How To Buy A Diamond

Buying a diamond engagement ring can be, and often is, a terrifying concept. Typically this horror is intensified by the concept of picking out jewelry for your significant other – an intensely personal project. The fact is, most girls will be thrilled with whatever ring their future husband deems suitable, based on the idea that he picked it out solely of his own accord and with her in mind. This is a comforting thought, no doubt, but it does not eradicate the anxiety of making the right decision. There are numerous guidelines on the internet about how to do this, but I will offer some of my own considerations in addition to the basics. Take a deep breath – it will be okay.

First things first – choose a jeweler you trust. It is such a personal process, to hand over your hard-earned dollars in exchange for a stone in a ring. Please research the jeweler or store in advance. It is worth it to pay a few extra dollars for a ring from a jeweler you trust than to save a buck from a shady individual. Your jeweler may end up making your wedding bands, and, if you have a good relationship, could be crafting anniversary and birthday gifts for your betrothed for years to come. Worth it.

1. Consider Her Taste
Pay attention to what kind of jewelry she wears. Does she wear anything at all on her fingers? Does she like dainty intricate designs? Does she prefer the chunky and funky? Is there a particular color of metal she typically sticks to? These details will help your conversation with your jeweler about an appropriate style. Many ladies are updating Pinterest pages with dream ring styles and other wedding fairy tales. If you can recruit your lady’s BFF on this, she can probably access said page and give you a world of insight on her preferences.

2. Decide Your Budget
I could get slayed for saying this, but the whole ‘you need to spend three months salary on her ring’ is a marketing ploy courtesy of DeBeers. As a sidenote – anyone who wants to work in a really exceptional marketing department, please consider this company. They do extraordinary things… google DeBeers’ history. Alas, I digress… your budget should be whatever the hell you are comfortable with. The fact is, ANYONE can buy a diamond engagement ring. Truly, they exist for EVERY budget, including yours. Once you have an idea of what you want to buy and what you can afford, you can work with your jeweler to make it happen.

3. Consider The Shape of Stone
Most women prefer a traditional round brilliant; however, there are many other shapes to consider! Square diamonds, called princess cuts, and radiants and cushions, which are essentially soft squares, are very timeless. Cuts such as Asscher and emerald have fewer facets, and therefore will require a higher clarity so that you cannot see the imperfections. Marquis cuts are subject to trend, and since they are out of style at the moment, can be cheaper. Clarity works on a scale from Flawless to I3 (severely imperfect). The naked eye cannot see anything below an SI1 or SI2. The color scale goes from colorless (D, E, F) to near colorless (G, H, I, J) to slightly colored (K and beyond). The near colorless range is appropriate in most cases.

4. Determine Her Ring Size
There are a few ways to do this. One way is to snag a ring that she wears on that finger and bring it to the jeweler. Another is to take the ring and trace the inside on a piece of paper. You can also take a ring and put it on your finger, tracing where it stops. All of these methods will get you very close to a fit – most rings can be adjusted slightly even after they are purchased.

5. Consider A Loose Stone
If she is extremely picky or her style is difficult to identify, it is possible to purchase a loose diamond and present that instead. Otherwise, many jewelers will offer a basic prong setting for presentation purposes, that you can later trade in as you design the final ring together.

Last but not least – make sure your diamond is certified. Jewelers will sell diamonds certified by a variety of labs, so you will likely have a choice. These days, GIA is still the gold standard, though IGI and AGS are the next best options. An uncertified stone will be much cheaper, but you are running the risk of buying a stone that is not what was advertised. Proceed with caution.

Good luck with this venture and try to enjoy the journey! She will love it.