What To Look For In A Diamond Engagement Ring

What To Look For In A Diamond

Every diamond is different but there are some universal standards used to categorise various levels of quality. Diamonds are measured by the "4 Cs"; Colour, cut, clarity and carat. When you're out browsing for diamond engagement rings, you need to be aware of these terms, as they will help you make the wisest choice.

Colour

Diamonds come in a variety of colours but the highest quality diamonds are prized for their complete absence of colour. The GIA colour grading scale starts at "D" and works its way down to "Z". If you're looking at the D, E and F range, you're looking at "colourless" diamonds, or "white" diamonds. Although these are the most highly sought after, colour is not always a bad thing. True bold colours (blue, pink, and even orange, which is the rarest of them all) are also appealing choices. As you go down the scale towards "Z" you come across the more vividly coloured diamonds.

Clarity

Diamonds are, contrary to popular belief, not entirely flawless. Diamonds have a set of characteristics to keep an eye out for (although typically some are harder to spot than others without your trusty microscope). Diamonds contain a degree of surface blemishes and internal "inclusions" which range from scratches to nicks both inside and out. Naturally, the fewer of these a diamond has, the more "flawless" it is. Flawless diamonds are essentially perfect and consequently extremely rare. But that's not to say that a diamond with internal inclusions is not worth a penny. Gemmologists say that an inclusion is like a diamond's fingerprint. It can distinguish a real from a fake.

Cut

The stone on the diamond engagement ring you're buying was not mined out of the earth looking like that. It has been cut to size. Diamonds come in a whole range of "cuts", such as round, pear, oval, marquise, princess, radiant, emerald, and heart, and each one will have a dramatic effect on the overall look of the ring. A round diamond is classed as the standard cut; anything straying from a round shape is called "fancy".

Carat

This is the weight of the stone on your diamond engagement ring in relationship to the cost. To put it bluntly, the bigger the diamond, the more it's worth. However, with regards to the all-important ‘wow’ factor, bigger is not always better. Larger diamonds can appear dull whereas a smaller one with a more intricate cut can be brilliant and dazzling.

It is helpful to use these standardised measurements of quality to ensure that you are getting a fair price for your investment. However, as important as the ‘4C’s’ are, it all essentially comes down to personal preference. Choose a diamond engagement ring based on your taste and personality. The more thought put into it the more priceless it will become regardless of how many technical standards it has or has not met.

Laura L Bolick is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. Fromb diamond engagement rings to princess cuts and engraved bands, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.