known as the 4 C’s: cut, color, clarity, and caret of the stone. The stone’s cut is what allows the diamond to reflect light. The less color a diamond has, the more valuable it is. Clarity is a reflection of the diamond’s inclusions (or, flaws). And the number of carats is a measurement of the stone’s size.

Tip #4: Take Her With You

The wedding ring that you purchase for your partner will ideally last a lifetime. Many women have specific preferences for the style and design of the ring. Consider taking your partner with you. It may seem less romantic to do so, but it can help you avoid investing in a ring she doesn’t like.

Tip #5: Negotiate

Retailers’ prices for wedding rings usually include substantial markups. That means there is room to negotiate the price. The key is to be upfront and honest with the retailer. If you see the “perfect” wedding ring and can’t afford to buy it at the listed price, let the dealer know. Tell him how much you can afford to spend. Often, they’re willing to lower the price or offer attractive payment options to move the inventory.

Tip #6: Stone First

It’s likely that the wedding ring will become an heirloom, kept in your family for generations. If you’re struggling to afford an attractive ring, invest more in the diamond and less in the ring itself. The diamond often carries greater emotional significance over time.

Tip #7: Size It Properly

Even though having a ring resized is relatively simple, try to have it sized properly by the time you offer it to your partner when you propose. If possible, borrow one of her other rings and present it to the jeweler for sizing. A poorly-sized wedding ring won’t ruin your proposal, but a perfectly-sized ring will help make it flawless.

Investing In The Ring

A common rule of thumb for pricing wedding rings is to allocate two months’ salary. However, that’s an arbitrary figure. Instead, focus primarily on finding a ring that will match your partner’s style and preferences. While your budget will play a major role in the ring you purchase, other factors are more important. Use the 7 tips described above when shopping. If you do, you’ll be better prepared to identify the right ring, confident that your partner will be delighted with it.

BB10 Dan getting advice on buying an engagement ring (7/17)

Two and a Half Men On Buying An Engagement Ring

I am buying my girl a diamond ring and want to do it right. When buying the rock what is most important….carat, cut, clarity or color. She’s very petite her ring size is 5 1/2 so I am thinking 3/4 carat would be plenty big, but I don’t want to do this halfway. Any help sure would be appreciated.
Thanks

The setting she wants is white gold with no diamonds on the band. Since this is a solitaire my focus is on carat, cut, color, and clarity in that order.
I’m thinking I will cut costs because I am sacrificing clarity and color, but the cut must at least be very good. What carat size should I go for? Am I right by sacrificing clarity and color for cut and carat. If I’m looking to spend 2.5 – 4k on the diamond alone what can I expect to get? I don’t want to be ripped off and I want to get the biggest diamond I can find within my budget without sacrificing too much quality.
Would a radiant shaped diamond allow me to get a bigger carat but still look very similar to a princess shape?
Thanks.

Before you buy a loose diamond it is best to have an understanding of what you are buying, so that you are able to make an informed decision. Learn about cut, clarity colour and carat weight. These qualities are what defines a diamond and are known as the 4 C’s.

A diamond certificate or grading report lists all the specifications of a loose diamond. A diamond certificate can also be called a diamond grading report or diamond dossier. The diamond certificate documents the diamond’s exact measurements and weight, as well as the details of its cut and quality. It precisely points out all the individual characteristics of the stone, inclusions and any flaws.

When shopping for loose diamonds it is extremely important that you buy a certified diamond. You should always try to compare one certified diamond of a certain weight and quality with other certified diamonds of similar weight and quality to help determine which diamond is the better value and quality.

A certified diamond provides consumers with confidence, security and increases comfort levels while making a decision on which loose diamond to purchase. Before purchasing a loose diamond, you should expect to review a copy of its diamond certificate, as this is your only guarantee of the quality and value of that diamond. Certified diamonds help provide consumer confidence.

A diamond certificate documents the characteristics of the diamonds quality; the colour, cut, clarity & carat weight of the diamond are verified by an independent company with no conflict of interest between buyer and seller.

Highly regarded Diamond Grading Laboratories grade and certify diamonds to an internationally recognized standard, and they are recognized by the national and international diamond and jewellery associations. Independent certification is essential. It provides an accurate, unbiased description of the quality of the diamond and assures you that the diamond is natural and untreated.

