What Makes Platinum Engagement Rings So Irrestible To Lovers?
I’ve always had an issue with platinum. Unlike gold and silver, whose name just rolls off the tongue, platinum sounded scientific, dull even. It brought back awful memories of chemistry class, and painful hours wasted away on the periodic table.
But look beyond its decidedly unglamorous name, and you’ll realize that it does indeed have many exquisite attributes ideal for an engagement ring.
To begin with, you know how they say that diamonds are the ultimate symbol of love because the sheer durability of the stone exemplifies the eternal strength of l’mour?
Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but doesn’t it seem like an ugly rip in such a beautiful metaphor when you find out that the white gold band holding your precious stone in place has to be re-plated several times as its shine and shimmer slowly fade with age?
With platinum, that simply does not happen.
To read more - go here
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/ring-settings/makes-platinum-engagement-rings-irrestible-lovers.html
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Girl Power – What To Look For In Men’s Engagement Rings
Ladies, how do you tell the world that your man is taken? That he is officially off the market, and engaged to his soul mate (namely you)? Consider an engagement ring for the man of your dreams.
Ladies - say "I love you" with an engagement ring for menCheekily labelled ‘management rings’ by the mass media, men’s engagement rings are all the rage.
Hollywood diva Jennifer Hudson only recently presented her fiancé, David Otunga, with a stunning $15,000 Neil Lane engagement ring.
But rather than looking at management rings as a mark of ownership on your beau, take it as a symbol of commitment by you and your lover to remain true to each other till you walk down the wedding aisle (and after).
Engagement rings for men are really not as revolutionary as some might think they are. In certain South American countries such as Argentina, for example, gentlemen flaunting brilliant diamond bands on their ring fingers would be safe from curious stares given the culture and tradition of the country.
To read more - go here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/engagement-rings-guide/girl-power-look-mens-engagement-rings.html
Ladies, how do you tell the world that your man is taken? That he is officially off the market, and engaged to his soul mate (namely you)? Consider an engagement ring for the man of your dreams.
Ladies - say "I love you" with an engagement ring for menCheekily labelled ‘management rings’ by the mass media, men’s engagement rings are all the rage.
Hollywood diva Jennifer Hudson only recently presented her fiancé, David Otunga, with a stunning $15,000 Neil Lane engagement ring.
But rather than looking at management rings as a mark of ownership on your beau, take it as a symbol of commitment by you and your lover to remain true to each other till you walk down the wedding aisle (and after).
Engagement rings for men are really not as revolutionary as some might think they are. In certain South American countries such as Argentina, for example, gentlemen flaunting brilliant diamond bands on their ring fingers would be safe from curious stares given the culture and tradition of the country.
To read more - go here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/engagement-rings-guide/girl-power-look-mens-engagement-rings.html
If men are not approaching you, there might be something that’s making you “unapproachable”.
Men are always approaching women, but there are certain situations that will stop them in their tracks: a group of women, a woman who is sitting down, a “mean” facial expression, etc. Are you preventing men from approaching you?
What It Means:
Men work in mysterious ways and the thing that they strive to protect most in life is their “ego”. Yes, no man likes a shattered ego.
Because of this, men typically approach women that look “safe” – rather than going up to someone that is likely to embarrass or reject them.
For example, most men refrain from approaching a woman that is surrounded by a group of friends.
Going up to a group of women is intimidating and requires the man to impress all the ladies, rather than just one.
This drives the odds of actually striking up a conversation with the lady he has his eye on through the floor.
To read more - go to
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/relationship-advice/dating-advice-for-women/men-notice.html
Men are always approaching women, but there are certain situations that will stop them in their tracks: a group of women, a woman who is sitting down, a “mean” facial expression, etc. Are you preventing men from approaching you?
What It Means:
Men work in mysterious ways and the thing that they strive to protect most in life is their “ego”. Yes, no man likes a shattered ego.
Because of this, men typically approach women that look “safe” – rather than going up to someone that is likely to embarrass or reject them.
For example, most men refrain from approaching a woman that is surrounded by a group of friends.
Going up to a group of women is intimidating and requires the man to impress all the ladies, rather than just one.
This drives the odds of actually striking up a conversation with the lady he has his eye on through the floor.
