Style: Does he prefer colorful, vibrant pieces or understated, austere, and traditional styles? Color: What color stones does she seem to gravitate towards? Does she lean towards color, or does she generally keep things simple in whites, silvers, and golds? Bands: The band is the metal holding stones in place. Does she aim for silver, gold, or white? Or is she interested in funkier, more out-there designs and materials? Size: How big are the stones or pieces on most of her jewelry? Does she like smaller, more inconspicuous jewels or big and flashy rings?
Making a comment about a friend’s engagement ring and to ask her preferences at the same time. You can say something like, “I think Mary’s engagement ring was a bit flashy. What do you think?” Asking her family and friends for ideas. Has she talked to them about rings or jewels that she likes? Determining her stance on diamonds. Is she an impassioned supporter of Fair Trade and human rights? Be sure to look for recycled gold and conflict-free diamonds as part of your choosing process. [1] X Research source
Sapphire: The bright blue stone is the second most common for engagement rings. Emeralds: Bright green, you want to probably make sure she’s into the color before buying. Colored Diamonds: Yes, it is still a diamond, but yellow, black, and rose-tinted diamonds give a unique flair to the ring while still staying somewhat traditional. [2] X Research source
Gold is yellow-orange in its natural state and is normally alloyed with another metal for durability. Some prefer the lighter yellow color of less pure gold such as 14K or 10K, as the yellow reflection will slightly tint the diamond. White gold is gold alloyed with metals purposely to give the mixture an off-white color, it and must be plated with another metal–rhodium is common–for a bright silvery appearance. This plating wears off – but some jewelers will replace their rings from time to time for free if you ask in advance. Platinum is hard, strong and naturally silvery, but will dull slightly over time with wear, which is not necessarily a problem. Since a gold setting will make a diamond look very slightly yellowish, it is a waste of money to buy a very high color grade diamond to put in it. Silver is less common, but also less expensive. It is usually alloyed with something else to hold strength and shine. [3] X Research source
Do you want other stones inset into the band or just metal? Do you want a thick band showing off more stones/metal, or a thin band?
Tracing the inside of the ring on a piece of paper, then using that for sizing. Placing the ring on your finger, then marking with pen or sharpie how far up it slides. [5] X Research source
Tracing the inside of the ring on a piece of paper, then using that for sizing. Placing the ring on your finger, then marking with pen or sharpie how far up it slides. [5] X Research source
Cut Carats Color Clarity
It is also important to base your selection of diamonds based on objective data such as ASET or Idealscope images that you can acquire from your jeweler. [7] X Research source This is particularly important if you are buying a diamond engagement ring online
In general, stay away from any diamonds that are below an H grade in color, as they are noticeably yellow.
The scale used to grade clarity goes from F1 for a flawless diamond, to VVS1 and VVS2 for very slight inclusions, to VS1 and VS2 for very slight inclusions, SI1 and SI2 for slight inclusions and I1, I2 and I3 for imperfect diamonds. Diamonds are magnified by 10 times to judge their clarity so very slight imperfections are difficult to see with the naked eye. This means that there is a range of diamonds available even for more modest budgets. If you can see a mark without magnification, however, think carefully before you buy.
Stay just shy of common karat sizes, like 1 or 2 karats. A 1. 9 karat stone is not noticeably different, but can save you as much as 20%. Aim for a wider cut, which can make a smaller stone look bigger. Check out antique stones and rings instead of buying a brand new piece – it has flavor, uniqueness, and can be much cheaper. [10] X Research source
Ask around your married friends or your family for recommendations on a good, trusted jeweler. An online jeweler such as James Allen, Harry George or Blue Nile can be a good option if you’re willing to accept a little less “hand-holding” for a better price. Be sure to check that the jeweler has a strong online reputation before purchasing by searching “(Name of online jeweler) + Reviews” on Google.
For more expensive rings, a certificate is a near necessity to ensure your valuable new stone retains it’s worth.
