Diamond and Jewelry Articles

Buying a diamond engagement ring, especially for young first-time buyers, can seem like a daunting task. In many cases the diamond engagement ring is the largest single purchase a young buyer has ever made. The financial pressure combined with the pressure of choosing a ring that will be treasured can add up to a highly stressful situation. But with a little common sense guidance the process can be easy and enjoyable.

First and foremost, set a realistic budget and stay within it. The first major purchase a young person makes should be a sound one that does not create a longterm financial burdon. If things go well, you can upgrade and embellish in the years to come. In keeping with this strategy it is wise to dedicate most of the budget to the feature diamond. Adding anniversary bands or side stones can be done in manageable increments over time. The venerable yet simple tiffany style solitaire diamond engagement ring is always a very good choice.

Once a budget is set for the feature diamond, a choice of shapes is the next step. The round brilliant is the standard and there is good reason. A well cut round with good clarity and color will display more fire and brilliance than any other shape, quality for quality, due to the overall symmetry of the shape.

Other diamond shapes are very popular today and some work better than rounds in certain ring designs. If design of the overall style is the priority, it is possible to get beautiful bright stones in a large range of shapes.

Next, determine the quality that is suitable to your taste. Going for top quality will mean that the size of diamond that fits the budget will be smaller. You will find that small compromises in color and clarity are almost impossible to see with the naked eye and that diamonds in the middle of the gemological spectrum are quite beautiful. Understanding this will help you get the biggest stone for your money. For more specific buying advice on determining the best value points within the diamond quality spectrum please read through our section on diamond four C's.

One additional thought about getting the biggest nice diamond in your budget: If shape is optional, you will find you can get larger sizes in certain fancy shapes such as princess and pear. Also, elongated stones such as pear and marquise often appear bigger on the finger than rounds.

So, while choosing the perfect diamond engagement ring is tremendously important, the process can be enjoyable and memorable by using a sound, common sense approach.

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