How to purchase the perfect diamond for your engagement ring
To help you purchase the perfect diamond for your engagement ring we have some expert advice for you.
Steve Richards, FGAA, our in house gemmologist with 25 years industry experience, says the way to maximise your budget when purchasing your engagement ring is to “pay for what you can see”. A quality combination of the right cut and colour is what gives the ring its “bling”. A superior cut and colour enables you to save on other features of your engagement ring.
To maximise your budget for the perfect engagement ring Steve suggests prioritising the following:
1. Cut
Cut refers to the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond. Differences in diamond cut affects sparkle, aesthetic appeal and value. To ensure your diamond for is appealing to the eye it must be very good or excellent cut.
2. Colour
To maximise the value of your engagement ring it is preferable to invest in a diamond graded from D-H. Diamonds of a lesser grade tend to include a less attractive yellow tinge and can dull the intensity of your diamond. A dull tinge can look particularly obvious if the mount you select for your engagement ring is made of a different quality diamond. It is best to avoid gradings from I colour onwards
3. Clarity
Clarity describes the quality of the diamond in relation to the existence and visual appearance of internal characteristics of a diamond called inclusions and surface defects called blemishes. Inclusions and blemishes can detract from the beauty of your engagement ring.
However, no or little inclusion can significantly drive up the cost of your diamond engagement ring. To reduce the impact on your budget look out for eye clean diamonds that are in the SI1 to SI2 range
*Eye Clean*
Not all inclusions are visible to the naked eye. Some inclusions can be the same colour as the diamond and therefore not visible. Investing in an eye clean diamond for your engagement ring can provide you with a quality looking diamond at a fraction of the cost. An eye clean SI2 diamond that has white inclusions can be indistinguishable from a flawless diamond that has no inclusions with the naked eye
4. Fluorescents
Describes the diamonds tendency to emit a soft coloured glow. We recommend avoiding fluorescents greater that 15%.
5. Certified
To ensure you receive a quality diamond for your engagement ring it must be certified. GIA certification is the most desirable. However other certifications such as one from AGS will still ensure you are receiving a genuine diamond for your engagement ring.
We strongly advise against jeweller certifications and in house jewellery valuations, there is no objective standard to measure their grading technique. In the absence of certification it is best to source your own independent valuer before committing to the purchase.
6. Shape
This is the part of the engagement ring that expresses who the person is, pick what you love, feels comfortable and you are happy to wear every day.
For further assistance contact us.
http://diamondbrokers.net.au/diamond/diamond-selection