To read more - go to
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/relationship-advice/dating-advice-for-women/men-notice.html
Have you heard the inspirational quote that goes something like this, “Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking”?
Yeah, well… that wisdom can be applied to relationships as well.
You can get a good indication of the character of a potential girlfriend/boyfriend by just observing what they do and how they treat others when it “doesn’t matter.”
What it Means
You can tell a lot about a person’s character by watching how they interact with others. People are able to put on a “front” or a “façade” for a short amount of time (especially on date, etc.), but they will always revert to their true character.
This is a scary thought when it’s applied to relationships. Can you imagine getting engaged to a man who has been a “different person” throughout your entire courtship and suddenly becomes this irate, hot head with no regard for others? Talk about a nightmare…
This type of scenario happens all to often in relationships because people feel that they can revert back to “themselves” when no one is watching (except you) and/or there are no consequences for their misbehavior.
To read more - Go here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/relationship-advice/dating-advice-for-women/boyfriends-true-characteristic.html
Yeah, well… that wisdom can be applied to relationships as well.
You can get a good indication of the character of a potential girlfriend/boyfriend by just observing what they do and how they treat others when it “doesn’t matter.”
What it Means
You can tell a lot about a person’s character by watching how they interact with others. People are able to put on a “front” or a “façade” for a short amount of time (especially on date, etc.), but they will always revert to their true character.
This is a scary thought when it’s applied to relationships. Can you imagine getting engaged to a man who has been a “different person” throughout your entire courtship and suddenly becomes this irate, hot head with no regard for others? Talk about a nightmare…
This type of scenario happens all to often in relationships because people feel that they can revert back to “themselves” when no one is watching (except you) and/or there are no consequences for their misbehavior.
To read more - Go here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/relationship-advice/dating-advice-for-women/boyfriends-true-characteristic.html
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Diamond appraisals can be tricky business.
First off, virtually anyone can call themselves an independent jewelry appraiser. There is no law requiring appraisers to be licensed in the same way that lawyers and physicians are licensed.
Grant it, there are associations, schools and institutes that jewelers can attend in order to become qualified to appraise diamonds but even then, an appraiser's "say so" does not necessarily make it so.
I have been reading where some jewelry appraisers are secretly on the payroll of jewelers in exchange for undervaluing items from competitors (which could ultimately result in loss of sales).
Secondly, appraisals are not the same as diamond grading certificates or reports. I have seen undercover investigatory reports conducted in shopping mall jewelry stores, where clerks show a reporter their "certificates" which contain appraisal values of various stones.
A clerk would say something like; "We are selling you this engagement ring for $900 but you can see on this diamond certificate that the stone was appraised for $2200."
What a deal right? Well, ding ding ding - red flag!
For one thing, reputable diamond reports such as those done by the GIA, AGS and GCAL don't offer appraisal values but rather give their independent evaluations of the clarity, cut, carat and color of stones. The price of getting a report done might be on the report but not a figure stating how much a diamond is worth.
The next thing is - don't get drawn into the hype of an engagement ring "blowout sale". If a particular diamond appraisal is one that a jeweler can put stock in, you can bet your last dollar that the jeweler would be selling the stone for $2200 and not for $900.
Many jewelers can afford to give blowout sales because initially, they are selling engagement rings at 200-300% above wholesale prices. And if you inspect those cheap engagement rings, don't be surprised to find that they are not cut nicely or have poor clarity.
And if you decide to buy that "cut price jewelry," good luck returning it and getting your money back. You might be told that there are no refunds on sale items.
When buying an engagement ring online, go with highly reputable retailers such as James Allen or Amazon. They offer a wide array of quality pieces to fit any budget plus they iron clad 100% money-back guarantees should you not be pleased with your purchase.
Profile Of A Credentialed Jewelry Appraiser
Simply put, you want to take advice from people that are trained to appraise jewelry and have professional experience in the area. Go through this checklist to see if your potential appraiser fits the bill of a credentialed appraiser.
1. At the very least, have your diamond appraised by at Graduate Gemologist ("G.G") or the comparable Fellow of the Gemological Institute of Great Britain ("F.G.A"). The 'G.G 'is the jewelry industry's most prestigious credential.
