Understanding the Beauty and Elegance of Diamond Rings |
Diamonds are a girl's best friend. A diamond ring, on the other hand, is every woman's dream, especially if it comes in a box to be opened by a man kneeling in front of you. (Of course, he is asking you that very special question that will change your life.) Diamond rings come in different packets and parcels, but one thing is for sure: they last for a long time.
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The Basics |
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Diamond rings are usually used as engagement rings. This is because they symbolize purity of intentions and the longevity of the love a man has for his soon-to-be better half.
There are four general types of diamond rings in the market today:
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Diamond Solitaire Rings |
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A classic and time-encompassing choice, the solitaire diamond ring has a lone beautiful stone at the center, which is usually chosen for its unique beauty. This ring is simplicity at its finest form.
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Diamond Rings with Matching Bands |
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As was mentioned earlier, diamond rings are usually used when a man proposes to a woman. The option to buy an engagement ring with a huge similarity to the wedding bands of both husband and wife is now growing its popularity. It's like hitting two birds in one stone. You'll get an engagement and wedding ring for a single price.
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Diamond Ring with Side stones |
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Imagine a diamond solitaire ring, then pepper it with smaller diamond stones on the side of the band. These stones further highlight the main stone at the center without drawing attention away from it.
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3-stone Diamond Rings |
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Again, imagine a diamond solitaire ring; then on its left and right, there are 2 identical diamond stones nestling the central one. These three stones are said to represent the past, present, and future of the wearer.
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The 5 Cs |
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If you ask around about how to gauge diamonds, you will be told to gauge them based on 4 Cs which are carat, color, cut, and clarity. To fine-tune the education on diamonds on your ring, you need to add 1 more C: confirmation.
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Carat |
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This basically gives you the weight of the diamond on your ring. This is very different in "carat" as that is the measurement for gold. It was derived from carob beans, which were then used to measure diamonds. It is usually expressed in points such that one point means 1/100th of a carat. Do note that larger diamonds are rarer in nature, which thus makes them more desirable.
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Color |
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The most desirable color in diamonds is colorless. Colorless diamonds are under grades D to F; then the ones that have a slight tint of yellow or brown are graded X to Z. In the United States, the most trusted laboratories that grade colors are AGS and GIA.
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Clarity |
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Clarity gauges the inclusions of the diamond on your ring. These are the natural characteristics of your diamond that were formed during the stages of crystallization. The best diamonds are those that are very clean or those without any blemishes. These are termed as F (flawless) or IF (internally flawless). Those that have blemishes seen under the naked eye are graded I1, I2, or I3 (inclusive).
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Cut |
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If the craftsman who made the diamond ring is very skilled and his expertise on this field is very high, then it is more likely that he will be very good in cutting the diamond, transforming it from a rough stone to a smooth stone that refracts light perfectly back to the viewer's eye.
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Confirmation |
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This is basically paperwork documenting the authenticity and pedigree of the diamond on your ring. It is good to have this especially if you are going to purchase your ring online.
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Before You Buy |
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Armed with the new knowledge that you have on diamond rings, before you march down to your local jewelry store or before you go shopping online, do note these information first:
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1. Determine who will wear the diamond. |
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Who are you buying the diamond ring for? Do you his or her taste? If you do not know what the receiver's taste is in jewelry, then you can ask his or her family about it or you can just check the recipient's own jewelries to see their type.
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2. Work within a budget. |
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Know that when buying a diamond ring, you have to pay for the setting and then the center stone.
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3. Choose the right shop to purchase the ring from. |
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You have to find a jeweler that offers diamond certificate, money-back guarantee, superb customer service, and free ring appraisals.
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