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What should I look for in a stone for my Engagement Ring?

Home » Weddings » Engagement Rings » What should I look for in a stone for my Engagement Ring?

When shopping for your ring, it is very important to get the correct stone. When looking for a stone, just remember the four C’s: clarity, color, cut, and carat. Unfortunately, there are a lot of lying jewelers out there, so it is important to make sure your ring has been independently appraised for all of these qualities.

Also, it is imperative to make sure that your diamond has a “cert.” A “cert” is a written document that lists the four C’s of the diamond. The “cert” is accurate if it has been appraised by GIA, IGI, EGL, or AGS. You will see these initials stamped somewhere on the certificate. If the jeweler can’t provide you a legitimate “cert”, then DO NOT BUY THE DIAMOND.

Now, let’s get in to a little more about what the four C’s are:

The Gemological Institute of America created a scale that judges a diamond’s clarity. The scale goes like this: flawless, internally flawless, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3. Flawless diamonds are the rarest diamonds, and I3 diamonds have imperfections galore. So when you are purchasing a diamond, ask the jeweler for the clarity grade and you can use the above scale to see if it is the type you would like. If you are not rolling in dough, keep in mind that VS and SI diamonds have imperfections that can ONLY be seen under a microscope.

The next C is Color. The color of a diamond can range from clear to a faint yellow. The clearer the diamond is, the rarer it is. However, there are some diamonds that have color that are very rare. These include red, green, canary yellow and blue diamonds. But if you don’t want to spend the amount of money a colored diamond requires, stick with the traditional colorless diamond for now.

The Gemological Institute of America also created a scale to rate the color of diamonds. The scale goes along with the alphabet, with D being the most colorless. The scale looks like this:
• DEF=colorless
• GHIJ=near colorless
• KLM=faint yellow
• NOPQR=very light yellow
• STUVWXYZ=light yellow
• Fancy light, fancy, fancy internal=yellow
The closer you are to a D diamond, the more expensive it will be. However, if you can’t afford a D, any diamond between D and J looks VERY similar.

The next C stands for Cut. The cut is the shape of the diamond. The most common cuts include round, oval, princess (square), and emerald (rectangle). Be sure and look at a variety of cuts, and consult with your significant other to see which type she would like best.

The way the diamond is cut is very important in determining how much it will sparkle. When light enters the ring, it goes in a certain angle. If the angles are cut correctly, the light is able to enter, bounce through the ring, and then jump back out at the top. However, if the angles are not cut to proportion, the diamond will not sparkle. The easiest way to determine if the diamond is cut correctly is to look at its sparkle and compare it to other rings. Just keep in mind that how much it sparkles is very important.
The final C is the Carat. The carat is how much the diamond weighs, which in turn determines its size. When discussing size, you may hear a jeweler discuss points. Keep in mind that 100 points make up one carat. So, if you are purchasing half a carat, then the diamond is 50 points.

Knowing the carat of the diamond you want makes it easier to compare different cuts of the diamond without worrying about if they are the same size. For example, you could easily compare a one carat emerald cut with a one carat oval cut. Keep in mind that if you are on a tight budget, it is better to get a smaller carat diamond, and then it is to get a large carat with a bad cut, color, or clarity.

Next Page: How do I choose the correct setting and band for my Engagement Ring?

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