Professionals with these qualifications were put through rigorous approaches to comparing, grading, identify, buying and selling stones.
However, bear in mind that neither "G.Gs" nor "F.G.As" were taught how to appraise stones. Ideally a jewelry appraiser should have top gemological credentials as well as additional training and certification from a reputable appraisal organization.
2. Does the person doing the valuation have references? Ask for references. A professional appraiser with experience should be able to give you references from places such as banks and trust companies.
3. Have your diamond appraisal conducted by an independent third party - not someone connected to a jewelry store. When appraisals are issued in-store, they are typically done for the purposes of getting customers to buy the merchandise of that particular store.
What you want is to have an engagement ring appraised by someone who does not give two hoots about whether you buy the ring or not. The typical store clerk who so eagerly gives you his/her "expert opinion' is neither independent nor professionally qualified to give a valuation. Hence, take store clerk or in-store valuation with two "grains of salt."
Some popular independent appraisers include the Accredited Gemologists Association, American Society of Appraisers and the National Society of Jewelry Appraisers.
Anatomy of a Diamond Appraisal
An engagement ring is something you'd want to treasure but if you or your significant other loses his/her ring, then you'd want to have some sort of fall back position - insurance.
Some people think that if you buy a ring for $2000 and insure it for $4000, then if the ring is lost, the insurance company will simply issue a check for the $4000. Well, we all wish it were that simply - don't we?
An insurance company would want to look at your ring's valuation to help them reach a payout figure. But If the valuation does not contain explicit accurate description of the ring, then be prepared for the likelihood of getting a payout that is much less than the sum insured.
Because when the insurer goes to a jeweler and says that you normally sell this ring for $2000, how much will you sell it to me for; if the jeweler says $1000 or $1200 then that is what you'll get.
But if the valuation contains the pertinent information and is reputable, then you have a greater chance of getting an appropriate replacement in kind. Why "in kind?
Because insurance contracts often limit cash settlements. Furthermore, since insurance companies have volume buying power and purchase agreements with their suppliers, they can get appropriate replacements for substantially less than what consumers can get.
Since different kinds of jewelry insurance policies exist, I would advise that you chat with your agent or broker for more details on your options and the settlement practices.
At a minimum, a thorough jewelry appraisal will have the following:
A picture of the jewelry.
Style number, brand name of the diamond, shape, measurements, and weight.
The 4Cs of the stone - color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.
The lab that issued the diamond grading report and the report number.
Karat of the metal
The type of construction, craftsmanship, and design.
The date, appraiser's name and signature, addendum information, and qualifications page.
The value and the purpose and function of the appraisal. For example, was the diamond appraisal done at market value for tax purposes or at retail value of insurances purposes.
Transparency In Jewelry Valuation
An appraiser having credentials is one thing, but the valuation process itself should be one that takes place right in front of you. So a transparent appraiser will:
Not ask that the diamond be pulled from the setting. You want to safeguard yourself from an appraiser switching your stone to one of lesser quality. Although, there is greater accuracy in valuating a loose stone than one still in the setting.
Weigh a loose stone in front of you before the appraisal begins and after the process is completed.
Clean the piece in front of you
Only give you ranges in clarity, color and color if the stone is appraised while mounted. According to noted diamond expert Fred Cuellar, the highest grade for a diamond that is mounted is VS1 clarity and G in color.
Not give you an exact figure for what a piece of jewelry is worth but rather offer up a range.
Won't ask or offer to buy your jewelry or sell you one of his/her own
Won't charge you a fee based on the value of our jewelry. This should help remove the temptation to overvalue the merchandise.
Want to know if you want the dump, wholesale, retail (fair market), or premium value of your merchandise.
While appraisers are not Gods, you'll ideally only want to deal with an appraiser that stands fully behind his/her work. That is, there won't be any disclaimers on the appraisal saying the appraiser won't be held responsible for any action that is taken with the appraisal.
If an appraiser doesn't stand behind his work, then there is little point in having the valuation done in the first place.
http://twitter.com/getdiamondrings
First off, virtually anyone can call themselves an independent jewelry appraiser. There is no law requiring appraisers to be licensed in the same way that lawyers and physicians are licensed.
