In case you are getting engaged and planning to buy a diamond engagement ring, then there are several things that you have to consider while buying it. One of the most important things is to know her preferences.
A diamond ring is a costly purchase, so you don’t want to end up regretting that she won’t like the ring that you’ve bought for her, or that the ring won’t fit her finger. It will be all good for you to know her own choice regarding diamond shape, band design, setting, etc. Most women would love the classic round shape or the solitaire ring. Other women would prefer to be different, going for bolder shapes and modern patterns for their diamond ring. If your girlfriend is interested in a solitaire engagement ring, then there would be a wide range of opportunities for you. Since a diamond engagement ring is something that your partner will probably wear for a lifetime, make sure that she will like the style of the ring that you’ll buy for her.
Observing her taste for jewelry is another important thing that you can do to get a perfect engagement ring. There will be several designs in the market and from them, you have to choose only one. So, you must be 100% sure about the design that she will surely like. You have to assess her fashion sense – if she’s the kind who loves designer labels then chances are she will want a high-quality ring, probably from luxury brands. But if she’s the person who doesn’t care much about the latest fashion and wears whatever she wants and she’s comfortable with, then she won’t have strong feelings about a certain style for a ring.
Another thing is to ask her friends and family members for advice – that is, if you feel you can keep a secret with them if you want to surprise your girlfriend with a wedding proposal. The other people close to her most likely have an idea about what she would like. You can also observe jewelry that her closest friends wear – remember that like-minded people tend to have the same preferences and styles. Are they simple or otherwise too showy? Do they like classic vintage ornaments or do they prefer contemporary ones? These things make for a good basis to help you find for the perfect engagement ring.
The size of her hand and finger are other things that you have to look at before buying your diamond engagement ring. If your girlfriend has a smaller hand, you may prefer a bolder type of ring with a wide band. On the other side, a big solitaire with a lot of “bling” will look stunning on a big hand. Rose gold, which is gold alloyed with copper, is popular because it brings out an attractive pinkish hue and complements any skin color. You might want to consider a rose gold engagement ring to highlight your fiancee’s skin.
Knowing whether a ring would fit her finger is a bit more tricky, especially if you plan for a surprise wedding proposal. So how to determine your girlfriend’s ring finger size without telling her? There are a couple of ways to do that. The classic ruse is to tie a string around her ring finger while she is asleep. Or if you have access to her jewelry box, stealthily snitch a ring and trace it on a piece of paper. Another clever way is to take your girlfriend out to a fun date at an art festival, an antique shop or a cute souvenir shop. Pretend that you are trying out for “promise rings” for size – it’s better if you encourage your girlfriend to have you wearing a ring too so that it won’t appear obvious that you’re secretly planning to buy her an actual engagement ring.
Personal preferences aside, there is a lot more homework that you have to do before buying the perfect diamond engagement ring. You also have to consider the four Cs of a diamond – cut, carat, color, and clarity:
A diamond with the ideal cut (not too deep or too shallow) allows the light to penetrate through its top surface and reflect back to the observer’s eye, thus giving it the maximum amount of sparkle and brilliance.
The weight of a certain diamond is measured in terms of a carat. In other words, the actual mass or weight of the stone is determined in carat. A one-carat diamond is equivalent to 0.2 gram. It may get expensive depending on the shape or cut, so if your budget is tight, you may consider going down half a carat but you should look at the same time whether it has a good cut and sparkle.
The color of a diamond is graded from “D” (colorless) to “Z” (colored). Usually, colorless diamonds are expensive, but some colored diamonds like pink, blue and red are rare and thus they fetch a higher price.
As for the clarity, the less number of inclusions (blemishes), the more flawless the diamond appears. A “flawless” diamond has virtually no inclusions and thus is more expensive. But a diamond with inclusions doesn’t make it less beautiful, but it is noticeably less clear than the flawless variety. These inclusions can only be seen through a special lens or optical device.
A diamond is expensive as it exudes an incredible brilliance that cannot be found in any other gemstone. If clarity is a big factor to you or to your girlfriend, then you should prepare a bigger budget to purchase the clearest-looking diamond possible.
As you can see, your future bride’s tastes and preferences will definitely help you a lot when you’re planning to purchase a diamond engagement ring. If you are still struggling with the choices, all you have to do is to ask her what she really likes in an engagement ring. There is nothing wrong with asking, especially if both of you have been talking about getting married soon. This will also relieve you of the pressure, stress, and guesswork when you’re looking for a diamond engagement ring.