Tips on Buying an Engagement Ring

If you plan to buy a diamond engagement ring this year, then pay attention to the following advice because this isn't something you want to get wrong. Not only are you about to spend a significant portion of your annual income but, and more importantly, you are also about to buy an an item of jewellery that will act as a permanent reminder of the most important relationship of your life

First though, a little lesson in Geology! - Diamonds are extremely old, very old in fact, between 1-3 BILLION years old. Diamonds are made of virtually pure crystallised carbon and due to their unique atom structure they are the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man. Diamonds are formed far beneath the Earth's crust and are brought to the surface during volcanic activity by the flow of magma. When volcanoes die, the diamonds are left behind in layers of gravel known as kimberlite, which is later mined. However, this is an extremely rare natural process and because of this, diamond mines can be found in only a handful of sites around the entire world. Once mined, rough diamonds are shipped to the world's cutting centres (Antwerp, Israel, Mumbai) to be cut and polished before being set in fine jewellery. It is the hardness and unique light dispersing properties of a diamond that make them a girl's best friend!

Secondly, a quick lesson in the history of the engagement ring. You may be curious to know where the fashion for engagement rings actually began. Legend has it that it was a lovestruck Austrian called Archduke Maximilian back in 1477, that came up with the idea of giving a ring set with a diamond to Mary of Burgundy to celebrate their imminent engagement. Believing the ancient Egyptian legend that a vein led straight to the heart, he placed the ring on the third finger of her left hand.

The FOUR Cs

Now that you know the reason why you are buying a diamond engagement ring you can do some research to educate yourself on the diamond Four Cs - cut, colour, clarity and carat. All of these factors should be considered in combination when comparing diamonds, but when purchasing diamonds it is important to know that the overall beauty of the stone is influenced first and foremost by the diamond-cutter (the other characteristics are determined by nature alone).

Cut

Of each of the 4Cs it is the quality of the diamond cut (or “Make” as it’s known in the trade) where the diamond-cutter genuinely expresses his skill. Contrary to what some diamond merchants would like you to believe, every single diamond is unique and prices can vary wildly (even if they appear identical on paper) which is why a diamond should always be selected according to the quality of "Make" rather than simply its certificate. As they in trade Buy the Diamond, Not the Cert!

Colour

Diamonds occur naturally in all spectral colours, from red to blue. However, the most commonly occurring colours are yellow and brown. The amount of colour a diamond possesses corresponds to an alphabetical scale beginning with D and ending with Z (the originators of the system began with D in case a whiter diamond was ever found!)

Clarity

Most people get far too fixated about diamond clarity, unnecessarily so. If you were to look into most diamonds with a jeweller's magnifying eyeglass (loupe) you will most likely see some small imperfections known as "inclusions", They may look like small clouds or feathers but most will be invisible to the naked eye. Inclusions can affect the diamond's brilliance and fire but they also make your diamond completely unique, like natures own fingerprint. They shouldn't always be seen as a fault, and why worry about something you can't see? As long as the stone is graded at least SI1 (Slightly Included) or better you will be alright

Carat

The weight of a diamond, as with all gemstones, is expressed in carats. The word "Carat" is derived from the Greek word for the Carob tree. Ancient merchants discovered that the seeds were always uniform in weight and used them for weighing pearls, diamonds and other precious stones. A carat can be is divided into 100 points, so a 1/2 carat stone equates to 50 points, a 1/4 carat diamond 25 points and so on. Very small stones, such as those used in channel and pavé settings, are collectively known as melee. The significance of a diamond's weight, like the other quality grades, is a question of rarity. Out of 250 tons of diamond-bearing ore only a single one-carat diamond of gem quality may be found!

Any reputable jeweller should know about the diamond four Cs and should also be prepared to talk you through them all especially when you are viewing diamonds. When purchasing a Daniel Prince diamond over 1/4 carat it will have already been certificated, assessed, graded and laser-inscribed by an independent gemmological laboratory. The certificate is important, as not all gem labs are universally recognised. The most internationally recognised are GIA and HRD. The price for a independent grading of a diamond will vary depending upon the carat of the diamond, but this will usually be included in the cost of the diamond anyway.

Diamonds are sometime treated to enhance their appearance, usually by being fracture filled, irradiated or laser treated. All of this is perfectly legal, but it is illegal if it is not disclosed to the buyer, At Daniel Prince we only sell 100% natural and untreated diamonds that have been ethically sourced.

How much should you pay for a Diamond?

Often referred to as Fifth C - COST. Obviously, the amount you decide to spend on a diamond ring is a personal matter, but you will no doubt have heard that 3 months' salary is about the norm. I'm not sure where this stemmed from originally, probably from the great De Beers' PR machine. Feel free to spend whatever you feel comfortable with and more importantly, can realistically afford. These are tough times and after the credit crunch we're all having to get used to tightening our belts and saving for that special purchase rather than shoving it on the credit card. One important thing to remember is that De Beers and the Diamond Trading Council (DTC) have a near total and complete monopoly on the entire diamond industry and therefore have a significant interest in what you spend. At Daniel Prince our raison d'être is providing you with an exclusive personal and tailored bespoke service. You set your budget, and we will source the highest quality cut stone just for you.

Get Her What She Wants!

It is perfectly adequate knowing your D from your F, but if you don't end up buying her the right engagement ring design then all could seem lost. One way of finding out what she prefers is the style of jewellery that she may already own. Is it modern contemporary jewellery or more traditional classic and understated? Does she prefer to wear white or yellow gold jewellery? Also, does she ever display an interest in the engagement rings of other women? However, the chances are that you will glean a pretty accurate picture of her likes and dislikes from her friends and family (assuming they can keep a secret!).

More than likely, she will prefer a Tiffany style diamond solitaire - which accounts for around 3/4 of all diamond engagement ring sales - However, there are many ways to present a quality diamond or coloured gemstone in a ring, and thats the beauty of commissioning a custom made engagement ring, we can design something held in Tiffany style claws, held high and proud, or something more contemporary set in a full bezel (enclosed in metal) protected and sitting low. However if you do want to involve your partner in the design of what will ultimately be a unique engagement ring, why not buy the diamond first and present her with it set securely in one our complimentary (yes, free!) 9k white gold mounts.

What else do you need to know?

British Jewellery and Giftware Federation
(Tel: 0121-236 2657, http://www.bjgf.org.uk/)

British Jewellers' Association
(Tel: 0121-237 1109, http://www.bja.org.uk/)

Jewellery & Allied Industries Training Council
(Tel: 0121-237 1109, http://www.jaitc.org.uk/)

National Association of Goldsmiths
(Tel: 020-7613 4445, http://www.jewellers-online.org)

Gemmological Association and Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain
(Tel: 020-7404 3334, http://www.gagtl.ac.uk/)

Diamond Information Centre (sponsored by the Diamond Trading Company, part of the De Beers Group)
(Tel: 020-7404 4444, http://www.uk.forevermark.com/)

Diamond certificate issuers

Gemmological Institute of America Inc (GIA)
(Tel: 001 760 603 4000, http://www.gia.org/)

Diamond High Council (HRD)
(Tel: 0032 3 222 0511, http://www.hrd.be/)

European Gemmological Laboratory (EGL)
(Tel: 020-7916 3519, http://www.egl.co.za/)

Independent Gemmological Laboratories, Inc (IGL)
(Tel: 001 212-557 0111)

American Gem Society (AGS)
(Tel: 001 702-233 6120, http://www.agslab.com/)