Grant it, there are associations, schools and institutes that jewelers can attend in order to become qualified to appraise diamonds but even then, an appraiser's "say so" does not necessarily make it so.
I have been reading where some jewelry appraisers are secretly on the payroll of jewelers in exchange for undervaluing items from competitors (which could ultimately result in loss of sales).
Secondly, appraisals are not the same as diamond grading certificates or reports. I have seen undercover investigatory reports conducted in shopping mall jewelry stores, where clerks show a reporter their "certificates" which contain appraisal values of various stones.
A clerk would say something like; "We are selling you this engagement ring for $900 but you can see on this diamond certificate that the stone was appraised for $2200."
What a deal right? Well, ding ding ding - red flag!
For one thing, reputable diamond reports such as those done by the GIA, AGS and GCAL don't offer appraisal values but rather give their independent evaluations of the clarity, cut, carat and color of stones. The price of getting a report done might be on the report but not a figure stating how much a diamond is worth.
The next thing is - don't get drawn into the hype of an engagement ring "blowout sale". If a particular diamond appraisal is one that a jeweler can put stock in, you can bet your last dollar that the jeweler would be selling the stone for $2200 and not for $900.
Many jewelers can afford to give blowout sales because initially, they are selling engagement rings at 200-300% above wholesale prices. And if you inspect those cheap engagement rings, don't be surprised to find that they are not cut nicely or have poor clarity.
And if you decide to buy that "cut price jewelry," good luck returning it and getting your money back. You might be told that there are no refunds on sale items.
When buying an engagement ring online, go with highly reputable retailers such as James Allen or Amazon. They offer a wide array of quality pieces to fit any budget plus they iron clad 100% money-back guarantees should you not be pleased with your purchase.
Profile Of A Credentialed Jewelry Appraiser
Simply put, you want to take advice from people that are trained to appraise jewelry and have professional experience in the area. Go through this checklist to see if your potential appraiser fits the bill of a credentialed appraiser.
1. At the very least, have your diamond appraised by at Graduate Gemologist ("G.G") or the comparable Fellow of the Gemological Institute of Great Britain ("F.G.A"). The 'G.G 'is the jewelry industry's most prestigious credential.
Professionals with these qualifications were put through rigorous approaches to comparing, grading, identify, buying and selling stones.
However, bear in mind that neither "G.Gs" nor "F.G.As" were taught how to appraise stones. Ideally a jewelry appraiser should have top gemological credentials as well as additional training and certification from a reputable appraisal organization.
2. Does the person doing the valuation have references? Ask for references. A professional appraiser with experience should be able to give you references from places such as banks and trust companies.
3. Have your diamond appraisal conducted by an independent third party - not someone connected to a jewelry store. When appraisals are issued in-store, they are typically done for the purposes of getting customers to buy the merchandise of that particular store.
What you want is to have an engagement ring appraised by someone who does not give two hoots about whether you buy the ring or not. The typical store clerk who so eagerly gives you his/her "expert opinion' is neither independent nor professionally qualified to give a valuation. Hence, take store clerk or in-store valuation with two "grains of salt."
Some popular independent appraisers include the Accredited Gemologists Association, American Society of Appraisers and the National Society of Jewelry Appraisers.
Anatomy of a Diamond Appraisal
An engagement ring is something you'd want to treasure but if you or your significant other loses his/her ring, then you'd want to have some sort of fall back position - insurance.
Some people think that if you buy a ring for $2000 and insure it for $4000, then if the ring is lost, the insurance company will simply issue a check for the $4000. Well, we all wish it were that simply - don't we?
An insurance company would want to look at your ring's valuation to help them reach a payout figure. But If the valuation does not contain explicit accurate description of the ring, then be prepared for the likelihood of getting a payout that is much less than the sum insured.
Because when the insurer goes to a jeweler and says that you normally sell this ring for $2000, how much will you sell it to me for; if the jeweler says $1000 or $1200 then that is what you'll get.
But if the valuation contains the pertinent information and is reputable, then you have a greater chance of getting an appropriate replacement in kind. Why "in kind?
Because insurance contracts often limit cash settlements. Furthermore, since insurance companies have volume buying power and purchase agreements with their suppliers, they can get appropriate replacements for substantially less than what consumers can get.
