How to Choose a Stone for Your Engagement Ring

Getting engaged is the first step toward a lifetime of happiness together, meaning that a lot of pressure is put on purchasing an engagement ring. The good news is, there are no rules, so long as you choose a ring with your spouse-to-be in mind, taking into account any hints you’ve been given and what their typical jewelry style is, you’re all set!

One of the most important, yet most challenging parts of buying an engagement ring is choosing the stone(s) for the ring. We’ve broken down what details to keep in mind when purchasing a stone so you can focus on what’s really important, getting engaged!

Diamonds – If you’re opting for a classic look, you can’t go wrong with a diamond. When shopping for a diamond, what you’ve heard is true, the 4Cs are the key to purchasing the right one for your ring (cut, clarity, color, carat). First, decide, how many carats you want the ring to be (be sure to set a budget before shopping so you have a price point in mind for what size stones you are looking at).

Once you have chosen a total weight, decide how you want the carat weight of the ring to be broken down. Do you want one stone, a center stone surrounded by a halo (or two) of small diamonds, or maybe just two to three diamonds of equal size?

After you have chosen the carat weight of your ring, the next option is deciding the color of the stone(s). Does the ideal ring have a colored center, a colorless center with a colored halo, vice versa? Diamond colors are measured on the GIA Diamond Color Scale ranging from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown tint). Colorless diamonds go better in white gold or platinum settings as yellow gold would reflect, making the diamond look yellowed. If colored diamonds are what you are looking for, yellow and “chocolate” diamonds are available options.

A diamond’s physical appearance is also impacted by clarity, which refers to the visual appearance of internal characteristics (inclusions) and external characteristics (blemishes) of the diamond. Clarity is measured on the GIA Diamond Clarity scale ranging from Flawless to Included (I1, I2, and I3) meaning that inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification.

Each diamond you choose for the ring has its own cut. Simply put, the cut refers to the shape and number of sides the diamond has. Cuts include round, oval, pear-shaped, princess-cut, and others. The shape will affect how the stone(s) are set on the band.

Lab-grown diamonds – Whether you’re looking for a more cost effective diamond or want an ethically sourced option, a lab-grown stone is a great choice for you. The best lab-grown diamonds are indistinguishable to the naked eye, and often hard for jewelers to differentiate from mined diamonds.

These diamonds are not like cubic zirconia or moissanite as they do not wear down or lose shine over time. Lab-grown diamonds are taken care of just like mined diamonds, and will wear the same way for just as long if treated properly.

Gemstone – Diamonds are not a requirement for engagement rings. In fact, engagement rings look just as beautiful with other gemstones, and there are plenty of other stones to choose from, such as emeralds or rubies. Gems make an excellent center stone or colored accent stones to surround a center diamond. If you know that she wants a spin on tradition, a gemstone ring is the way to go. It still creates a classy, elegant ring with a change of color and different look.

Article Written by Emily Rochotte

Choosing a Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring

One of the most unique colors you could hope for in an engagement ring is vivid yellow; something only a yellow diamond can offer. In fact, yellow diamonds are actually rarer than any other color of diamond, which means you get all the value of a diamond with unforgettable color tone of yellow. While most brides opt for a traditional white diamond in their engagement ring, choosing a yellow diamond will make your ring unique, colorful, and stand out from the pack while still being a top grade stone.

Almost exclusively found in Africa and certain regions of Australia, yellow diamonds are found in areas that other diamonds are not. White diamonds are found in mines that stretch long expanses called “diamond veins”, but this is not the case with yellow diamonds. In fact, for every 10,000 traditional diamonds mined, only 1 yellow diamond is discovered; which sums up exactly how rare they are. This has also led to a massive amount of demand and a very large shortage in their supply, and it also means that that more rich the yellow hues are in the stone; the more valuable the diamond will be.

Unfortunately, their rarity and high demand has also spawned a tremendous amount of fakes on the market. As rare as yellow diamonds are compared to other genuine diamond colors, you are likely to see thousands of fake yellow diamonds before you ever lay eyes on an authentic stone. If you are interested in having a yellow diamond as the stone for your engagement ring, make sure you have it authenticated by a reputable jeweler before you shell out the high sticker price most authentic stones will have attached to the ring.

Common Cuts and Setting for Yellow Diamonds

Unlike regular diamonds, yellow diamonds are typically cut in a unique style to show off the color properly. While most people think about large quantities of facets leading to the most sparkly looking diamond engagement rings, yellow diamonds are often cut in asymmetrical shapes to allow the light to show off the color more than the clarity of the stone itself. As part of these cuts, you will usually see very long facets on yellow diamonds.

Of course, the cut of your yellow diamond is only half the battle; you will also need the perfect setting to accent that yellow deliciousness. As one might expect, yellow diamonds look fabulous in traditional settings such as gold or platinum; much like any other precious stone. Many people choose to have their yellow diamond placed in a solitaire setting to avoid creating too busy of a look and to add emphasis to the stone. Furthermore, many people choose either white gold or platinum instead of yellow gold so the yellow tones in the diamond really draw the eye. Regardless of how you set your yellow diamond, it is certain to look fantastic and unique for generations to come