It's becoming more and more common for guys to let his girl choose her own engagement ring, but that's not always practical. More often than not, you'll want it to be a surprise, and not a little one. But choosing a ring isn't quite as simple as it sounds. You'll want to make sure she actually likes what she's going to be wearing every day, it needs to fit and be comfortable, and it needs to look good on her hand. Here's a quick guide on how to go about figuring what you need to do before getting down on one knee.
Shape. If it comes to it, you can simply buy a diamond and let her choose the setting later on. The diamond is more important than the ring itself partly because it's the most expensive part, but also because its shape needs to match her hand. An elongated diamond might be good for short fingers, or a round diamond might be better for slender fingers. On rare occasions, some girls don't even like diamonds and would prefer a ruby or emerald.
Take notice. Pay attention to the types of jewelry she wears. Does she like gold, silver, platinum, white gold? Most people have a very strong preference, so this is the most important step. If you're unsure, start paying attention or look through her jewelry box while she's out. Asking friends and family is never a bad idea (as long as you're sure you can trust them not to reveal your secret).
The setting. If you do purchase a full ring with diamond and setting, it will be something special to her, so you need to make sure she actually might like it (and not just tell you she does). Settings can always be altered, reshaped, resized, or remade, so it's less important than the actual diamond. If you need to figure out what size she wears, take a piece of string and measure her finger while she's asleep. If she's a light sleeper, ask her family. Don't even let her get suspicious.
Considerations. What type of ring will be practical for her? Pointed style diamonds usually have prongs that can catch on clothing. Take her job into consideration. If you want something really special, you can always visit a real jewelry maker and custom design your own ring, too. Of if you want to go even further, you can take a lost wax jewelry class at a local community college and actually make one yourself for the absolute, most special engagement ring you could possibly give her.
Lastly, make sure your proposal is something special. Put a lot of thought and effort into it to make it a truly memorable moment. Be alone with her when you ask. Don't try to make it like what you've seen in the movies where you're in a restaurant and you have a mariachi band play your song as she's served her ring in a glass of wine. Girls fantasize about being proposed to their whole lives, so if you really want her to say yes, give it your best effort.
Congratulations! The wedding ring is the single most important piece of jewelry that you will give to your spouse in your lifetime. The ring symbolizes your everlasting love and devotion to your spouse. It not only symbolizes your love for each other, it also marks one of the most important occasions in your life. To make the best decision when buying a diamond ring, you should be ready with as much information as possible.
Diamond Grading Terminology A diamond's cost is based on the characteristics known as the "4 C's". Clarity, Colour and Cut (proportion) are the quality elements which together with the Carat Weight determine the value of a stone.
1. Diamond Carat Weight When shopping for an engagement ring, one quality that is always discussed is the diamond carats. Carat is the measure of a diamond's weight, though it is often confused with size. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams.
2. Diamond Clarity Diamond clarity is critical for engagement rings. Nature seldom creates flawless diamonds, and most stones have various types of flaws. Inclusions are additional minerals that may cause a streak or stripe through the stone, and fractures are miniscule cracks and splits that look like tiny crystals, clouds or feathers. Clarity is the scale of perfection established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) that measures the number and magnitude of flaws in a diamond.
3. Diamond Cut The cut of a diamond refers to the angles and proportions of the stone and has nothing to do with its shape. Diamond cuts are designed cut to internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another, dispersing and reflecting it through the top of the stone. This brilliance is known as the diamond's 'fire.'
4. Diamond Color Diamond color ranges from clear to varying shades of yellow and brown. A diamond's color rating refers to its degree of coloration, and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has developed a grading system using alphabet letters D to Z that compares the color of a diamond to the color of pre-selected gems. Later letters indicate deeper colors.
Shape
Round By far the most preferred diamond shape, the round-brilliant cut is also the most optically brilliant because of its 360-degree symmetrical shape. A round brilliant is a great choice if you want the most sparkle and the most enduring classic shape.
Princess The princess cut is a modern classic of clean, square lines and beautiful sparkle. This shape is the perfect choice if you prefer a square or rectangular outline but want the brilliance of a round.
Marquise The marquise cut is a regal, elongated shape with tapering points at both ends. Its shape tends to flatter the finger, making it appear longer. A marquise-cut diamond should be mounted with six prongs: four positioned on the sides to hold the body of the stone securely and two V-shaped prongs to protect the points at either end, the most vulnerable part of the diamond.
Emerald The emerald-cut diamond is among the most classic of diamond shapes. Its clean lines come from step-cutting, or parallel line facets. It is always cut with blocked corners and is usually cut to a rectangular outline, although a few are cut to be more square.
Oval The oval cut is most similar a round-brilliant cut and combines the round's sparkle with a flattering, elongated outline. It makes a good choice for someone who wants a unique shape but loves the fire and brilliance of a round diamond.
Heart The heart-shaped diamond is the most romantic of diamond shapes. It is similar to the pear shape but has a cleft in the rounded end that forms the lobes of the heart. The complexity of the shape requires skilled cutting to ensure proper brilliance.
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