Since different kinds of jewelry insurance policies exist, I would advise that you chat with your agent or broker for more details on your options and the settlement practices.
At a minimum, a thorough jewelry appraisal will have the following:
A picture of the jewelry.
Style number, brand name of the diamond, shape, measurements, and weight.
The 4Cs of the stone - color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.
The lab that issued the diamond grading report and the report number.
Karat of the metal
The type of construction, craftsmanship, and design.
The date, appraiser's name and signature, addendum information, and qualifications page.
The value and the purpose and function of the appraisal. For example, was the diamond appraisal done at market value for tax purposes or at retail value of insurances purposes.
Transparency In Jewelry Valuation
An appraiser having credentials is one thing, but the valuation process itself should be one that takes place right in front of you. So a transparent appraiser will:
Not ask that the diamond be pulled from the setting. You want to safeguard yourself from an appraiser switching your stone to one of lesser quality. Although, there is greater accuracy in valuating a loose stone than one still in the setting.
Weigh a loose stone in front of you before the appraisal begins and after the process is completed.
Clean the piece in front of you
Only give you ranges in clarity, color and color if the stone is appraised while mounted. According to noted diamond expert Fred Cuellar, the highest grade for a diamond that is mounted is VS1 clarity and G in color.
Not give you an exact figure for what a piece of jewelry is worth but rather offer up a range.
Won't ask or offer to buy your jewelry or sell you one of his/her own
Won't charge you a fee based on the value of our jewelry. This should help remove the temptation to overvalue the merchandise.
Want to know if you want the dump, wholesale, retail (fair market), or premium value of your merchandise.
While appraisers are not Gods, you'll ideally only want to deal with an appraiser that stands fully behind his/her work. That is, there won't be any disclaimers on the appraisal saying the appraiser won't be held responsible for any action that is taken with the appraisal.
If an appraiser doesn't stand behind his work, then there is little point in having the valuation done in the first place.
http://twitter.com/getdiamondrings
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
“I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the numbers in a diamond” – Mae West. Don’t you just love this quote from 1970s sex symbol Mae West?
Forget cut, clarity or color. Ever since the ancients decided to harvest the seeds of the carobs tree to weigh their precious baubles against, carats are the one thing that has continuously fascinated the world.
And when it comes to carats, bigger is definitely better.
Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/carat/2-carat-diamond-engagement-ring-rock-her-world.html
Forget cut, clarity or color. Ever since the ancients decided to harvest the seeds of the carobs tree to weigh their precious baubles against, carats are the one thing that has continuously fascinated the world.
And when it comes to carats, bigger is definitely better.
Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/carat/2-carat-diamond-engagement-ring-rock-her-world.html
Sunday, April 22, 2012
1. The best method. Get your sweetheart to tell you his/her ring size or take him/her to a jeweler to ascertain the size. Read the rest of the article here
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/design-your-own-engagement-ring/ring-size.html
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/design-your-own-engagement-ring/ring-size.html
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Not all sellers provide diamond grading lab reports (aka diamond quality reports) to their consumers. So my general advice to you is to keep your money in your pocket when dealing with such jewelers.
Only purchase a diamond engagement ring if it comes with the original diamond quality report.
A lab report is an independent evaluation of the 4Cs of a loose diamond and includes a plotted diagram of the stone’s clarity characteristics and a graphic representation of the stone’s proportions. Having such a report allows you to compare diamonds of different qualities and ultimately helps you make a more informed buying decision.
A retailer may cut corners and not provide a lab report or an unscrupulous seller may provide a fake one because of the time, trouble and expense he’ll bear to getting a stone graded.
Yeah – there is a price for grading a diamond (though that cost is eventually paid by the consumer), plus the shipping and insurance charges for sending the diamond to the lab. And let us not forget the opportunity cost of a jeweler not having the diamond in his store for sale for a few weeks while the grading takes place.Diamond Grading Report
However, a diamond grading report may also not be available because the costs to getting one may impact too heavily on the final price of the ring.
For example, a 0.3ct diamond ring costing $250 say, may cost around $75 to be graded and have the report number inscribed on the girdle on the diamond.
