Product pricing and earnings updated August 30, 2007
As you utter the four most important words you will ever speak, "will you marry me?" you want that moment to be filled with magic and sparkle. While your proposal is sure to be quite special, there is nothing that can compare to the moment a woman lays her eyes on the one piece of jewelry that not only tells the world she is yours and you are hers, it is the one piece of jewelry she will wear every day for the rest of her life.
Before You Shop
Learn a little about her style. Are you marrying a fashionista that follows all the latest trends or does your bride have a more classic style? Certainly, she has dropped a few hints. Look at her jewelry, especially her rings. Does she even wear them? Are they large or small? Trendy or classic in style? White gold, platinum, or gold? Does she own a fine watch? What is the style? Does she prefer a casual, formal, metal, or leather band? Take a few hints from what she already owns and if all else fails; ask her mother or a friend for a little help. Do remember that no matter how trendy your little diva may be, this is a ring that she will wear forever (scary word) and you really want to keep that thought in mind.
Set a Budget
Like everything you will do as you plan the wedding, you must start by determining your budget. How much can you afford to spend? The diamond industry advises a budget the equivalent of two months salary for the engagement ring. Don't sweat it, even if your salary isn't in the upper brackets, you can find a lovely diamond in a price range you can afford. Keep in mind that if you're looking for a good price, purchase well BEFORE Thanksgiving in any given year. Holiday gift giving causes the price of diamonds to soar, but come January the prices plunge and dip again in July.
Consult a Friend
You need to decide where you are going to buy the ring. The best place to start is with a trusted friend or family member who has recently gone through the process. There's a good chance that someone you know has a relationship with a reputable jeweler. If you ask around and can't find a recommendation, try to find a store where you can speak with a Certified Gemologist Appraiser or graduate gemologist. If the store doesn't have such a person, move on to a more reputable retailer. SHOP RINGS NOW
The Four C's: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat
The diamonds are judged on four major elements--"the four C's"--cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. These are the criteria generally used to define the gem's value and quality.
Cut
Nothing is more critical to a diamond's sparkle and fire than the quality of its cut, so make this your top priority when shopping. A stone's cut refers to the number, placement, and shape of the "facets" (flat, polished planes) that create a finished diamond. Read more about cut
Color
Diamonds range widely in hue, from the Hope diamond's violet hue to startling shades of blue, red, pink, amber, orange, and canary yellow. Chances are, all the diamonds you'll see will range from white to yellow. When it comes to color, less is more. The whiter the diamond, the better-more light will pass through it and be reflected as sparkle. Read more about color
Clarity
The clarity of a diamond depends on how clear or "clean" the diamond is, i.e. e., how free of imperfections on the outside (blemishes) and inside (inclusions) of the stone when viewed with the naked eye and with a loupe (10x magnifying glass). Blemishes include chips, scratches, fractures, or polishing mistakes; inclusions consist of spots and "feathers" (internal cracks). Remember, diamonds are a product of Mother Nature. Slight inclusions are perfectly natural and very common. Read more about clarity
Carat
Carat weight is the final criteria used to determine the value of a diamond. Do not confuse this with karat, which indicates gold's purity. Jaws drop when people brag about the 2-carat diamond they purchased. In reality, the stone's value is determined by its color, clarity, and particularly its cut, as well as its carat weight. The carat weight of the diamond you purchase should be of less concern than the other factors influencing its quality. Read more about carat
The Setting
Ask your jeweler to discuss the prong setting with you. Prongs are the metal brackets that hold the diamond securely in place once it's been set into a ring. Badly formed prongs can cause a host of problems-from the diamond moving around in the setting to the outright loss of the stone. It is important that each prong is tightly and securely formed over the crown of the stone, so the metal is flush against the stone. Be sure that the thickness of the prong is adequate, particularly at the "heel" or the point where the edge of the stone cuts most deeply into the prong. It is at this point that the metal is at its narrowest.
The Shape
There are many shapes available on the market today. Jewelry designers frequently experiment with new shapes, but the most classic cuts are round brilliant, emerald, oval, pear, marquis, and square. The shape you choose generally does not affect the cost or quality of the stone. Instead, it is more a reflection of the natural shape of the rough diamond before it was cut.
The Certificate
Your diamond should be delivered to you along with a lab report certifying its authenticity. It will state the quality, weight, and cut of the stone. It is a very good idea to take out an insurance policy on the ring you decide to buy. These policies are generally not offered through your diamond dealer, but fall into the category of Home Owners Insurance. Consult your agent or broker for details.
uTANGO merchants mentioned in this article include:
 |
Zales offers rings, necklaces, pendants, cameos, earrings and bracelets in a wide variety of designs. |
| Earn 4 Pts/$1 spent |
 |
Blue Nile offers certified diamonds & fine jewelry at outstanding prices. Free shipping and 30-day returns on every order. |
| Earn T$5/$1 spent |
Need more information on rings and jewelry?
Pop the Question: Ideas for the perfect proposal
About uTANGO
uTANGO is a new kind of reward program specifically for singles, engaged couples, and newlyweds (married less than 3 years). The program is FREE and allows you to earn Points toward Annual Cash Rewards up to $800 and Life-Stage Cash Rewards up to $1 million for your future.* It's easy - just enroll, then make all of your online purchases through any of nearly 300 uTANGO merchants and watch the Points add up!
To accelerate your Point earnings, get the uTANGO LifeStage Rewards VISA® Credit Card! Card holders will earn an extra two (2) Points per dollar spent online or offline at over 300 program merchants and one (1) Point per dollar spent anywhere Visa is accepted.
Receive 10,000 Bonus Points…and a $10 Gift Card from one of these merchants; Home Depot, Target or Starbucks when you spend $100 with your uTANGO Visa card! Click here to apply for the uTANGO LifeStage Rewards Visa Card