The true test to evaluate a diamond is to view it in person and compare it with other diamonds. Nothing beats seeing a diamond in person to determine whether it is a ‘good’ diamond to your eye or not. Diamond appreciation is a very personal thing and different people will prefer different things about different diamonds. When making your final decision and deciding on which diamond to buy all the numbers, facts and figures are meaningless if you do not like the look of the diamond.

Alot of jewellers and diamond dealers often use expressions like Hearts and Arrows, Ideal Cut, Excellent, Russian Cut, Belgium Cut and Fine Make when selling their diamonds, with the intention of portraying them as ‘better’ than others. Be wary of accepting these terms as is. They are especially dangerous when assigned to diamonds by the jeweller or diamond dealer themselves without independent third-party documentation.

DIAMOND GRADING RULES ESTABLISHED FOR LABS

Since 1975, any laboratory that wants to be recognized as a genuine gemological laboratory must follow the certification rules as laid out by CIBJO. CIBJO was formed in 1961 by several national jewelry trade organizations, in order to form an international jewelry confederation that would outline uniform rules for the grading of loose diamonds.

CIBJO, which is the acronym for the French phrase, Conf?ration International de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orf?erie des Diamantes, Perles et Pierres, and which translates to International Confederation of Jewellery, Silverware, Diamonds and Stones, is the international jewellery confederation of national trade organizations.

CIBJO currently has 21 countries involved in its associations. Their rules are the basic rules of grading today, such as: using a 10x loupe for grading; that each diamond to be certified must be graded by at least three (3) professional graders; that all laboratories must be independent and impartial and cannot be involved in the buying or selling of diamonds.

There are many different diamond grading laboratories available to the diamond-buying public. Some of the more well known grading laboratories are: GIA (Gemological Institute of America), DCLA (Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia), AGS (American Gemological Society), HRD (Hoge Raad Voor Diamant; Diamond High Council), EGL (European Gemological Institute) and the IGI (International Gemological Institute).

All diamond grading laboratories have their own methods and criteria for grading loose diamonds, however they all operate within a high set of parameters, when grading a diamond’s specifications, details and dimensions. Be aware that as each grading laboratory has its own methods, each grading laboratory also has its own expense guides for preparing a certificate and these grading laboratories differ in their standards and level of strictness.

GIA’s is probably the most well know grading laboratory in the world. DCLA & AGS are on par with GIA for grading standards. In fact, it is the AGS grading for Cut that served as an impetus for the GIA to recently include Cut grading to their grading reports. HRD out of Antwerp, Belgium is also a greatly respected name in the diamond industry. A certificate from any of these grading laboratories – GIA, DCLA, AGS, HRD – can be considered accurate, reliable and trusted. In Australia we highly recommend DCLA – Diamond Certification of Australia – as they are the only internationally recognized laboratory in Australia and is one of only five laboratories worldwide recognized as an International Diamond Council (IDC) laboratory.

Before you buy a diamond you should always, as a first priority, insist on an independent diamond grading certificate from an accredited laboratory to support any added claims about a diamond and why Diamond Imports strongly recommend diamonds that have been Certified by DCLA, GIA, HRD or AGS.

Diamond Imports sells Certified Diamonds of the highest quality which have been certified by independent diamond grading laboratories that have the strictest standards. Diamond Imports are an authorized ICD Jeweller – Independently Certified Diamonds. All ICD – Independently Certified Diamonds jewellers are committed to providing customers with diamonds examined and graded by qualified and reputable laboratories, grading to internationally recognized standards for accurate and unbiased evaluation of their diamonds. These laboratories are recognized for their procedures, technical ability and cutting edge equipment necessary to analyze, grade and certify diamonds.

It is important to keep in mind the fact that not all diamond grading laboratories are as well respected or as stringent in their grading as each other. Diamond grading laboratories should always be independent of any diamond retailers or wholesalers, to avoid any conflict of interests or bias. Diamond Certificates are only of value when they are issued by an independent accredited diamond grading laboratory. Always make certain to identify the source of the certificate or diamond grading report. If you have not heard of the laboratory, it could very well be associated in some way with the store, jeweller or diamond wholesaler itself, and so have a vested interest in aiding the sale.