As you search for that ideal diamond engagement ring for your sweetheart, you’ll find that there is an alphabet soup of labs claiming to provide reputable diamond grading reports. But I would only put my money on:
Read full article here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/diamond-grading-and-certification/diamond-grading-reports-give-darling-quality.html
Only purchase a diamond engagement ring if it comes with the original diamond quality report.
A lab report is an independent evaluation of the 4Cs of a loose diamond and includes a plotted diagram of the stone’s clarity characteristics and a graphic representation of the stone’s proportions. Having such a report allows you to compare diamonds of different qualities and ultimately helps you make a more informed buying decision.
A retailer may cut corners and not provide a lab report or an unscrupulous seller may provide a fake one because of the time, trouble and expense he’ll bear to getting a stone graded.
Yeah – there is a price for grading a diamond (though that cost is eventually paid by the consumer), plus the shipping and insurance charges for sending the diamond to the lab. And let us not forget the opportunity cost of a jeweler not having the diamond in his store for sale for a few weeks while the grading takes place.Diamond Grading Report
However, a diamond grading report may also not be available because the costs to getting one may impact too heavily on the final price of the ring.
For example, a 0.3ct diamond ring costing $250 say, may cost around $75 to be graded and have the report number inscribed on the girdle on the diamond.
As you search for that ideal diamond engagement ring for your sweetheart, you’ll find that there is an alphabet soup of labs claiming to provide reputable diamond grading reports. But I would only put my money on:
Read full article here:
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/diamond-grading-and-certification/diamond-grading-reports-give-darling-quality.html
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
When people think of diamond engagement rings - they typically think of white diamonds. However, black diamonds are also beautiful and classy.
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/engagement-rings-with-colored-diamonds/black-diamond-engagement-rings-unique-classy.html
http://www.trendyengagementrings.com/engagement-rings-with-colored-diamonds/black-diamond-engagement-rings-unique-classy.html
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Buying An Engagement Ring Online
Buying Engagement Rings Online With Confidence
Buying engagement rings online when I was growing up in the 70′s would have been something I’d have expected to see on the Jettsons – the futuristic cartoon series.
My earliest memory of “jewelry shopping” in those days was of me as a kid hanging on to my grandma’s frock tail as she entered the local jewelry store. She knew the owner by name (probably they went to the same church) and she seemed quite content to spend a long time trying on various pieces.
I wondered then why grandma had interest in those shiny objects which to me looked more like toys than accessories for grown-ups.
The Retail Landscape Has Changed
Today, shopping online is widely accepted. In China where I live, I once had to buy a box of Kellogg Cornflakes from Taobao – one of the largest e-commerce sites here. This was because I was jonesing for cereal and couldn’t find it in the local supermarkets.
Similarly, buying engagement rings online is easy and convenient. Online jewelry shops are all over the net, showing off their full-color and high-resolution images of their diamonds.
All you need to do is choose the carat, color, clarity and cut, enter your financial information and shipping address and voila. Sometime later you receive a nicely packaged ring. However…
Watch Out For Scams
Buying engagement rings online is a potential minefield. For one thing, just about anyone can get a credit card merchant account, put up an online jewelry store and be in business. I’ve read of fraud sites passing off cubic zirconia as diamonds and costing customers in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Some other notable scams include selling you treated diamonds. These diamonds are susceptible to breakage. Or a seller may duplicated a genuine diamond lab grading report or fabricate one from scratch. You can read more about diamond scams here.
Tips For Buying Diamonds Online
So as a potential customer, you need to deal only with trustworthy online jewellery stores. And I have two for you – Amazon and JamesAllen.com. Both have a sterling reputations, have been in business a long time and offer a refund to unsatisfied customers.
James Allen also offers some added features such as free shipping and virtual loupe, so that you can view your engagement ring in the same manner a jeweler would see it. In case there is a structural problem with your jewelery, you cans end it back to their office to be repaired or replaced.
They free also offer free prong tightening, re-polishing, rhodium plating and cleaning for the life of your jewelry
Secondly, learn the basics by reading my engagement rings guides. As the old saying goes – “knowledge is power”.
Thirdly – one of the primary ways of buying engagement rings online (or offline) with confidence is getting an authentic diamond grading lab report with your purchase. This is a must.
