How To Find Your Perfect Engagement Ring

Finding your perfect engagement ring can be just as hard as finding the perfect man. Whether you are single or in a long-term relationship, there is never a bad time to look at engagement rings. There are many things that need to be considered before buying.

Carat
When picking out your ring, remember that carat size is not everything. Opt for a smaller but quality diamond, in terms of cut, clarity and colour, instead of the biggest diamond your budget will allow. A smaller quality diamond will sparkle more and look more impressive than a large but poor quality diamond.

Colour
When looking for a diamond that fits within your budget, colour is an important aspect. Diamonds range from yellow to colourless. A popular 2013 trend includes coloured diamonds, where a diamond on the scale completely on the yellow side would be desirable. However most brides want a colourless diamond. It is best to go for a colourless (D, E or F) or near colourless diamond (G, H, I or J). The further down the alphabet you go, the more yellow in the diamond.

Clarity
Another important thing to consider is the clarity of the diamond. This means how easily inclusions within the diamond can be seen. The most expensive and desired is IF which means internally flawless. There are no inclusions in this diamond. Next is VVS1 and VVS2 in which it is difficult to see the inclusions even under 10x magnification. VS1 and VS2 have minor inclusions that can be seen under 10x magnification, SI1 and SI2 can be easily seen under magnification but are not visible to the naked eye. The lowest quality, I1, has inclusions that are visible to the naked eye.

Cut
This is the most important aspect when looking at diamonds. It influences the beauty of the diamond and contributes to its overall sparkle. The levels of cut are: ideal, very good, good, fair and poor. For the most sparkle, stick with ideal or very good.

Style
It is best to try on different styles before hinting at a specific ring. You may love halo rings until you try it on and realize it just doesn't suit you like you thought it would. Better yet, go with your boyfriend to look at different styles so he can give his opinion too.

Designer
While you may want a designer name like Tiffany and Co. or Cartier, there are many affordable options from jewellers like Jared that can be easier on the wallet and still look stunning.


Thank you  GrinVilla for providing these beautiful photos!