Buying engagement rings online is really ‘”blind purchasing”. Having a report allows you to compare the diamond you are thinking about with others on the market. All diamond grading reports are not equal so you want to ensure that you only buy diamond engagement rings “certified” by the big 3 – GIA, AGS, and GCAL.
You can read about diamond grading reports by independent third evaluators.
Engagement Rings Guide
Getting engaged is perhaps one of the scariest moves a man (and yes a woman too) could ever make.
So I have put together this engagement rings guide to help you find that special ring that your girl will love – while leaving you satisfied that you have not over-spent.
And even if your fiancée will be choosing her own ring, you’d want to tell her to read this information as well.
But more than likely, you’d be buying your “special lady” a diamond engagement ring. Because…
Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend…
Right. Diamonds are 99.95% pure crystallized carbon and is as old as dirt – between 1-3 billion years old. In fact, they are the hardest naturally occurring substance known and are formed in the earth’s upper mantle under heat and pressure and carried to the earth’s surface by deep volcanic eruptions.
They are later mined from layers of gravel found in just a few sites around the world. Then they are transported to the various cutting centers to be cut, polished and set as jewelry. Their brilliance, sparkle and toughness make them well sought after.
But they can be costly too. Various sources quote averages prices anywhere from $3500 – $5000. “Ouch” you say. Well, I can give you the name of…
The “Genius” That Started The Diamond Engagement Ring Idea
But he has long passed so you’ll have to put your weapon back in your holster:)
The first well-documented case of giving an engagement diamond ring occurred in 1477.
This was when a lovestruck Austrian, Archduke Maximilian, put a diamond ring on the third finger of the left hand of Mary of Burgundy in his betrothal to her. That finger was believed by ancient Egyptians to have a vein that leads straight to a woman’s heart.
In the United States, it was not until the 30′s that giving diamond rings for engagements became typical. Now about 80% of women engaged are offered diamond rings.
As this will be a most important purchase – symbolic of your love and the importance of your relationship, taking note of the following factors should put you in good stead.
The 5th C And Coming Up With A Budget
Any good engagement rings guide will mention the 4 C’s as they are central to making a purchase for a diamond ring. The 4 C’s are outlined in greater detail below but it is the “5th C” – cost, that arouses the greatest amount of curiosity and perhaps fear.
You may have heard the “conventional wisdom” that claims that you need to save at least three months salary to purchase a diamond ring. This “advice” may have come from the De Beers’ publicity machine; Debeers being dominant force in every aspect of the diamond industry. So take this advice with a grain of salt.
A much better approach is to set your budget based on how much you can realistically afford. And you are likely the best person who can come up with that number.
Also your budget will need to take into consideration the qualities of the ring that are the most important to you. With the wide array of diamond rings available, you can spend less and still get a good ring or you can spend a lot more on size and quality.
There are some highly trusted places where you can buy engagement rings online whilst staying within your budget.
There is JamesAllen.com which provides great prices and terrific customer service. When you browse their site the pictures you see are the real pictures of the diamonds they sell. If you are not happy with your purchase, they offer a 60 day 100% refund policy.
Amazon.com can also offers a wide range of beautiful rings. You are bound to find one within your budget.
Amazon goes directly to the largest suppliers and sells directly to consumers while cutting out some of the costs that brick-and-mortar jewelers have. Their diamonds are certified and claimed not to have originated from conflict countries nor other sources with links to criminal or terrorist activities.
Whichever source you buy from, resist the temptation to go over your budget especially if money is tight. A salesperson may encourage you to spend beyond your budget because diamonds possibly represent a sound investment.
But a retailer can significantly mark up the value of a diamond and shortly after you buy that ring, it could lose a lot of it value. And worse, it could take years for that value to return.
So stay true to your budget as much as you can.
Know Her Size & What She Likes
How many times have I told my girlfriend that I am not a mind reader? Women typically expect men to know exactly what they want especially if those men have been in a long relationship with them.
Don’t assume that you know everything about your lady.
Discovering what type of diamond engagement ring your special lady loves can be tricky if you want to keep your imminent proposal hush hush. So before you begin shopping you should…
* Study her style of jewelry. Is she more into traditional or romantic jewelry? Does she love flashy or more subtle jewelry? Also pay attention to the metal and color of the jewelry she wears.
Also get a second opinion. Ask her close friends or even family for advice on the style of jewelry she likes.
* Determine her ring size by secretly “borrowing” one of her rings and comparing it to a size chart or showing it to a jeweler. Make sure the ring you “borrow” is the one she wears on the intended finger.
You could also enlist the help of a friend or family member who could casually try on one of her rings and ascertain its size.
If you are not comfortable with any of these 007-like moves, simply try on one of her rings and take it down as far as it can comfortably go. You can mark that line and show it to a jeweler who should then be able to size it from there.
If all else fails and you are not still sure about her ring size – choose a ring that is on the bigger side. It is a lot better to reduce the size of a ring than it is to “size it up.
The 4 C’s Of A Diamond Purchase
No engagement rings guide is complete without a discussion of the “Four C’s” – cut, color, clarity and carat.
The 4 C’s are a major part of price setting and will be included in a diamond grading report. Although all of the 4 C’s should be considered equally, gemologists will tell you that “cut” is the most critical because there are so many variables involved.
Diamond Cut: As you’ll see, this is the only “C” that is not influenced by mother nature. “Cut” refers to the geometric proportions, symmetry and polish of diamond – not its shape. These factors determine a diamond’s fire, brilliance and scintillation.
When light enters a poorly cut diamond, most of the light will get lost through the sides rather than reflecting back up the top. The former gives the diamond a dull, lifeless look.
Be aware that there are treatments that can be carried out to a diamond that can improve its color or totally change it to a fancy color.
Diamond Color: Arguably the second most important “C”, jewelers typically grade color on a 23 alphabet scale – “D” – “Z”. “D” is the whitest color and “Z” is a light yellow color.
You may think that a whiter color would always mean a more expensive diamond. But this is not necessarily the case as rarity is what determines price.
There are diamonds called “fancies” which have strong colors (such as blue and red) and are very rare and very costly. Some fancies are priced out of the range of most people as they cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Diamond Clarity: Diamonds typically have internal and external blemishes called inclusions or nature’s fingerprint. These are often invisible to the naked eye but can be seen under a jeweler’s microscope (loupe).
Fewer inclusions means greater clarity and a cleaner, more expensive diamond. Gem quality diamonds, that is those with little or no internal inclusions are graded “FL” for flawless. These diamonds are rare and expensive.
Diamond Carat Weight: The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. This is not to be confused with “karat” which is how the purity of gold is described.
Nor should you confuse the weight of a diamond with its size. 1 carat equals 0.2 grams or 100 points. Many people are familiar with “carat” as it is a term that is always floating around.
Carat weight is pretty straightforward as it is standardized and can be accurately determined with a diamond carat weight scale. The more a diamond weighs – the more it costs.
The 6th C – Certification
Here is another “C” for you – “certification”. I call this the 6th “C.” Ok – I swear – no more “Cs” in this engagement rings guide.
“Certification” is actually a diamond grading report which gives a professional gemological assessment of the 4Cs. You should only trust diamond grading reports from solid trusted labs such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), American Gem Society (AGS) and the Gem Certification and Assurance Lab (GCAL).
In addition to the big 3 diamond graders above, some online retailers, Amazon for example, include certificates from International Gemological Institute (IGI).
Bear in mind that diamond grading reports don’t offer appraisals of diamonds. Appraisals mention value. So if someone shows you a grading report with an amount claiming to be a market value of the diamond – you know something is not right.
Buying Diamonds Online
In an age where a half eaten grilled cheese sandwich and a woman’s hand in marriage are sold online, it seems there is nothing you cannot buy on the internet.
Wherever you intend on buying a diamond, trust in the vendor ought to be an issue and of course you need to exercise common sense. You also have to do your homework such as checking a seller’s credentials and being aware of the scams so that you can avoid them.
JamesAllen.com and Amazon.com are two very reputable online retailers you can put your trust in plus they offer refunds should you be unhappy with your purchase.
There so many more buying tips, that I’d like to share with you. So check out my engagement rings guide super page for more details and my guide on buying diamonds online.
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